Deadline:
April 30, 2025
Location(s)
Online
Overview
Details
We recognise that nature restoration takes a variety of forms – from traditional land stewardship to innovative technological solutions. As such, The Iris Prize rewards new ideas and established projects, hoping to overcome the circumstantial barriers that too often prevent young people from being able to advocate for nature-related change.
Nominating Partners
Our global network of nominating partners helps us identify candidates for the Iris Prize. They have been carefully selected to ensure we reach as many potential applicants as possible, and include environmental, youth, indigenous and education-focused organisations and NGOs. If you would like to join our nominating partner network, please get in touch: prize@theirisproject.org.
Judging Panel.
Each year, our team and Advisory Panel create a shortlist of applicants for each prize, which is then reviewed by our Judging Panel who select the winners. You can find out more information about them below.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
What are the criteria for applying?
You should only consider applying if…
- Your project or organisation is led by young people aged 14 to 24. To be eligible for an Iris Prize, most of your leadership must be young people with project autonomy and decision-making power. Please do not apply if you are not within this age category.
- You support the principle of protecting and restoring nature and the rights of those working to defend it.
- We welcome projects that are either fiscally sponsored or associated with larger organisations, charities, or NGOs. However, it is essential that the young person leading the project retains complete autonomy and decision-making authority.
- We prioritise ensuring the safety and well-being of our prize participants. If you are under a minor in your country, please be aware that we require collaboration with a local organisation or NGO to serve as a fiscal sponsor. This partner organisation will be responsible for managing the financial grant, holding the funds, and providing financial support to you throughout the process.
We specifically look for projects that are:
- Youth and locally-led initiatives operating in areas identified as significant by their local communities.
- Eligibility for consideration includes ideas, small-scale projects, or existing initiatives with growth potential and replicability.
- We prioritise initiatives in the Global South, where our support can have a more significant impact. But we also consider exceptional projects from the Global North.
- Shown to have a Commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Dates
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Prize categories
To foster growth, creativity and sustainability in the youth environmental movement, we prioritise supporting projects at different stages of development. It’s important you apply for the correct prize category. Please email prize@theirisproject.org if you have any questions about which prize to apply for.
The Seed Prize: $5,000
Awarded to a young person or team with a groundbreaking idea to protect and/or restore nature in their local community.
The Stem Prize: $10,000
Awarded to an existing project established recently and on a small scale.
The Iris Prize: $15,000
Awarded to an established project with the potential to replicate and scale.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
