YouthClimate Connect

What YouthClimate Connect does

YouthClimate Connect (YCC) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2023–2024 by six co-founders from Sudan, Canada, India, and the USA, headquartered in San Francisco, California. The organization trains marginalized youth aged 16–35 in the Global South in Nature-Based Solutions and provides micro-grants for physical ecosystem restoration and water conservation projects through its "Impact Translation Layer" methodology. Its core product is the YCC Academy, a digital learning ecosystem comprising three modules: the Learning Hub for foundational climate education, the Action Lab for global policy simulation, and the Community Space for cross-border collaboration.

The organization runs a portfolio of free programs including the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), a 10-week remote research and advocacy initiative; the Youth Climate Change Startup Program (YCCSP), a two-session online certificate program; the Climate Warrior Stories digital publication platform; and the Annual Youth-Climate Connect Summit. All programs are free to participants. YCC operates a remote-first, volunteer-powered model with 40 team members across 18 countries speaking 10 languages.

Revenue mechanics are donation-based: the organization relies on tax-deductible individual donations through a tiered Founders' Circle campaign ($250 Bronze, $1,000 Silver, $5,000 Gold), a recurring "Friends of YCC" program starting at $5/month, and institutional seed grants. Historically, YCC operated for 2.5 years on zero external funding before launching its first $100,000 operational capital campaign in 2025. Initial institutional support came from National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy seed grants that funded the founding Freshwater Awareness and Community Conservation (FWAC) Program in September 2023. The Horizon 2030 roadmap targets empowering 100,000 youth leaders by 2030 from a current base of 500+ trained and funded participants.

Name

YouthClimate Connect

Legal name

YouthClimate Connect

Website

https://youthclimateconnect.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YouthClimate Connect is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains Global South youth (ages 16–35) in Nature-Based Solutions and funds their local ecosystem restoration projects through its YCC Academy digital learning platform and micro-grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Climate Education and Empowerment

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Youth climate education
• Climate action programs
• Youth empowerment initiatives
• Digital climate learning
• Ecosystem restoration training

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered US 501(c)(3) nonprofit, YCC relies on tax-deductible donations from individual donors. The organization runs a Founders' Circle campaign raising $100,000 in operational seed capital, with tiered giving levels (Gold Founder $5,000+, Silver Founder $1,000+, Bronze Founder $250+). Recurring giving program 'Friends of YCC' accepts monthly or annual contributions starting from $5.
2. Seed Funding and Grants: YCC has received seed funding from the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy for program implementation. The organization is actively pursuing grant funding to support Phase I of Horizon 2030 roadmap.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YouthClimate Connect delivers free digital climate education and leadership programs to Global South youth (ages 16-35) via the YCC Academy platform and complementary programs including the Youth Empowerment Program, Climate Warrior Stories, Youth Climate Change Startup Program, and Annual Summit. The organization combines training in Nature-Based Solutions with micro-grants, enabling trained youth to deploy physical ecosystem restoration and water conservation projects in their local communities.

Product overview

YouthClimate Connect offers a suite of interconnected digital and in-person programs designed to empower youth in the Global South to become climate leaders. The core platform is the YCC Academy — a digital learning ecosystem comprising three modules: the Learning Hub for foundational climate education, the Action Lab for policy simulation and curriculum deployment, and the Community Space for cross-border collaboration. Around this platform, YCC runs multiple programs including the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), a 10-week remote research and advocacy initiative; the Climate Warrior Stories digital publication platform; the Youth Climate Change Startup Program (YCCSP), a two-session online certificate program; and the Annual Youth-Climate Connect Summit, the flagship global gathering. The organization also operates the Impact Translation Layer methodology that connects training to micro-grants for local ecosystem restoration projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YCC Academy: Digital infrastructure for scalable climate education featuring the Learning Hub for capacity building, the Action Lab for global policy simulation, and the Community Space for cross-border collaboration.
• Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)
• Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)
• Climate Warrior Stories
• Youth Climate Change Startup Program (YCCSP)
• Annual Youth-Climate Connect Summit
• Founders' Circle

Products and services

• YCC Academy Digital learning ecosystem providing scalable climate education for Global South youth, featuring the Learning Hub for capacity building, the Action Lab for global policy simulation, and the Community Space for cross-border collaboration.
• Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) A 10-week fully remote initiative focused on Climate Change Advocacy and Research for youth ages 16-35, combining educational workshops, hands-on activities, and mentorship to develop original research, peer review, and public presentation skills. Free program with certificate of completion and publication opportunity.
• Climate Warrior Stories A global digital publication platform amplifying youth climate activist voices globally, inviting individuals to share their climate and environmental activism stories, with selected submissions compiled into a published digital flip-book.
• Youth Climate Change Startup Program (YCCSP) A two-session online initiative exploring climate justice in the Global South, YCC's vision, and practical skills for environmental action, with certificates awarded upon completion. Free and open to everyone.
• Annual Youth-Climate Connect Summit Flagship global event where young leaders showcase innovative climate projects, connect with international organizations and experts, and shape the future of the movement. Held both in-person and virtually with free attendance.
• Freshwater Awareness and Community Conservation (FWAC) Program Seed-funded program bringing together Sudanese students in Egypt to tackle pressing climate and environmental issues, focusing on freshwater awareness and community conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• For every $100 invested, YCC trains and funds a young leader who executes projects securing climate resilience for up to 1,000 people in their local community
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Aspire Leaders ProgramminorOthers · 1 January 2024Abdelslam Taha graduated from the Aspire Leaders Program (2024), providing leadership development and network access that supports YCC's executive leadership capacity.
• Paragon One (now Extern)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Ran the Freshwater and Community Conservation Externship that brought together co-founder Abdelslam Taha and Ibrahim, the pivotal program that inspired YCC's founding. Selena Lopez also completed an externship through this program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yc-c

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YouthClimate Connect