Turn Your Conservation Idea into Action

August 3, 2026 at 2:21 pm

The City of Mesa is accepting applications for the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund (MYCAF). Youth ages 15-24 can apply for microgrants of $1,000 to $5,000 to design, manage and implement projects to promote conservation, sustainability and community resiliency in Mesa.

Mesa, a three-time recipient of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Youth Climate Action Fund grant, will award $40,000 for youth-led projects this fall. Teams of two or more youth can apply now through Sept. 14. Applications are evaluated by a volunteer committee, and all projects must directly benefit the Mesa community. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2027.

"The Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund has made a real difference in our community by bringing young people together with local organizations to create projects that produce lasting benefits for Mesa," said Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman. "Being selected for a third round of funding allows us to continue supporting youth-led ideas that encourage water conservation, responsible resource management and neighborhood improvements. These projects help prepare our community for the future while strengthening the quality of life for our residents and businesses."

MYCAF also helps youth leaders develop skills in grant writing, budgeting, project management and community engagement. By pairing youth leadership with real-world conservation projects, the creates lasting community benefits.

In 2024-25, Mesa awarded over $124,000 in grants for 30 unique youth-led projects that engaged more than 1,250 community members.

Previous projects include reducing fast fashion through clothing swaps, water conservation initiatives, community tree plantings and the installation of agrivoltaic demonstration sites. These efforts produced long-term partnerships and measurable outcomes, such as waste-reduction commitments projected to prevent 73 metric tons of CO₂ emissions and divert more than 1,500 pounds of food scraps from landfills each year.

To learn more about the award-winning program and to apply, visit mesaaz.gov/MYCAF.