Apply now for Youth Empowerment Fund

Deadline: 24 March 2025

Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF), a partnership between the European Union (EU) and the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM), an initiative of the Big Six Youth Organisations (Big Six), provides direct financial support for youth-led initiatives focusing on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level.

The Youth Empowerment Fund also aims to reach young people from under-represented backgrounds, including those facing challenges relating to their socio-economic background, gender, disability, marginalization, climate change, and more. Hence, many Youth-Led Solutions support young people and their communities in overcoming these situations of vulnerability.

Focus Areas

Supporting Under-Represented Communities: A key priority and a special focus of the Youth Empowerment Fund is to fund youth-led initiatives supporting under-represented and vulnerable communities, such as those affected by climate change, people with disabilities or chronic illness, and people facing gender-based barriers.
Climate and Sustainability Focused: Another special focus of the Youth Empowerment Fund is to support projects that address climate change, environmental protection or sustainability.

Why Apply?

Access to Funding: An individual person or an informal group of young people can apply to get small scale micro-grants for their projects between 500-1500 EUR, while registered youth-led organization may apply for funding up to 5000 EUR.
Reviewed by Youth Panellists Globally: Enabled by the GYM’s Youth-Led Model, the applications are reviewed and recommended by a global, diverse and experienced team of Youth Panellist from across the globe, including the GYM’s Youth Board Representatives.
Capacity Building Opportunities: In addition to funding, they provide successful project awardees with capacity building opportunities such as workshops, access to community of youth experts and guidance for their project implementation journey.
Accelerator Program: There is also the chance for outstanding project teams to join an Accelerator Program to scale up their ideas. The Accelerator Program offers additional funding opportunities, access to a global network of youth leadership, intensive training, support from experts, and other opportunities to scale projects further.

Who can Apply?