£50,000 for Grassroots Wildlife Conservation Leaders – Whitley Awards

The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is offering £50,000 in project funding through its 2027 Whitley Awards, supporting grassroots conservation leaders who are scaling proven solutions to protect wildlife, ecosystems and biodiversity.

The awards are designed for mid-career conservationists leading established, community-based projects, combining funding with international recognition, training and professional support.

Here’s what you can expect:

• £50,000 in project funding

• Funding provided over one year

• International recognition and profile-raising opportunities

• Professional communications and media support

• Peer learning, training and collaboration opportunities

• Access to an international network of conservation leaders

• Opportunity to become eligible for future Continuation Funding

• Potential future eligibility for the Whitley Gold Award

• Support for projects that can demonstrate measurable conservation impact and potential to scale

Who can apply?

• Grassroots conservation leaders who are nationals of the country where they work

• Applicants working for a locally incorporated NGO, charity, nonprofit organisation or university

• Conservationists working in an eligible country, primarily countries not classified as high-income economies by the World Bank

• Applicants leading established projects with evidence of previous success

• Projects protecting threatened ecosystems and biodiversity

• Projects delivering measurable conservation outcomes at a landscape or seascape level

• Projects that actively involve and benefit Indigenous peoples and local communities

• Applicants who can communicate verbally in English

• Projects with the potential to be scaled or replicated

• Applicants supported by an experienced team or organisation

Projects should be practical and science-based, with clear evidence that the work can create lasting conservation impact.

WFN does not generally fund start-up or pilot projects, pure academic research, MSc or PhD fieldwork, expeditions, land purchases, building construction, captive animal rehabilitation or projects without clear conservation outcomes.

Funding: £50,000 over one year

Deadline: 23:59 GMT on Friday, 30 October 2026

Winners will be announced at the Whitley Awards Ceremony in London in Spring 2027.