A New Era of Collaboration: Funding the Future on the Spot
Join BBMG, Earth Era Institute, Earth Guardians, Green Jobs Board, and the The Sun Valley Forum for a Climate Week NYC brunch working session bringing together catalytic funders, connectors and emerging climate leaders to advance the urgent opportunity of investing in the next generation of climate leaders. We’ll gather for conversation, connection, and to celebrate intergenerational collaboration, with a tangible goal: to put resources and relationships behind the next generation of climate leaders while we are in the room together.
Right now, less than 1% of global social impact funding goes to youth-led climate solutions. At the same time, Gen Z is one of the largest and most influential generations, shaping politics, the economy, and culture every day. In addition, investing in youth provides a powerful return on investment (ROI). BBMG research shows that more than 64% of Gen Z feels deeply concerned about nature, but growing numbers are becoming inactive or indifferent. Youth are active, strategic, and powerful, but need the resources to support them. Young leaders will also be in the movement for decades, providing a long term return for decades to come.
We are failing to invest in one of the most powerful potential climate solutions: youth leadership, engagement, and action.
“A New Era of Collaboration” is convened by Kristy Drutman of Green Jobs Board, Kevin Patel of Earth Era Institute, and Emmy Scott of Earth Guardians, the inaugural Sun Valley Forum Youth Fellows. Through the Alpine Access Fund, the Forum is building a support system for young leaders to join the Forum community, building meaningful relationships with funders, mentors, practitioners, and peers. The fellowship is designed to extend well beyond the Forum itself, creating opportunities for young leaders to participate, contribute, and access the Forum network year-round. This includes connecting our fellows to mentors, and becoming a part of Sun Valley Forum Impact Hub, which is an online, interactive directory connecting organizations and leaders across the SVF community to the funding, partnerships, and visibility they need to move their work forward.
Each organization brings a critical piece to the table: Earth Guardians provides the structured mentorship and local project development; Earth Era Institute unlocks foundational infrastructure and matching capital; and Green Jobs Board pairs these young leaders directly with local brands and green employers. Sun Valley Forum connects young leaders to a seasoned, intergenerational network and opportunities at the Forum and its year-round events from Climate Week NYC to Davos. BBMG researches and provides storytelling that grows engagement and the ecosystem.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet the inaugural SVF Youth Fellows, hear directly about their work, and make meaningful intergenerational partnership a reality. The event is more than a conversation. We are overdue to help fill the youth climate leadership funding gap, given the ROI it offers, as well as the moral imperative to resource the next generation. We are inviting funders and partners who are prepared to put resources behind these leaders while we are in the room together. Our goal is to raise 300K at the gathering, with a suggested contribution of $20-30,000 per guest, to support Earth Era Institute, Earth Guardians, and Green Jobs Board – and/or SVF Youth Fellowships.
The investment at our gathering will support these young leaders with the funding that makes their work possible, as well as the mentorship and connections the Sun Valley Forum provides. It will also seed relationships among the participants which will provide the community we all need in the work we do.
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM | Venue details shared upon registration
AGENDA:
10:30-11:00 am: Refreshments
11:00-11:45 am: Programming
11:45 am -12:30 pm: Wrap-up refreshments