Have 20 Minutes Around the Holidays? Apply for ACLA!

Check out ecoAmerica’s frequently asked questions below about the 2026 American Climate Leadership Awards and fill out your application before January 5! During ecoAmerica’s December office hours, the American Climate Leadership Awards Program Team provided background information and answered prospective applicants’ questions. Below are some of the questions and answers that emerged from that event.

How many semifinalists and finalists will the American Climate Leadership Awards program recognize?

• 20–30 semifinalists and up to 10 finalists will be selected. 
• From the finalist group, a winner, a runner-up, and a youth winner will be recognized. 

When will I find out if I made it to the next phase?

Semifinalists will be notified on January 30, 2026. 

Who do I contact with questions?

You can send an email to [email protected].

Is the prize money conditional? Do you need to report on how it is spent?

The prize money is for you to further your work. Unlike a grant application, you do not need to provide a report. 

In your application, is it better to be general or focus your submission on a specific initiative?

We recommend that you focus your application on whatever work shows your best results. 

Is it ok to apply as an individual if you work for an org that has also submitted an application?

Anyone is welcome to apply, even if your organization has already applied for the same project. 

Can I apply with more than one project?

Yes, you can present on more than one project. 

Is it ok to link videos in the application and include hyperlinks? What type of support materials are best?

We welcome any support materials that best showcase your work. Videos and hyperlinks are fine; however, we advise you to provide a concise, strong summary of your work for the judges. 

Which has a better chance, an organization or an individual?

ACLA does not favor one over the other. 

Where can I read more about the past winners?

Please read ecoAmerica’s How-To Guides at: https://ecoamerica.org/american-climate-leadership-awards-how-to-guides/

What is involved in the semifinalist phase? I’m worried it might be a lot of work.

1. If you make it to the finalist stage, you will need to create a short 30-second video (and we can help you to do this).
2. One additional Google Form to create a replication guide. You will provide the 5 steps to success and the 3 biggest learnings or suggestions. 

Is it better to provide longer or shorter answers on the application? Brevity is key. We welcome short, impactful sentences and paragraphs. 

What are the best types of success metrics to share?

Whatever makes your application stand out more. 

I am a student. What should I list as a job title?

You would list just that: student. And provide the name of your school. 

The name of the org is required, but I am applying as an individual. How should I approach this?

You can list an organization you are associated with. Your individual application will be obvious in the way you write your submission. 

How can we connect with other finalists post-awards?

The ACLA Program Team would be happy to facilitate introductions. We have done this in the past, and it is another wonderful opportunity via the awards program!

What are my odds of taking home an award?

Last year, over 200 applied for the awards, and a fifth of those applicants went home with financial awards.

Ready to apply? Set aside 20 minutes and submit your application before January 5. If you have questions along the way, the ecoAmerica ACLA team is here to help: [email protected]  

About ecoAmerica
ecoAmerica is a nonprofit organization that moves society toward climate solutions by engaging and supporting trusted national institutions to inspire and empower their millions of members in local communities across America to visibly act and advocate for ambitious, just, climate mitigation, resilience, and restoration.