About this opportunity
The Indigenous Youth Fellowship has been running since 2018 and has awarded more than 157 fellowships, reaching over 350 Indigenous young people worldwide. Its aim is straightforward: put money and a support network behind an idea that a group of young people already wants to carry out for their own community. For 2027 the fellowship offers USD 2,500 to USD 5,000 depending on the size of the project, and each project should last between three and six months. Fellows work alongside Cultural Survival staff and a local mentor who voluntarily offers guidance, encouragement and feedback throughout the work.
The 2027 call is organised around three themes. Under climate change solutions, fellows might restore ecosystems and biodiversity, resist transition mineral mining, or strengthen local resilience and traditional, place-based knowledge. Under culture and languages, projects have strengthened culture bearers and language leaders, supported cultural and artistic expression, and passed on traditional knowledge, spirituality, ceremony and self-governance. Under lands and livelihoods, the emphasis is on land defense and autonomy, food sovereignty and Indigenous economies, the protection of traditional territories, and Indigenous rights and gender diversity. Eligible activities range from skills training and workshops to infrastructure improvements, multimedia, craft and media projects and other forms of community engagement.
Applicants must be Indigenous youth, or a group of youth, between 18 and 28 years old, committed to working with Cultural Survival and meeting the programme dates, and preferably fluent in or interested in learning an Indigenous language. Former Cultural Survival Youth Fellows are not eligible. The organisation states that it prioritises gender balance, actively encourages applications from women and 2SLGBTIQ+ youth, and takes geographic diversity into account when selecting. For 2027 applications are welcomed from the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Brazil; from Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines; and from Mali, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.
The schedule is published in full. Proposal concepts were invited from 4 October 2026 and close on 25 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, selected fellows are announced on 4 December 2026, the awarding stage runs from January to February 2027, an orientation session takes place in March 2027, and projects begin on 1 April 2027, to be implemented during the execution period the provider states as March to September 2027. Applications are accepted in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
What you receive
- USD 2,500 to USD 5,000 for a community project, sized to the proposal
- Guidance, encouragement and feedback from Cultural Survival staff throughout the project
- A local mentor chosen to support the specific project
- An orientation session in March 2027 before projects begin
- Leadership development and a platform to bring local issues into global dialogue
- A network of more than 350 Indigenous youth who have held the fellowship since 2018
Who can apply
- Applicant is an Indigenous youth, or a group of Indigenous youth, aged 18 to 28
- The project is multidisciplinary, creative and community driven, and benefits an Indigenous community
- Applicant is committed to working with Cultural Survival and to meeting the programme deadlines
- Applicant is preferably fluent in, or interested in learning, an Indigenous language
- Project runs for three to six months and is implemented during the 2027 execution period
- Project addresses at least one of the three stated themes: climate change solutions, culture and languages, or lands and livelihoods
- For 2027 the call welcomes applicants from the Americas, from Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines, and from Mali, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo
- Applications are accepted in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French
Who should not apply
- Former Cultural Survival Youth Fellows are not eligible
- Applicants outside the age range of 18 to 28 are not in scope for this youth fellowship
- Proposal concepts submitted after 25 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time are outside the call
- Projects that fall outside the three stated themes are not covered by this round
Documents to prepare
- A proposal concept describing the community need the project addresses
- An outline of the intended activities and how they run over three to six months
- An explanation of how the project contributes to the community and fits one of the three themes
- A budget consistent with a project of USD 2,500 to USD 5,000
- A Cultural Survival Good Grants account, which must be created before the concept is submitted
How to apply
- Read the full call and download the information packet at https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/2027-indigenous-youth-fellowship-call-project-proposals.
- Identify the community need and choose which of the three themes the project serves: climate change solutions, culture and languages, or lands and livelihoods.
- Create an account on the Cultural Survival Good Grants portal at https://culturalsurvival.grantplatform.com/.
- Write a proposal concept that states the need, the activities, the community benefit and the project size within the USD 2,500 to USD 5,000 range.
- Submit the concept through Good Grants by 25 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- Attend an information session if useful. The provider lists a session for Africa and Asia on 13 October 2026 at 3:45 PM Kathmandu time and a United States session on 15 October 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time.
- Watch for the outcome. Selections are announced on 4 December 2026, funds are awarded between January and February 2027, orientation runs in March 2027 and projects begin on 1 April 2027.
Selection process
- Cultural Survival reviews the proposal concepts submitted through its Good Grants portal
- Gender balance is prioritised, with applications from women and 2SLGBTIQ+ youth actively encouraged
- Geographic diversity is taken into account during selection
- Selected fellows are notified on 4 December 2026 and the awarding stage follows between January and February 2027
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
How much is the fellowship worth?
Between USD 2,500 and USD 5,000, set according to the size of the project being proposed.
Can a group apply, or only one person?
The call supports an Indigenous youth applicant or a group of youth leading the project together.
Which African countries are in scope for 2027?
Mali, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.
When does the call close?
Proposal concepts close on 25 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, with results announced on 4 December 2026.
Is there an application fee?
No. Applying through the Good Grants portal is free, and the fellowship money goes to the project.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
