Whitley Awards

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2027 WHITLEY AWARDS ARE NOW OPEN.

The Whitley Awards are our flagship prizes, presented annually by WFN’s Patron HRH The Princess Royal. They are won by some of the most innovative and dedicated conservationists following a competitive assessment by an expert panel. Each Whitley Award is worth £50,000 in project funding over one year.

GRANTS FOR GRASSROOTS ACTION

Whitley Awards celebrate effective grassroots conservation leaders from across the globe who are working in direct partnership with communities to drive change. By providing catalytic visibility and resources, Whitley Awards help conservationists accelerate proven solutions to tackle the biodiversity crisis and support their long-term growth.

Together, we are creating real and lasting change, rooted in local knowledge and commitment. For nature for people, and for our planet.

Shining a spotlight

Winning a Whitley Award is not just about receiving financial support. WFN also accelerates the careers of conservationists by welcoming them to the world stage.

Whitley Award winners are celebrated through a global PR campaign, tailor-made films, and endorsements from high profile supporters such as WFN Ambassadors, Tom Heap and Kate Humble.

This visibility increases awareness of and participation in projects on the ground. It helps winners unlock new philanthropic opportunities both at home and internationally, and connect with other conservationists to share learnings and resources. With this recognition, conservationists are in a better position to scale up impact and influence environmental policy at regional, national and international levels.

“The Whitley Award has opened doors to very big stages that were not accessible to me in the past.”

– Caleb Ofori-Boateng, 2019 Whitley Award winner

Catalysing success

During the week of the Whitley Awards ceremony in London, winners receive PR training, social media advice and speech coaching. This helps them to effectively communicate their work to an international audience and capitalise on the media spotlight following their win. We also host events at which winners can network with funders, journalists, and NGOs.

Every cohort joins a global community of peers with whom they can share knowledge, experiences and encouragement. WFN facilitates opportunities for winners to attend in-person and online training in the core leadership and operational skills necessary to deliver successful projects and share knowledge to catalyse impact across borders. Winners gain access to travel bursaries as well as operational and legal support all aimed at strengthening their impact.

“One of the biggest impacts of receiving the Whitley Award has been the visibility it brought. Public and government awareness of the Javan gibbon has grown significantly, helping us secure new funding and partnerships.”

– Rahayu Oktaviani, 2025 Whitley Award winner