The Comic Relief Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has officially opened applications for the 2026 cycle of the Juntanza Fund, a global grantmaking initiative that supports youth-led programs, campaigns, and organizations creating social impact. Now in its third year, the Juntanza Fund continues to invest in young changemakers who are driving solutions in their communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America.
The fund takes its name from the word Juntanza, an expression rooted in Afro-descendant communities in Colombia that signifies collective action, mutual support, and working together for the common good. This guiding principle shapes the fund’s mission to resource youth-powered innovations that advance justice, equity, and community development.
About the Juntanza Fund
The Juntanza Fund seeks to uplift youth-led efforts that are addressing urgent social issues through service projects, advocacy, community organizing, and creative problem-solving. The initiative is powered by Comic Relief and guided by the Youth Advisory Council, a diverse group of young leaders who co-design priorities and select grantees. Their lived experiences inform the fund’s commitment to equity, representation, and inclusion.
For 2026, the fund focuses on three core issue areas:
Health and Well-being
This pillar supports initiatives improving the mental, physical, and emotional health of young people, especially those facing intersecting challenges such as poverty, limited access to health services, adolescent pregnancy, disabilities, and stigma. Supported projects may strengthen community health systems, expand youth-friendly care, promote mental health literacy, or improve access to sexual and reproductive health information.
Technology, Art, and Narrative Change
This area funds youth-led innovations using digital tools, creative arts, and storytelling to drive social transformation. Many young people face barriers such as algorithmic bias, digital exclusion, and limited representation in media. The fund supports projects that build digital resilience, create inclusive content, challenge hate speech, combat misinformation, and elevate community narratives.
Climate and Sustainability
This category invests in solutions addressing the growing climate crisis. Young leaders are developing science-driven, community-centered approaches to climate adaptation, environmental protection, and sustainable livelihoods. Projects may address land degradation, flooding, food insecurity, or rising heat impacts, while strengthening resilience among rural and vulnerable communities.
Why It Matters
Across the world, young people are leading movements and designing innovative responses to complex challenges, but they often lack access to resources, decision-making spaces, and institutional support. The Juntanza Fund helps close this gap by offering direct financial assistance, visibility, and mentorship to youth who typically face barriers in traditional grant systems.
By investing in youth-led initiatives, the fund strengthens grassroots leadership, supports community resilience, and amplifies voices that are frequently overlooked. It allows young changemakers to scale their work, improve local wellbeing, and influence policies and narratives that shape the future. For communities dealing with inequality, climate vulnerability, and limited health access, this support can be transformational.
Grant Amount
Successful applicants may receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 USD for projects running for up to one year.
Geographic Focus
Eligible projects must be based in one of the following countries:
Africa: Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zambia
Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan
Latin America: Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico
North America: United States
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, applicants must meet the following:
• The organization must be a US-registered 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor. International organizations may request fiscal sponsorship through Comic Relief’s partner, Moore Impact.
• Must have an operational bank account that can receive funds from the United States.
• Must provide an organizational budget showing income and expenses.
• Must have governance oversight through a board, advisory council, or leadership group.
• Leadership and/or board must be composed of at least 50 percent young people aged below 25.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to child safeguarding and protection.
• Must show a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Project teams must include at least three young people aged 18–25 actively leading the work.
• Projects must support youth from low-income backgrounds, based on the poverty threshold of the implementing country.
Grant Process and Timeline
• Review the eligibility checklist on the application form to ensure a good fit.
• Submit your application by Monday, December 8, 2025.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by Youth Advisory Council members.
• Selected organizations will be notified in mid-December.
• Funding will be released within one month of signing the grant agreement or one month before project start date.
• All projects must begin sometime between January and December 2026.
• Grantees will attend a midpoint virtual check-in with YAC members and fellow recipients.
• A final report must be submitted at project completion, including a financial breakdown and media documentation of outcomes such as photos or videos.
How to Apply
Complete and submit the application form through the official link
Apply Here
