Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City's acceptance of $50,000 in grant funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies (in partnership with Rockefeller Philanthropies) and amends the Community Development Division's 2026 Adopted Operating Budget. The Community Development Division's revenue and purchased services will be adjusted to reflect the $50,000 award within Munis Fund 1220 (Other Grants). No General Fund appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the City of Madison, via its Community Development Division (CDD), to accept up to $50,000 in grant funding from the Bloomberg/Rockefeller Philanthropies to implement the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF); authorizing the Mayor to sign a YCAF Program Charter with the Grantor to formally accept these funds; and amending CDD's 2026 Adopted Operating Budget as appropriate to recognize the additional grant revenue and commensurate expenditures.
Body
BACKGROUND
In 2024, the City of Madison, through its Office of Sustainability (OOS), in partnership with its Community Development Division (CDD), applied for and was awarded the first round of Youth Climate Action Funds from Bloomberg Philanthropies, joining a global cohort of municipalities committed to amplifying youth leadership in addressing the climate crisis. The City partnered with United Way of Dane County (UWDC) and University of Wisconsin-Extension to implement the Youth Climate Action Fund through By Youth For Youth, an existing program that empowers teens to distribute funding to youth-led projects. Through this initial round, eight youth-led projects were funded, with UWDC serving as the fiscal agent for the funds.
Following the successful implementation of the first round, the City, through OOS, in partnership with CDD, was invited to apply for a second round of funding and was subsequently awarded an additional $100,000. This funding supported seventeen additional youth-led projects, with UWDC continuing to serve as the fiscal agent. Building on this success, the City of Madison was invited to apply for a third competitive round of funding and, on April 21, 2026, was notified of its selection.
For this third round of funding, the City of Madison, through CDD in partnership with OOS, will serve as the fiscal agent, representing a transition from UWDC as fiscal agent for prior rounds. This round will follow a structure similar to the previous cycles, providing resources to support at least eight youth-led projects aligned with the City's Sustainability Plan. The grant timeline requires the City to open the application process in mid-summer, with applications closing no later than mid-October. All projects must be awarded funding by December and completed by April 2027. This timeline and implementation approach are consistent with the City's administration of the previous two funding cycles.
Over the past two rounds of Youth Climate Action Funds, the City of Madison has been able to support 25 youth-led projects, which have included tree plantings, neighborhood clean-ups, and local gardening projects that provided culturally relevant food for their neighborhoods. They have also included a youth-led climate conference that hundreds of young people attended, as well as a bike repair shop embedded into East High School, along with a range of other youth-led efforts focused on sustainability and community impact.
ACTION
WHEREAS, the City of Madison, through its Community Development Division (CDD) in partnership with its Office of Sustainability (OOS), applied for and has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with Rockefeller Philanthropies, to implement a third round of the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF); and,
WHEREAS, the Youth Climate Action Fund supports youth-led climate initiatives and is intended to amplify youth leadership while advancing strategies that improve the well-being of young people and their communities; and,
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division's 2026 Adopted Operating Budget includes funding that supports youth-focused programming, including Neighborhood Center funding and school-age child and youth services; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has successfully partnered with community organizations to implement two previous rounds of the Youth Climate Action Fund, resulting in the funding and completion of twenty-five youth-led projects; and,
WHEREAS, the Youth Climate Action Fund aligns with and advances the goals outlined in the City of Madison's 2024 Sustainability Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the City's acceptance of a $50,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with Rockefeller Philanthropies, to be administered by the Community Development Division for the purpose of implementing the third round of the Youth Climate Action Fund; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor to sign a YCAF Program Charter with Bloomberg Philanthropies, contingent upon said charter's affirmative review by the City Attorney's Office, to formally accept the funds; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Community Development Division's 2026 Adopted Operating Budget is hereby amended as appropriate to recognize this additional grant revenue and commensurate expenditures.