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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $50,000.00 from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Youth Climate Action Fund and to amend the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Office of Sustainability entitled “Youth Climate Action Special Fund,” and appropriating the increase to the Office of Sustainability’s “Youth Climate Action Special Fund” by $50,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding for the Mayor’s Youth Climate Action Fund.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is hereby authorized to accept funds in the amount of $50,000.00 from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Youth Climate Action Fund for the purpose of providing funding for the Mayor’s Youth Climate Action Fund.
§ 2. That Article I, Section 2 of Ordinance No. 2026-063, adopted May 11, 2026, which adopted a Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, and made appropriations pursuant thereto, be and is hereby amended by creating a new special fund for the Office of Sustainability entitled “Youth Climate Action Special Fund” for the purpose of providing funding for the Mayor’s Youth Climate Action Fund.
§ 3. That the funds received from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Youth Climate Action Fund are hereby appropriated to the Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, by increasing estimated revenues by $50,000.00, increasing the amount appropriated for expenditures by $50,000.00, and allotting to the Office of Sustainability’s “Youth Climate Action Special Fund” the sum of $50,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding for the Mayor’s Youth Climate Action Fund.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: May 19, 2026 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Finance & Administration
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance & Administration
THROUGH: Meghan Brown, Director of Budget & Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Sharon Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Laura Thomas, Director of the Office of Sustainability
RE: Office of Sustainability | City of Richmond | NextUp RVA
Mayor’s Youth Climate Action Fund Grant ($50,000) | Request to establish Youth Climate Action Fund Special Fund
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, (i) to accept funds in the amount of $50,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies to (ii) amend the Fiscal Year 2027 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Mayor’s Office called “Youth Climate Action Fund”, and (iii) to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2027 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Mayor’s Office by $50,000, for the purpose of transferring a $50,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to a non-profit organization, NextUp RVA, for fiscal sponsorship, and (iv) to execute a Fiscal Agency Agreement between the City of Richmond and NextUp RVA for the purpose of authorizing NextUp RVA to act as fiscal agent on behalf of the City to administer funding for the Mayor's Youth Climate Action Fund micro-grant program.
BACKGROUND: The City of Richmond has been selected as one of 300 local governments worldwide to receive a $50,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund. The funding will support an open innovation competition inviting young Richmonders ages 15 to 24 to design, develop, and implement projects that advance the city's climate goals. Projects funded through the program will reflect the priorities young people identify for their own neighborhoods, from energy and food access to green space, transportation, and community resilience. Selected projects will receive microgrants between $1,000 and $5,000.
Led by the Office of Sustainability, the Youth Climate Action Fund will be managed in partnership with the Office of the Mayor, the Office of Community Wealth Building, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. An independent review committee will evaluate proposals and select microgrant recipients, ensuring that funding decisions reflect the priorities of the community. The City will launch the micro-grant program in the Summer of 2026 and projects will be selected in the Fall.
In order to meet program timelines, the City will partner with NextUp RVA, a local non-profit organization, to act as a fiscal agent and administer program funds to selected recipient organizations. NextUp RVA maintains a network of over 150 youth development organizations and agencies to help deliver quality after-school and summer programs to Richmond youth and has worked with other City departments (e.g. Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities, Neighborhood and Community Services) to manage and distribute City funds for various initiatives.
The Fiscal Partnership between the City of Richmond and NextUp RVA authorizes NextUp RVA to:
1. Receive funds from the City of Richmond in the amount of $50,000.00 for the Mayor’s Youth Climate Action Fund micro-grant program.
2. Use the Youth Climate Action Fund grant funds to award micro-grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to selected youth organizations by the grantor’s deadline of November 13, 2026.
Specific details of the fiscal partnership are outlined in the Partnership Agreement provided as an attachment to this document.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Prior to program launch, the Office of Sustainability and partners will engage relevant youth organizations and agencies to promote the Youth Climate Action Fund micro-grant program, address questions, and provide guidance on program requirements. Program information will be shared through various City and RVAgreen 2050 engagement channels.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ALIGNMENT: This initiative is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Sustainability and supports strategies in the RVAgreen 2050 Climate Equity Action Plan. The Youth Climate Action Fund is in alignment with the Thriving Families and Thriving Sustainable Built Environment pillars from the Mayoral Action Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: None. NextUp RVA will act as the City’s fiscal agent for this program and distribute micro-grant funds to selected youth organizations. The City will pass-through the $50,000 in grant funds from Bloomberg Philanthropies to NextUp RVA.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 14, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 28, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Mayor's Office, Office of Sustainability
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: Partnership Agreement between NextUp RVA and the City of Richmond
STAFF: Sarah Carpenter, Senior Policy Advisor, Mayor's Office
Michael Smart, Sustainability Engagement Manager, Office of Sustainability