WHAT WFN WILL FUND
- Grassroots conservation leaders who are nationals of the country where they work (i.e. you were born there or have lived there long term and obtained national status) and are embedded in local communities.
- Work based in at least one eligible country. Eligible countries are those not classified as a High-Income Economy by the World Bank. There are some exceptions to this based on WFN’s funding history, so please view our full list of eligible countries. If the country you work in does not appear on this list, then unfortunately you are not eligible to apply at this time.
- Wildlife conservation projects that are delivering measurable positive impacts for threatened ecosystems and biodiversity at the landscape or seascape level, while providing tangible benefits to Indigenous peoples and local communities.
- Applicants who work for a locally incorporated NGO, charity, not for profit, or university.
What WFN looks for
- Strong communicators and passionate people who inspire others and importantly, collaborate effectively and share their learnings and results. Please note that applicants must be able to communicate in English. Whilst total fluency is not required, applicants must be able to communicate verbally in English without a translator. This ensures winners can benefit fully from the Whitley Awards week which involves interviews, networking events, training, and media opportunities.
- Leadership and teamwork. Whitley Awards recognise individuals backed by an experienced team or organisation that can demonstrate past success and an evidence-based approach. Individuals working in isolation, as well as team or joint entries, are not eligible.
- Ecosystem level projects are preferred. Genuine flagship species projects are accepted, but not if results are purely species-specific.
- Community-led conservation projects are encouraged, and all projects must demonstrate how they empower, engage and benefit the Indigenous peoples and communities with which they work.
- Grassroots, pragmatic conservation work that is realistic, but ambitious too. We look for applicants on the cusp of achieving significant impact, with projects that are replicable or scalable.
- Actions that will have clear, measurable outcomes. We look for applications that have given careful consideration to the indicators that will be used to evidence impact.
- Sustainable projects that will continue well beyond 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 (£50,000).
- Projects for which a Whitley Award will make a significant difference. Priority will be given to applicants that can clearly demonstrate need.
- Work that would benefit from greater visibility, particularly projects that could gain momentum through media exposure and wider recognition.
WHAT WFN WILL NOT FUND
- Expatriates. Such leaders do excellent work around the world, but the Whitley Awards scheme is specifically aimed at championing local leaders.
- Pure academic research. Winners must have objectives beyond research and publication alone. Any research should be applied research.
- MSc or PhD fieldwork. While students may benefit from a project funded by WFN, we do not fund fieldwork undertaken primarily to fulfil degree requirements.
- Expeditions.
- ‘Start-up’ or pilot projects. Evidence of prior success is very important.
- Absentee leaders, especially those leaders who are mid-PhD and will be absent from the project for long periods and/or are based abroad.
- One-person bands. We do not fund those who do not nurture emerging leadership on their team, train team members or who are reluctant to collaborate.
- Joint applications or nominations submitted on behalf of someone else.
- Purely rural, economic, or sustainable development projects where direct conservation benefits are hard to quantify.
- Land purchases or projects focused on the construction of buildings.
- Animal welfare and rehabilitation of captive animals.
- Captive breeding. While we recognise it as a useful conservation tool, the level of funding available through the Whitley Awards is unlikely to have a major impact in this area. Therefore, we only fund captive breeding projects where the underlying causes of species decline in the wild have already been fully addressed.
- Government employees. However, we recognise that some conservationists are affiliated with government institutions as part of their work. For example, applicants employed by government-funded universities are typically eligible. Please see our FAQs for more guidance, and if you are still unsure, please contact WFN.
- While WFN strives to fund projects in every country that meets our eligibility criteria, it is occasionally necessary to restrict support to specific countries. If you are unsure if your country is eligible, please get in touch. We keep this list under constant review and any changes in policy will be updated on our website.
If you have any questions or require further information, please email [email protected].
