AMPLIFY GRANTS
Funds and resources for marketing and communications to increase youth engagement and climate action in underrepresented communities.
Deadline
Applications are reviewed with these key dates in mind:
| Application Deadline |
Evaluation period
|
| Coming Soon |
Duration of 40-50 business days (8-10 weeks) after the application deadline. Please note: All applications will only be evaluated beginning on July 6, 2026.
|
Term Length
6 – 12 months
Amount Rewarded
$5,000 – $25,000 per 12-month period
The Purpose of Amplify
Amplify is part of The Youth Harbour’s funding and resourcing for young leaders working at the nexus of environment and social justice. This grant will be for youth leaders looking to increase their visibility and ensure their messaging around social and environmental justice reaches vast audiences, and groups that are often overlooked. This grant will support youth to communicate the urgency and gravity of the climate crisis ensuring that decision-makers across Canada are taking meaningful action.
Application Process
Step 1: Review eligibility guidelines
Step 2: Review helpful materials
Step 3: Review your application with a coach (optional)
- Clarify the application questions or requirements
- Support you in the development of your application answers, project development, budget, impact measurement, etc.
- Recommend where in your application you may need more detail
Step 4: Submit your application
Submit your written application in English, French, or a mixture of both. Alternative submission options (scheduled meeting or video) are described at the bottom of the application.
Overall communication and support is available in English and French.
Funding Areas
These are some project areas you may be seeking funding through The Youth Harbour Amplify Grant. Please indicate in your application if your project falls under a different category that’s not listed below.
1. Engaging communities
E.g. The applicant is seeking funding to carry out activities that engage Canadians from diverse backgrounds, creating a more inclusive climate movement
2. Storytelling for Impact
E.g. The applicant is seeking funding to conduct activities to enable impactful, youth-driven storytelling that connects climate action to the everyday lives of Canadians
3. Sustain youth leadership and organizations
E.g. The applicant is seeking funding to refine or develop the organization’s professional skills in marketing or communications to increase visibility and credibility
Eligible Expenses
Please be as detailed as you can in your budget of how your requested funds will be used, specifically towards marketing and communications. For example, specify in your submitted budget which staff members or contractors will have wages funded by this grant. Examples of eligible expenses for the Amplify grant include:
Wages for designated staff members and contractors working on marketing and communications.
Professional development opportunities and costs related to expanding skills and strategy in marketing, communications, social media, storytelling, community engagement, and impact measurement.
Honorariums for partners and stakeholders supporting your project, such as speakers, contractors, designers, etc.
Software, tools, supplies, subscriptions, and equipment for marketing and communications activities.
Social media related costs to increase reach and engagement (Amplify may not be able to cover the entire requested amount for costs related to social media sponsorship or ads).
Travel expenses related to your project.
Eligibility
Organization or project
The organization or project must:
- Have a project or initiative that will reduce the impacts of the climate crisis in what is currently referred to as Canada.
- Be grassroots in nature and/or conduct not-for-profit activities. The Youth Harbour cannot support for-profit activities.
- The organization or project can have an operating budget of no more than $300,000 CAD annually in order to be eligible.
Age
The organization or project must be led by:
- Youth (aged 30 or under)
AND/OR
- Indigenous folks from Turtle Island (what is currently so-called Canada) can apply aged 35 or under.
HOWEVER
Organizations can apply that are not entirely youth-led, but a specific project must be led by someone aged 30 or under. However, priority in assessment is given to entirely youth-led organizations or projects.
Citizenship
Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, refugee status or a visa.
Language
Applicants can communicate to us in English, French, or a mixture of both.
Applying multiple times
An organization or individual can apply for as many projects or organizations as they are seeking an Amplify Grant for. Only one could be selected for an Amplify Grant during a given cycle.
Applicants may also simultaneously apply to other granting opportunities that The Youth Harbour offers; this does not help or hinder any of their applications in any other granting streams.
Applicants who are not selected can reapply for the next cycle of Amplify Grants.
Application Review Process
Phase 1: Staff Juries Round One
Initial assessment of applications, resulting in a preliminary grantee list and preliminary disbursement list.
ASSESSORS: The Youth Harbour’s assessors (comprised of FES staff members).
Phase 2: Individual Evaluation Committee Assessments
Gain the perspective of youth climate leaders in Canada by intentionally involving them in the assessment and evaluation process.
ASSESSORS: The Youth Harbour’s Amplify Evaluation Committee
Phase 3: Staff Juries Round Two
To determine a final list of accepted applicants and amounts granted per applicant.
ASSESSORS: The Youth Harbour’s assessors
Final Decisions and Next Steps
All applicants will be notified by email when a decision has been made regarding their application.
If your application is successful, grantees of The Youth Harbour can expect to meet with a Youth Harbour staff member to review contracts for signature, disbursement timelines, and general expectations. Update and final reporting templates will be provided and completed on the agreed upon dates between FES and the Youth Harbour grantee.
If your application is unsuccessful in receiving funding this cycle, and if this is your first time applying to The Youth Harbour, you will receive a one-time $25 stipend to compensate you for the time and effort it took for you to complete the application process. You may also indicate if you would like your application to be reconsidered for the following granting cycle.
Ethical Engagement and Granting Guidelines
FES does not support, partner with, affiliate itself with, or provide grants to groups that:
- Perpetuate systemic biases and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, religion, colour, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, or veteran or disability status.
- Promote or support violence, aggression, prejudice, or oppression or any infringement on human rights, with a strong emphasis on the infringement of Indigenous rights.
- Force, coerce, or exclude others based on religious or spiritual beliefs.
- Are connected to political parties, political rallies, or otherwise partisan work.
- Promote or partake in unsustainable practices and/or do not have an adequate climate plan in place to address the climate crisis in response to its unsustainable practices.
- Has a track record of tokenizing youth or disrespecting the voices of youth.