We Have a World to Win: Youth at the Front of Change

In the coming months, we face a host of unknowns as the new president-elect prepares to take his place in the White House, backed by Republican majorities in Congress and the Supreme Court, and amidst intensifying imperialist, white supremacist, and ecological crises. We know that this current moment might be filled with doubt, fear, and nervousness, about the next steps forward - whether you’re a youth organizer or you’ve been doing this all your life. 

What we do know is that at Youth Climate Finance Alliance, we believe that the work of an organizer, above all else, is to win. The best leaders leave more leaders in their wake and their egos at the door.

As an organization led by young women of color, we know that some of the best ways we can respond to feelings of disillusionment and apathy is by taking collective action. It is collective action that equips youth organizers with the organizing fundamentals, political education, non-violent direct action skills and transformative organizing relationships they need to become the enduring movement leaders we need. 

Through coaching, network building, training, and funding, we believe in growing the power of grassroots youth fighting to end extractive industries to prepare them for a lifetime of powerful organizing leadership. 

Young people in YCFA’s network are responding to this moment of crisis - not by burying their heads in the sand or throwing up their hands - but instead by:

• …planning protests to fight pipeline and petrochemical expansion in their communities,
• …breaking down the divides between climate and anti-imperialist youth organizing through campus campaigning against Citibank,
• …hosting political education circles with their peers,
• …sharpening their power analyses and storytelling skills,
• …And so much more! 

Youth organizers have immense revolutionary potential, even as they are understanding the specifics of the world they’re working to build. They are learning how to create organizing structures that go beyond a single semester or election season. Your gift to close out 2024 helps YCFA continue to make this possible. 

There’s so many challenges and uphill battles in the fights ahead. Amidst so many crises, the way we fund social change in this country and invest in organizing is broken. 

• This last election cycle saw billions wasted on high dollar campaigning for presidential campaigns filled with celebrities and high consultants fees. ( Forbes )
• In 2021, the Nonprofit Finance Fund reported that 41% of white-led nonprofits received over half their income as unrestricted funding compared to BIPOC-led orgs receiving 26%. “Unrestricted funding is critical for most nonprofits; it lets them decide how to spend their funds to best support their work.”
• In a 2022 survey, only 0.76% of climate grants from the largest climate foundations go to youth-led climate justice initiatives. ( ClimateWorks Foundation + The Hour is Late )
• For the five-year period from 2014 through 2018 the funding gap between white-led and BIPOC-led environmental and conservation organizations is approximately $2.7 billion. ( InDEEP )

Grassroots donors can change all of that. 

When you give to YCFA, your dollars go straight to our team and programs supporting radical youth at the front of change. 

• More than 46% of YCFA’s 2024 budget was spent on direct regranting and support for youth and frontline organizers through our YCFA Organizer Support Fund and other financial support programs. 
• Since July 2024, we’ve nearly tripled requests for support and resources from youth in our network, compared to our October 2023 launch! With demand soaring and more need than ever for expanded access for youth to receive on the ground and virtual training in organizing fundamentals, political education, and direct action across the country, we’re prioritizing expanding our program budget to deliver high impact and support our team. We’re just $7,595 shy from fully funding Bonfire , our first ever organizing convergence in February 2025 in Houston, TX! 
• Just 36% of YCFA’s 2024 budget has been spent on personnel. Supporting a livable wage for a staff team of exclusively racialized young women to scale up their hours to meet the demand of our programs is a crucial part of sustaining our movement and momentum! 

Whether it’s $1, $10, or $1000, we make sure your contribution goes where it’s most needed and stays accountable to the movement.

Can you help us meet our goal to raise $7,500 and reach 125 NEW donors by December 31, 2024?

ycfalliance.com 
YCFA 🌱 A youth-led & youth-centered network taking on corporate climate villains and ending extractive industries. You can always see transparent finances at hcb.hackclub.com/youth-climate-finance-alliance