Youth Sustainability Ambassador Grant Pilot Program

The Youth Sustainability Ambassador Grant Pilot Program is a funding initiative under the City of Aspen’s Commit to Tomorrow Campaign. Developed by the Environmental Health and Sustainability Department, the program supports youth-led environmental and climate action projects within the Aspen community. The goal of this initiative is to cultivate local youth leadership in climate resilience and sustainability through hands-on experiences. The program offers up to $1,500 in funding per project, along with mentorship opportunities, to assist young people in transforming innovative climate ideas into actionable community-based solutions. In doing so, it furthers the city’s broader mission to protect and nurture an equitable, healthy, and resilient environment through collaboration, innovation, and purposeful public service. The Youth Sustainability Ambassador Grant is specifically aimed at empowering youth 24 years old or younger who either reside within Aspen's urban growth boundary or attend Aspen Public Schools. Eligible applicants must submit a sustainable project idea that engages the community and advances the City of Aspen’s environmental goals. The selected projects must align with at least one of the categories outlined in the Aspen Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP), which includes Buildings, Waste, Transportation, Energy, Nature & Recreation, and Resilience. Each of these categories includes suggested project types, such as retrofitting vehicles with solar power, organizing eco-friendly community events, or promoting air quality preparedness in the face of wildfire smoke. Funding can be applied toward project materials (such as tools, construction items, and supplies), travel costs, or other allowable expenses including food for meetings, event space rentals, and communication/outreach efforts. The example budget in the guidance document demonstrates how awardees may allocate funds for KN95 masks, air purifiers, promotional flyers, and event-related costs. The funding is intended to not only support the practical implementation of these projects but also to build the applicants' skills in planning, budgeting, and executing environmental initiatives. The program follows a set timeline for the 2025–2026 cycle. Applications open on December 5, 2025, and are due by 5:00 p.m. on January 26, 2026. Selected ambassador projects will be announced in mid-to-late February 2026, followed by a project implementation period running from February through May 2026. A community showcase of the completed projects is tentatively scheduled for June 2026. While there is no indication of a required Letter of Intent or pre-application step, applicants are encouraged to review the detailed scoring criteria and example projects provided in the official Ambassador Application Guidance Document. Evaluation of proposals will be based on four main weighted criteria: community impact (35%), feasibility (30%), alignment with program goals (25%), and creativity/innovation (10%). Reviewers will assess how clearly applicants identify a community problem, the realism and completeness of their plan, the alignment of their ideas with the ASAP framework, and the originality of their approach. Each criterion is scored on a scale from 0 to 5, with 5 indicating an outstanding submission. Clear, measurable outcomes—such as number of people impacted, items reused, or emissions reduced—are emphasized in the guidance. To assist applicants, the City of Aspen provides a PDF guidance document that outlines expectations, examples, and the evaluation rubric. For additional questions, prospective applicants are directed to email [email protected]. Through this grant program, the City aims to promote youth-driven climate action and deepen public engagement with sustainability topics, ensuring a new generation of leaders are equipped to address local environmental challenges.

Focus on measurable outcomes and clear community impact. Reviewers prioritize feasibility and alignment with climate goals.