Location: Wherever your work is located
Experience: Open to young people, aged 18-34 years
Compensation: $5,000 grant
Closes on: September 29, 2025
UMI Fund
UMI Fund drives a just and equitable transition to zero waste by empowering youth-led, community-driven projects worldwide. Focused on environmental justice, it supports young leaders and groups, especially in the Global South, committed to inclusive organics waste management and informal waste workers’ rights. Through microgrants and capacity-building, UMI Fund nurtures innovative campaigns and grassroots solutions that challenge systemic inequities and promote sustainable waste practices. The Fund’s mission is to create resilient communities where zero waste is embraced collaboratively, advancing climate justice and social equity for present and future generations.
Role
Join a global movement for environmentally just zero waste by leading a project that centres informal waste worker inclusion and organics waste management. This grant opportunity supports youth individuals, groups, or organisations with resources and guidance to implement impactful community campaigns.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement community-led zero waste or composting projects emphasising environmental justice principles.
- Engage and build relationships with informal waste workers and key stakeholders.
- Campaign to shift public attitudes on zero waste, workers’ rights, and sustainable organic waste management.
- Monitor and evaluate project outcomes with qualitative and quantitative tools.
- Maintain financial accountability and document project progress through reports, photos, and videos.
Requirements
- Youth aged 18-34; youth leadership for groups or organisations.
- Clear project proposal with 3-9 month implementation plan (Jan–Sep 2026).
- Commitment to climate justice and embedding environmental justice principles.
- Understanding of zero waste best practices and community mobilisation.
- Submission of a short (up to 3 minutes) video introducing the applicant and motivation.
- Excludes previous microgrant winners and current UMI Fund grantees.
- Projects must be non-partisan, non-violent, and favour those from the Global South and vulnerable communities.
Benefits
- Microgrant funding up to USD 5,000 (or £7,000 GBP depending on campaign phase).
- Support for creative, inclusive composting and informal waste worker projects.
- Capacity-building guidance and grant management assistance.
- Opportunity to contribute to global zero waste and environmental justice movements.
- Expected project period from January to September 2026.
Apply
Read details, like eligibility criteria and what will not be funded. For queries, contact microgranting@umifund.org.
