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Applications Invited for the Whitley Awards 2026

Organization: Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN)
Apply By: 31 Oct 2025
Grant Amount: 50000 Pound
About the Organization
Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a fundraising and grant-giving nature conservation charity, generously supported for more than 20 years by our Patron HRH The Princess Royal and WFN Ambassador and former Trustee Sir David Attenborough.
Established in 1993, it has channelled £24 million to 220 conservation leaders in 80 countries across the Global South, benefitting wildlife, landscapes, and people.
About the Grant
Whitley Awards fund grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South and put an international spotlight on winners’ work.
Whitley Awards are for dynamic, mid-career conservationists who are leading wildlife conservation projects in the Global South.
Winners are nationals of the country in which they are working who are seeking to scale up proven work, that is embedded in the local community and would benefit from further funding, a profile boost and international support.
To be eligible, projects must involve communities at the grassroots level and deliver practical action that is founded on science.
Grant Size:
Whitley Awards are worth £50,000 GBP in project funding over one year.
Eligibility
- Wildlife conservation projects led by local leaders based in countries that are not defined as a High Income Economy by the World Bank. Exceptions to this criterion include Equatorial Guinea and certain island nations in the Caribbean. If you have any questions about eligible countries, please contact WFN.
- The Whitley Awards support nationals of the country in which they are working (i.e. you were born there or have lived there a long time and achieved national status.) If you are not a national but believe you have an exceptional case based on long term residency (15+ years) and a demonstrable commitment to that country/region, then please contact WFN.
- We seek grassroots conservationists who are embedded in and/or from the communities where they work. Applicants should work for or lead locally incorporated NGOs in the Global South. In-country staff employed by NGOs headquartered in the Global North are highly unlikely to be shortlisted for an award unless there are exceptional circumstances. We will consider franchised or locally incorporated offshoots of international NGOs. However, they would need to have a fully local team and prove they lack access to funds from other sources.
- Good communicators and passionate people – people who will inspire others and importantly, who will collaborate and share results. Please note applicants must be able to communicate in English. Whilst total fluency in English is not a requirement, the applicant must be able to communicate in English without a translator. This is so that if the applicant is invited for an interview in the UK, they can benefit fully from the Whitley Awards week which involves interviews, networking events, training and media opportunities.
- Leadership and teamwork – Whitley Awards are won by individuals backed by an appropriate team/organisation. Individuals working in isolation and team/joint entries are not eligible.
- Projects that are based on scientific evidence and understanding – this can be in the leader, expertise on the team, or via partners/collaboration.
- Work involving (and benefitting) the local community and stakeholders is essential.
- Ecosystem / landscape level projects are preferred. Genuine flagships are accepted, but not if results are purely species-specific.
- Projects must be able to demonstrate past success and an evidence-based approach. We do not fund pilot projects or work that is at the start-up stage.
- Grassroots, pragmatic work that is realistic, but ambitious too. We look for applicants on the cusp of ‘something big’ and work that is replicable or scalable.
- Actions that will have clear, measurable outcomes – we look for applications that have given careful thought to what indicators can be measured to evidence impact.
- Sustainable projects – we want the work to continue into the future, well past the Whitley Award. Successful proposals will demonstrate long-term planning.
- Projects that demonstrate value for money and ability to manage funding at the Whitley Award level (£40,000). Organisations with Audited Accounts are preferred.
- Projects for which an Award will make a big difference. Priority will be given to those that can demonstrate need.
- Work that needs publicity – ones that will do well if ‘doors can be opened’ via the media and enhanced recognition.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026 Whitley Awards are currently open and close at midnight GMT on 31 October 2025.
To register for our application portal, click here. Once you have received your unique login details you will be able to complete and submit your application online.
For more information please check the Link
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