Youth Climate Action Team
Youth Climate Action Team Inc. (YCAT) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that delivers climate education and advocacy through a volunteer network of 2,500+ organizers across 30+ countries, anchored by its free YCAMP summer program for students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersMclean, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Youth Climate Action Team does
Youth Climate Action Team Inc. (YCAT) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization (EIN #85-3217345) headquartered in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area that delivers climate justice advocacy, climate education, and outreach through a volunteer-driven model. The organization operates across every inhabited continent with 2,500+ volunteer organizers in 30+ countries and 17 regional branches, reaching 300,000+ individuals through grassroots organizing initiatives including lobbying, climate education, social-media campaigns, workshops, school outreach, and direct action. Its core product is YCAMP (Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program), a free online summer program for rising 4th–7th graders delivered via Zoom; supporting products include the Turtle's Climate Adventure picture book (sold on Amazon), the YCAT Student Research Journal, a Climate Info Hub content platform, a weekly newsletter, a podcast, and a $10 bracelet merchandise storefront that funds YCAMP operations.
YCAT's underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight, relying on a Wix-hosted website, Zoom for virtual programming, Google Forms for volunteer and member recruitment, GoFundMe for donations, and social media channels (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn) for distribution; no proprietary mobile app, API, or AI/ML capability is deployed. Revenue is generated primarily through small-dollar donations and merchandise sales, with no disclosed institutional grants, major donors, or published financials. The organization is led by a top-heavy Board of Directors executing through 9 core teams (Social Media, Finance, Operations, CEE, Global Affairs, Press, Policy, Communications, Logistics), with Samir Chowdhury as Founder and Chairman, Tatiana Hlinka as Executive Director, and Odessa Zhang as Co-Founder and Senior Advisor.
Youth Climate Action Team firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Youth Climate Action Team
- Legal name
- Youth Climate Action Team Inc.
- Website
- https://ycatinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Youth Climate Action Team Inc. (YCAT) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that delivers climate education and advocacy through a volunteer network of 2,500+ organizers across 30+ countries, anchored by its free YCAMP summer program for students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Youth Climate Action Team industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Advocacy & Environmental Education
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainability Engagement, Training & Behavior Change Programs (On-site) (BPABALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI)
Keywords
Where Youth Climate Action Team is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mclean
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Youth Climate Action Team business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: YCAT accepts donations through GoFundMe platform. As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization (EIN #85-3217345), donations may be tax-deductible.
- Merchandise Sales (Bracelet Fundraiser): YCAT sells bracelets and merchandise through their fundraiser shop. Proceeds support environmental education initiatives, specifically YCAT's Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program (YCAMP). Bracelets priced at $10 each.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | YCAMP - Free summer program for rising 4th-7th graders |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Youth Climate Action Team product offering
Product offeringCore offering
YCAT provides youth-driven climate justice advocacy, climate education, and grassroots organizing services. Its flagship offering is YCAMP (Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program), a free online summer program for rising 4th-7th graders featuring interactive climate lessons. The organization also publishes a children's picture book (Turtle's Climate Adventure) and a student research journal, and engages in lobbying, social-media campaigns, school outreach, and direct action across 30+ countries.
Product overview
Youth Climate Action Team Inc. (YCAT) operates as a unified nonprofit organization offering multiple interconnected climate action programs and educational products. The core flagship program is YCAMP (Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program), a free virtual summer program teaching environmental education to children. Supporting this mission are the Turtle's Climate Adventure picture book and the YCAT Student Research Journal, which extend educational reach to different age groups. The Climate Info Hub, Newsletter, and Podcast serve as ongoing content platforms providing climate education and updates. The Core Teams Program and Global Branches Network provide volunteer engagement pathways, while the Bracelet Fundraiser Shop generates revenue to sustain YCAMP operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- YCAMP: Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program - a free online environmental education program for youth launched during COVID-19 in 2021.
- Turtle's Climate Adventure
- YCAT Student Research Journal
- Clean America Project
Products and services
- YCAMP (Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program) YCAMP is YCAT's flagship free online summer program for rising 4th through 7th graders internationally. It teaches children about the environment and climate change through interactive lessons, art projects, and video games. Programs range from 3-7 weeks, run by high school and college volunteers, and are led by the Director of CEE. The 2024 program was held July 16-30 via Zoom with classes 1 hour long and times varying by timezone.
- Turtle's Climate Adventure Picture Book Turtle's Climate Adventure is an interactive children's picture book that introduces climate change to elementary school students through a turtle protagonist. It is co-authored by Vihaan Mathur, Odessa Zhang, Odessa Hott, and Sonia Mukherjee and illustrated by Jasper Jimenez. Sold on Amazon as eBook and Paperback, the book includes a free Activity Guide PDF with discussion questions, coloring pages, and a word search.
- YCAMP Fundraiser Bracelet Shop The YCAMP Fundraiser Bracelet Shop is an online storefront selling themed bracelets (such as Sunshine Twist, Ocean Bow, Spring Day, Fairy Dust, and Emeralds) at $10 each. All proceeds support environmental education initiatives, specifically the YCAMP Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program. The shop is run by YCAT's CEE department as a fundraising channel.
- YCAT Student Research Journal The YCAT Student Research Journal is a free publishing platform for student-conducted environmental research. It accepts various research types and provides students with a medium to publish their work, with issues released periodically.
Companies that use Youth Climate Action Team
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Youth Climate Action Team technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Youth Climate Action Team partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)majorCollaborated with EPA on climate initiatives and advocacy efforts as part of YCAT's mission to bridge non-climate groups with the climate movement.
- United Nations Environment ProgrammemajorWorked with the Executive Director of UNEP, organizing international initiatives and global climate action efforts.
- The White HousemajorCollaborated with White House on climate policy, with board member Samir Chowdhury having national policymaking experience at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
- Harvard Institute of PoliticsmajorPartnered with Harvard Institute of Politics for climate advocacy and youth engagement initiatives.
- Stanford School of MedicinemajorCollaborated with Stanford School of Medicine on climate-related research and initiatives.
- Council on Environmental QualityminorYCAT board member Samir Chowdhury worked on national policymaking at the Council on Environmental Quality.
- Commonwealth ClubminorCollaborated with Commonwealth Club on climate programming and speaker events.
- Climate Reality ProjectminorPartnered with Climate Reality Project for climate activism and education initiatives.
- AmazonminorAmazon serves as the distribution platform for Turtle's Climate Adventure picture book (eBook and Paperback).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Youth Climate Action Team competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sunrise Movement: US-based youth climate advocacy organization focused on the Green New Deal and political mobilization. Directly comparable as a youth-powered climate advocacy nonprofit pursuing policy influence and intersectional climate action.
- Earth Guardians: Youth-led international environmental organization that trains young climate leaders and runs school-based climate programs. Closely comparable mission and demographic to YCAT, including international reach and youth-driven governance.
- Zero Hour: Youth-led climate justice organization focused on intersectional climate action, policy advocacy, and youth mobilization. Mirrors YCAT's focus on diversity, equity, and bridging non-climate groups into the climate movement.
- Climate Reality Project: Al Gore-founded climate education and advocacy nonprofit that trains grassroots climate leaders globally. Direct peer as both organizations deliver climate education and mobilization, and Climate Reality Project is already an explicit YCAT partner.
- Fridays for Future: Global youth-led climate strike movement founded by Greta Thunberg. Operates as the dominant international youth climate brand, with national chapters that overlap with YCAT's target volunteer demographic and mission of youth-driven climate action.
- Earth Uprising: Youth-led climate advocacy nonprofit that mobilizes young people through training, campaigns, and policy engagement. Similar age range, organizational structure, and grassroots model as YCAT.
Broad incumbents
- National Geographic Society: Major science and exploration nonprofit that runs climate education programs and the Young Explorers program that recognized YCAT's Vihaan Mathur. Comparable in climate education mission and youth engagement focus, but with vastly greater resources and media reach.
- Earthday.org (Earth Day Network): Global environmental organization best known for Earth Day mobilization, with significant youth education programming. Comparable in mission of broad climate literacy, but vastly larger scale and institutional backing.
- 350.org: Global grassroots climate organization founded by Bill McKibben that runs mass mobilizations and divestment campaigns. Broader scope and resources than YCAT, but overlapping mission of building a global climate movement and engaging youth activists.
- Sierra Club: One of the oldest and largest US environmental organizations, with active youth programs and grassroots chapters. Much larger and more established than YCAT, but comparable mission of environmental education, advocacy, and volunteer mobilization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Youth Climate Action Team social profiles
Digital presenceYouth Climate Action Team compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Youth Climate Action Team financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Youth Climate Action Team leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Youth Climate Action Team funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Youth Climate Action Team M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Youth Climate Action Team
What does Youth Climate Action Team do?
YCAT provides youth-driven climate justice advocacy, climate education, and grassroots organizing services. Its flagship offering is YCAMP (Youth Climate Action Midsummer Program), a free online summer program for rising 4th-7th graders featuring interactive climate lessons. The organization also publishes a children's picture book (Turtle's Climate Adventure) and a student research journal, and engages in lobbying, social-media campaigns, school outreach, and direct action across 30+ countries.
Is Youth Climate Action Team a public or private company?
Youth Climate Action Team is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Youth Climate Action Team founded?
Youth Climate Action Team was founded in 2021. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Youth Climate Action Team based?
Youth Climate Action Team is headquartered in Mclean, United States, in the North America region.
How does Youth Climate Action Team make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales (Bracelet Fundraiser).
Who are Youth Climate Action Team's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sunrise Movement, Earth Guardians, Zero Hour, Climate Reality Project, Fridays for Future and Earth Uprising. Broad incumbents are National Geographic Society, Earthday.org (Earth Day Network), 350.org and Sierra Club.
Does Youth Climate Action Team have an API?
No public API is recorded for Youth Climate Action Team.
What industry is Youth Climate Action Team in?
Youth Climate Action Team's product category is Climate Advocacy & Environmental Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABALAK, Sustainability Engagement, Training & Behavior Change Programs (On-site), with a secondary code of EDAMABAI, Earth Science & Geoscience Programs. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8200.