The Whitley Fund for Nature is now accepting applications for the 2027 Whitley Awards, which honor local conservation heroes. If you're a grassroots leader with a proven track record in science-based conservation, you could receive £50,000 to take your work to the next level.
What's great about this award is that it's open to anyone - you don't need to be nominated or invited to apply, you can just put yourself forward. This is a big deal in the conservation world, and it's a fantastic opportunity to get the funding and recognition you need to make a real difference for both people and the planet.
The Whitley Awards are all about supporting conservation work that has a lasting impact, so if you've got a project that's making a real difference, this could be the perfect chance to take it to the next level.
Key Details
The deadline to apply is October 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM GMT. If you're selected, you'll get £50,000 to fund your project for a year. They'll announce the winners at a ceremony in London in the spring of 2027. This is a great opportunity to get funding for your project, so make sure to apply before the deadline. The Whitley Awards Ceremony is a big event, and it's where they'll be announcing the winners, so it's going to be exciting to see who gets selected.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be nationals of the country where they're working, meaning born there or having lived there long-term with obtained national status, and genuinely embedded in the local community they serve.
Your work must be based in at least one eligible country, defined as countries not classified as High-Income Economies by the World Bank, with some exceptions based on WFN's funding history. Since most African countries fall outside the World Bank's high-income classification, this genuinely opens the door widely across the continent, though it's worth checking WFN's full eligible countries list directly to confirm your specific country qualifies.
To be considered, you need to work for a local organization, like a non-profit or university, regardless of where you're from. The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is looking for people who have already made a name for themselves in conservation, with projects that have shown real results.
They're not looking for new ideas that are just getting started. You also need to be able to speak English well enough to understand and participate in conversations, meetings, and training sessions without needing a translator. This is important because the Awards week includes interviews, networking, and media opportunities, and you need to be able to communicate effectively to get the most out of it.
What Makes a Strong Whitley Awards Application
WFN is unusually specific about what it's looking for. Winners need to be backed by an experienced team or organization with a demonstrated track record and evidence-based approach, individuals working entirely in isolation are not eligible, nor are joint or team entries, this is an award for individual leaders operating within a supportive organizational structure, not solo operators or shared submissions.
If a project is focused on a specific species, it's okay as long as it's not too narrow and can benefit the broader environment. What's really important to the team is that local communities are involved and empowered throughout the process. Every project they support must show how it will positively impact the Indigenous peoples and local communities it works with. They're looking for projects that are practical, yet ambitious - the kind that can make a real difference and potentially be replicated in other areas. We want to support grassroots efforts that are on the verge of something big, and that can help create a ripple effect for conservation.
When it comes to making a real difference, it's the tangible results that really count. The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) wants to see that those applying have put some serious thought into what will actually show their project is making an impact, rather than just having good intentions. They also care a lot about whether the project will be sustainable in the long run.
To get a proposal accepted, you need to show that the work will keep going long after the award money is gone. You also need to provide clear proof that you're getting good value for the money and that you can handle a significant amount of funding, like £50,000, in a responsible way. This means being able to manage the funds wisely and make the most of the opportunity.
What WFN Will Not Fund
It's really important to read this list carefully before you apply. There are some categories that are clearly not eligible for funding. For example, the WFN program is all about supporting local and national leaders, so they don't fund expatriate leaders. They're looking for people who are already making a difference in their own communities. Also, if you're just doing pure academic research, you won't be eligible.
The winners of this funding need to have objectives that go beyond just researching and publishing papers. Any research that is included should be practical and applied, rather than just theoretical.
Additionally, if you're doing fieldwork for your MSc or PhD, and it's mainly just to fulfill the requirements for your degree, you won't be able to get funding for that. The same goes for expeditions - they're not eligible for funding either. The focus is on supporting leaders who are working to make a real difference in their communities, rather than just on academic or exploratory pursuits.
Startup or pilot projects are explicitly not eligible, WFN wants evidence of prior success, this award scales proven work, it doesn't seed new ideas. Absentee leaders, particularly those mid-PhD and away from their project for extended periods or based abroad, are excluded, as are "one-person bands" who don't nurture emerging leadership within their team or train team members. Joint applications or nominations submitted on someone else's behalf are also not accepted.
WFN has some rules about what kinds of projects it will fund. For example, it doesn't usually fund projects that are just about helping people in rural areas or making sure everyone has enough money, unless those projects also help the environment in some way.
It also doesn't typically fund projects that involve buying land or building things, or projects that focus on helping animals that are already in captivity, unless there's a really good reason to do so. One thing to keep in mind is that if you work for the government, you might not be eligible for funding, but if you work for a university that gets money from the government, you might still be able to get funding - it's worth checking the WFN website or getting in touch with them to find out for sure.
Application Process
Before you apply, take a close look at the Whitley Fund for Nature's eligibility criteria to make sure your project and country are a good fit.
To sign up for a WFN account, go to the online application portal at wfn.eformsolutions.com and follow the steps to register.
Complete the application form online, saving your progress regularly, closing the portal without saving loses your work
To get started, you need to download the latest templates for 2027, which include a Microsoft Word logical framework and timeline template, as well as an Excel budget template. It's really important to use the current versions, because if you use older templates from previous years, your application won't be accepted. So, make sure to get the 2027 versions and fill them out carefully. This will help you submit a complete and correct application.
Nominate three referees to support your application, and confirm they understand their responsibility to submit references before the deadline
Make sure to get your submission in by Friday, October 30, 2026, before the clock strikes 11:59 PM GMT.
What Winning Includes
Winning this award is about more than just the £50,000 in funding - it's also a chance to get your work noticed on a global scale. You'll get help with communications and media, and a chance to learn from and work with other people who are doing similar work. And it's not just a one-time thing - winners can also get more funding in the future and even be in the running for the prestigious Whitley Gold Award.
But maybe the best part is becoming part of a community of over 230 conservation leaders from more than 80 countries, all working together towards the same goal of protecting the environment and supporting local communities. This network is built on a shared commitment to doing conservation work that is rooted in the community and that will have a lasting impact.
Major Considerations
It's really important to take care of the referee requirement as soon as possible, because it's up to you to make sure your three referees send in their references on time - the World Forest Network (WFN) won't be chasing after them for you. When you're applying, be honest with yourself about whether your project has already had some real successes in the past, because WFN is looking for projects that have a proven track record, not just new ideas that might work out. This award is meant to help projects that are already making a difference to grow and have an even bigger impact, not to get new projects off the ground, no matter how promising they might be.
The exclusion of absentee leaders and "one-person bands" also signals that WFN values genuine organizational depth and leadership succession, not a single charismatic individual carrying a project alone. Applicants should be ready to demonstrate real team structure and how they actively develop other leaders within their organization.
Should You Apply?
This program is perfect for African conservation leaders who have already gained some experience and are deeply rooted in their local communities. They should be working for a well-established organization with a proven track record, and their project should be making a real difference in the community and for the environment. The project should also be able to grow and have a big impact.
However, this program is not for foreigners who come to work in conservation, or for new and untested ideas. It's also not for individuals who work alone without a team, or for projects that focus only on animals in captivity or on research that doesn't have a practical application.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
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