Published May 6 2026
With a $50,000 award from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund, the City of Bellevue is expanding opportunities for young residents to lead development of innovative climate solutions in the city this summer.
As a participating city in Bloomberg’s global Youth Climate Action Fund, Bellevue’s Sustainable Bellevue team will launch an open call in July, seeking ambitious, youth-led climate project proposals. Bellevue’s young people ages 15–24 will be invited to submit project ideas that align with the city’s broader sustainability goals and are aimed at mitigating climate-related risks and strengthening community resilience.
Those interested in participating can learn more about this opportunity at EngagingBellevue. The city will also host an informational webinar about the new program and opportunity on Wednesday, June 3, 7–8 p.m. Register.
“Bellevue is honored to be one of 300 cities worldwide that were given this opportunity to invest in our young people’s futures and ideas,” said Mayor Mo Malakoutian. “We are proud to demonstrate our commitment to Bellevue’s core values of innovation and stewardship by empowering today’s youth to lead tomorrow’s solutions.”
Selected projects and the young people managing them will receive micro grants of up to $5,000 to help bring these climate solutions to life, as well as ongoing guidance from the city and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
“The Youth Climate Action Fund is helping city halls around the world work alongside hundreds of thousands of young people to take action on city climate challenges and improve their communities,” said Patricia E. Harris, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “They are showing how local government can be a partner on issues youth and residents care deeply about – and they are building trust along the way. We look forward to expanding on these efforts and inspiring a new generation of civic leaders.
To date, more than 300,000 young people across five continents have taken part in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund—working with their city halls to create over 1,600 green spaces, plant over 1.8 million plants and 235,000 trees, develop nearly 5,000 gardens, launch 268 composting stations, and collect more than 405,000 pounds of trash and recyclables—producing visible improvements in their communities and bettering quality of life for residents worldwide.
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate and personal philanthropy, as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion.
Those interested can sign up for the Bloomberg newsletter or follow the organization on Instagram, LinkedIn,YouTube, Threads, Facebook and X.