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Some climate funds have been specifically designed to provide funding directly to grassroots organizations, community-based organizations, and local actors that are most affected by climate change.
Collectively, the funds presented in this section support a diverse range of grassroots and community-based organizations and movements working to address climate change and environmental challenges. Depending on the fund, eligible applicants and areas of focus may include Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, environmental defenders, local activists, civil society organizations, and other frontline actors, as well as initiatives promoting climate justice, gender equality, environmental protection, and locally led climate action.
This list is not exhaustive and will be expanded over time as additional funding mechanisms and opportunities are identified.
Overview
Founded in 2016 as the Grassroots Climate Solutions Fund, the CLIMA Fund is a collaboration among:
CLIMA pools philanthropic funding and distributes it among these five members, which support grassroots climate-justice movements. Members collectively have grantmaking experience in 168 countries and prioritise solutions led by Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, peasants, small-scale farmers and other frontline communities.
Who Can Apply
CLIMA supports grassroots organisations, movements, networks and informal groups advancing community-led climate solutions. Eligibility depends on the member organisation’s geographic, thematic and organisational requirements.
Support Provided
Member organisations provide combinations of:
Funding Available
Grants made from CLIMA resources through its members generally range from US$2,000 to US$100,000. CLIMA reports having raised more than US$40 million for grassroots movements. Its members have collectively issued over 25,000 grants during their wider grantmaking history.
How to Apply
CLIMA does not operate a central application process. Its members use different approaches:
Global Greengrants Fund and Urgent Action Fund use activist-advisor networks.
Grassroots International and Thousand Currents develop funding through established movement relationships.
Youth Climate Justice Fund periodically uses open calls alongside participatory review.
Applicants should check the relevant member’s website for current opportunities. Many grants are relationship- or referral-based, so unsolicited applications are not always accepted.
See the CLIMA Fund overview, frequently asked questions and consolidated resource library.
Overview
Founded in 1993, Global Greengrants Fund provides small, flexible grants to grassroots environmental and climate-justice movements. Funding decisions are made through a participatory network of more than 250 local activists and experts across over 25 regional and thematic advisory boards, partner funds and recommending bodies.
The Fund reports awarding more than 20,000 grants worth over US$193 million in 168 countries.
Who Is Supported
Global Greengrants supports grassroots organisations, informal groups and community-led initiatives, particularly those led by Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, environmental defenders and persons with disabilities. Its principal regions are Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Pacific Islands.
Support Provided
Grants address six action areas:
Funding can support advocacy, community organising, environmental restoration, sustainable livelihoods and the safety of environmental defenders.
Funding Available
Grant amounts vary, but the average grant is approximately US$5,000. Funding is designed for grassroots initiatives for which relatively small, flexible grants can have a significant effect.
How Funding Is Awarded
Global Greengrants does not accept unsolicited proposals or operate an open application process. Its regional and thematic advisors identify organisations through their knowledge of local movements. Advisor contact details are not published.
See the grantmaking FAQ, action areas, 2025 annual report and publications. There are no public application templates.
Overview
Established in 2016, the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA) supports women-led, community-based climate action. It is led by the Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres Foundation in partnership with Mama Cash and Both ENDS.
GAGGA connects women’s funds, socio-environmental justice funds, NGOs and community-based organisations across 60 countries. It focuses on improving access to flexible funding, advocacy spaces and cross-regional learning for women, girls and gender-diverse communities affected by climate change.
GAGGA reports having channelled more than €50 million to over 2,590 frontline climate partners, facilitated 175+ learning exchanges and supported 2,360+ grassroots advocacy initiatives.
Who Is Supported
GAGGA primarily supports women-led community organisations working at the intersection of gender, environmental and climate justice. Funding is provided through participating women’s and socio-environmental justice funds rather than directly by the central alliance.
Support Provided
Funding Available
GAGGA does not publish a standard grant range. Participating funds determine grant amounts, duration and eligibility according to their programmes and local contexts.
How Funding Is Awarded
GAGGA has no central application or membership process. Partner funds use their own grantmaking systems, often participatory or relationship-based, to identify and support local organisations. Groups should therefore consult relevant women’s or socio-environmental justice funds in their country or region.
See the GAGGA overview and FAQ, resource library and annual narrative reports. There is no general GAGGA application template.
Overview
Launched in 2021, the Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation Fund supports catalytic projects that help scale ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)—the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to strengthen climate resilience.
The Fund is implemented by IUCN and UNEP with financing from Germany’s International Climate Initiative. It supports policy reform, institutional capacity, knowledge, partnerships and innovative financing. Projects must not focus primarily on field implementation, although limited pilot activities may be included when justified.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must be legally established and able to operate in the target countries. Governments and IUCN or UNEP offices may participate as partners but cannot receive funding. Local partnerships are strongly encouraged.
Country and multi-country projects must operate exclusively in OECD-DAC ODA-eligible countries. Regional, thematic and global projects are also eligible.
Support Provided
Projects may address:
Funding Available
Small grants range from US$50,000 to US$250,000. Projects are generally expected to last 24 months; durations of up to 36 months require justification.
The Fund also plans a limited medium-grant mechanism of up to US$500,000, but this is separate from the published small-grant procedures and is not currently open.
How to Apply
There are currently no open calls while the Fund transitions to a new application platform. Future calls, thematic priorities, deadlines and application instructions will be announced on the Fund’s website.
Monitor the How to Apply page, eligibility criteria and Fund updates. Do not use the former SMApply portal.
Overview
The Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) is a Climate Investment Funds (CIF) financing window that provides grants and capacity-building support directly to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). IPLC representatives help govern the mechanism and select community projects.
The original DGM operated through CIF’s Forest Investment Program in 12 countries. In 2023, CIF approved a new US$40 million DGM window under its Nature, People and Climate programme for seven countries, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya and Rwanda, and the Zambezi River Basin region.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility is limited to IPLC organisations and communities in participating countries or regions. Detailed requirements are established by each national or regional DGM programme.
Support may include:
Funding Available
The new DGM window provides US$40 million across the participating countries, the Zambezi region and global coordination activities. This is the programme-wide allocation, not an individual grant amount. Grant sizes are determined by each country or regional programme.
How to Apply
There is no central global application process. National or regional executing agencies issue their own calls for proposals, while IPLC-led steering committees establish priorities and select projects.
As of August 2026, implementation timelines vary and no central open call is available. Applicants should monitor the relevant country programme and the CIF DGM page.
Relevant Links
Overview
The Pawanka Fund is an Indigenous-led fund established in 2014 to strengthen Indigenous knowledge, rights, well-being and self-determined development. It supports community-led initiatives worldwide, including work on climate resilience, food systems, territorial governance, languages and intergenerational knowledge.
Pawanka is governed by a Guiding Committee of Indigenous leaders and is broader than a dedicated climate fund.
Who Is Supported?
Pawanka supports Indigenous organisations, institutions and networks identified through its regional relationships. It does not operate public calls or accept unsolicited proposals.
Support Provided
Funding Available
Grants generally range from US$10,000 to US$50,000 and are commonly provided as multi-year support.
How to Access Support
There is no public application process or application template. Pawanka’s Guiding Committee identifies prospective partners through its regional networks and conducts a cultural due-diligence process.
Relevant Links
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