Whitley Fund for Nature (Whitley Awards)

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Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 13:43

Whitley Fund for Nature champions conservation leaders working in their home countries, particularly in the Global South. Flagship Whitley Awards provide project funding of GBP 40,000 to GBP 100,000 alongside public recognition. Projects often integrate community engagement, environmental education, and scientific research for effective conservation.

Source: https://whitleyaward.org

Funding Details

Funder: Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN)
Funding Goal: Fund wildlife and biodiversity conservation projects led by local conservation leaders in the Global South. Projects must demonstrate past success, community involvement, and clear measurable conservation outcomes at ecosystem or landscape level.
Funding Amount: Whitley Award: GBP 40,000 project funding. Continuation Funding: up to GBP 100,000 for previous winners to scale proven work. Whitley Gold Award also available. (40.000 € – 100.000 €)
Deadline: Annual. 2026 applications now closed. Typically opens mid-year for following year awards ceremony in May. (periodic)
How to Apply: Online application via whitleyaward.org/apply-for-conservation-funding/. Check eligibility guidelines and FAQs first. Contact info@whitleyaward.org for questions. Applications for 2026 now closed.
Target Region: Global South — countries not classified as High Income Economy (World Bank). Africa, Asia, Latin America, Pacific Islands.
Contact: info@whitleyaward.org
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 14:26

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Applicant must be a national of the project country (not expatriate)
Project must be in a non-High Income Economy country (World Bank definition)
Must work for or lead a locally incorporated NGO in the Global South
Applicant must communicate in English (interpreter not permitted)
Government employees not eligible

Project Scope

Project must have demonstrated prior success (no pilot or startup projects)
Community involvement and measurable conservation outcomes required

Constraints

Annual cycle — check website for current application window

Summary

Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a UK charity that champions conservation leaders working in their home countries in the Global South. The flagship Whitley Awards programme provides project funding of GBP 40,000 to support proven local conservation leaders expand and scale their work. Continuation Funding (up to GBP 100,000) and the Whitley Gold Award are available for previous winners. Thematic focus is broad biodiversity conservation at ecosystem or landscape level, encompassing wildlife, marine and coastal ecosystems, forests, and community-based conservation. Projects must involve and benefit local communities, be based on scientific evidence, and demonstrate measurable outcomes. Marine and ocean conservation projects regularly feature among winners. Eligible applicants must be nationals of the country in which they work, based in countries not classified as High Income Economy by the World Bank (excluding most of Europe). Applicants must lead or work for locally incorporated NGOs in the Global South. In-country staff of NGOs headquartered in the Global North are highly unlikely to qualify. Joint applications are not accepted — awards are for individuals backed by a team. Projects must have demonstrated prior success (pilot/startup projects are ineligible), show evidence-based approaches, community engagement, measurable outcomes, and financial management capability. Pure academic research, land purchase, animal rehabilitation, and construction are not funded. The programme runs on an annual cycle. Applications typically open mid-year with an annual awards ceremony in May (London). The 2026 round is now closed; 2025 winners have been announced. Since its founding over 30 years ago, WFN has channelled GBP 26 million to 220 conservation leaders across 80 countries.

Historical Context

Over 30 years operation. GBP 26 million channelled to 220 conservation leaders in 80 countries. 2025 winners announced. 2026 shortlist published February 2026. Annual cycle. Three funding tiers: Whitley Awards, Continuation Funding, Whitley Gold Award.

Why it was added

International conservation awards supporting community-based environmental education and marine projects

Sources

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Change History

Time	Action	Reason
2026-03-15 14:26	enriched	top: marine-conservation=0.25, 9 tags

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