The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a UK registered charity offering a range of Awards and grants to outstanding nature conservationists around the world.  We locate and recognise some of the world’s most dynamic conservation leaders and support projects founded on good science, community involvement and pragmatism. Above all, we champion passionate individuals who are committed to precipitating long-lasting conservation benefits on the ground.

Through a process of reference, application and interview, WFN identifies effective national and regional conservation leaders and celebrates them through Whitley Awards of up to £30,000, now amongst the most high profile of conservation prizes. Of the Whitley Award winners selected each year, one recipient goes on to also win the prestigious Gold Award, worth an additional £30,000.

WFN aims to provide support throughout the career path of a conservationist. As part of the Whitley Award application process, we offer Associate Awards - small to medium sized grants of up to £10,000 - to team leaders who, though not yet advanced enough to win a full Whitley Award, show outstanding promise.  At the other end of the spectrum, Continuation Funding of up to £30,000 is available for previous Whitley Award winners who have proved themselves to be truly exceptional. In this way, we hope to nurture the talent and passion of tomorrow’s leading conservationists, and to continue to support the work of known stars.

As well as providing winners with significant financial support through Whitley Awards, WFN strives to accelerate the career paths of recipients by helping them to raise their profile, network and inspire others.  Many of our previous winners have been able to scale up their work from local to national and international scale after winning their Whitley Award. We maintain close contact with our winners, doing all we can to ensure their conservation work is ongoing and increasingly effective. As a charity committed to raising public awareness of the serious problems facing ecosystems globally, our winners are encouraged to address wider audiences wherever possible, both here in the UK through talks and events, and in the international media.

The Whitley Awards Ceremony, hosted by our patron, HRH The Princess Royal, is held annually at the Royal Geographical Society, usually in the Spring.

To read more about WFN, please download our brochure by clicking here.