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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Simon Rodriguez, Youth Services Manager
April Fitzhugh, Grant Writer
DATE: 7/7/2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution to Accept the Youth Climate Action Fund grant for the 2026-2027 cycle and Agreement with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in the amount of $50,000 by the Youth Services division to support youth-led projects that address climate challenges.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to request approval from City Council to accept these funds and begin the application process to review and award projects.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2025, the Youth Climate Action Fund has awarded funds to over 30 international cities to address the challenges of climate change in their communities. This grant specifically requests youth-led projects, allowing youth to be a driving factor of their communities in addressing this global crisis. The City of Aurora was selected as one of the 30 international cities for year 2 of this program. Once formally approved by City Council, the Youth Services division will launch this program, working alongside various City departments, including the Mayor's Sustainability team, the Aurora Sustainability Board, the Aurora Youth Council, community partners, and major stakeholders.
DISCUSSION:
This grant is beneficial to the City of Aurora in many ways. It allows our City to be at the forefront of addressing climate concerns, while promoting youth leadership opportunities. Grant funds, distributed as microgrants in the amounts of $1,000-$5,000 per project selected, will completely cover the costs of those selected projects and will not incur any costs from the City's budget. Projects selected will be aligned to the City of Aurora's Sustainability plan, and may include but not limited to, green space/parks and neighborhood clean-up events, recycling programs, tree and other vegetation planting, creating more green space, and any other project that addresses climate change on a local level.
An application website...
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