The City of Mesa is now accepting applications for the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund (MYCAF), a microgrant program that supports youth-led projects focused on conservation, sustainability and community resilience. Young people ages 15 to 24 are eligible to apply for awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and the city plans to distribute a total of $40,000 among selected teams this fall.
Who can apply and deadlines
Teams must include at least two youth and propose projects that directly benefit Mesa residents. Applications are being accepted now through Sept. 14. All funded projects must be completed by March 31, 2027.
Program goals and local impact
MYCAF is designed to pair youth leadership with practical conservation projects while building professional skills in areas such as grant writing, budgeting, project management and community engagement. The city has been awarded the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund three times, allowing Mesa to continue offering the microgrant program.
City leaders say the program produces tangible benefits for neighborhoods, businesses and residents through projects that address water conservation, resource management and neighborhood improvements. In a statement supporting the program, Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman praised the initiative for helping youth collaborate with local organizations and creating projects that provide "lasting benefits for Mesa."
"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 Mayor Mark Freeman.
Track record and examples
Between 2024 and 2025, Mesa awarded more than $124,000 in grants for 30 youth-led projects that engaged over 1,250 community members. Previous projects supported by the initiative included clothing swaps aimed at reducing fast fashion, water conservation efforts, community tree plantings and installation of agrivoltaic demonstration sites.
Program reporting highlights measurable outcomes from those projects: commitments to waste reduction projected to prevent the equivalent of 73 metric tons of CO₂ emissions and plans to divert more than 1,500 pounds of food scraps from landfills each year. The city says many projects led to long-term partnerships between youth teams and local organizations.
Application process and selection
Applications are evaluated by a volunteer committee. The committee reviews proposals to ensure projects will benefit the Mesa community and can be completed within the program timeline. Awarded teams receive microgrants between $1,000 and $5,000 to implement their plans.
- Eligibility: youth ages 15–24, teams of two or more
- Award amounts: $1,000–$5,000 per project
- Total available funding: $40,000
- Application deadline: Sept. 14
- Project completion deadline: March 31, 2027
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total program funds (this round) | $40,000 |
| Individual grant range | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Past grants (2024–25) | $124,000+ |
| Community members engaged (2024–25) | 1,250+ |
To apply or learn more, applicants are directed to the City of Mesa website at mesaaz.gov/MYCAF. The city recommends applicants review program guidance and plan timelines that meet the March 2027 completion requirement.
For Mesa, the fund represents an opportunity to invest in young leaders while advancing local sustainability goals during a period of growing concern about water resources and resilience in the region. By focusing on youth-led, neighborhood-scale projects the city seeks both immediate benefits and longer-term partnerships that can continue beyond the grant cycle.
