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The Iris Prize 2025 is coming soon!
Are you aged 14-24? Do you have an idea or an established project protecting or restoring nature in your local community?
To apply for a prize, you must take our eligibility quiz to access the application form. Below is the quiz in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Arabic. Remember, we accept applications in any language and offline, too!
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.
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.
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.
Awarded to a young person or team with a groundbreaking idea to protect and/or restore nature in their local community.
Awarded to an existing project established recently and on a small scale.
Awarded to an established project with the potential to replicate and scale.
The Iris Prize 2024 is open.
Prize applicants are invited to join a private slack channel, offering funding, capacity building, and collaboration opportunities.
The Iris Project team and Advisory Panel review all applications. A shortlist of twenty projects is created through collective decision-making.
All shortlisted applicants undergo brief due diligence interviews.
The expert Judging Panel reviews the shortlist.
Winning projects receive due diligence support from The Iris Project and Global Greengrants Fund to ensure secure funding.
Winners and runners-up are informed. Local filmmakers capture the three winning projects.
Winners and runners will be announced during an Awards Ceremony.
Our downloadable eligibility guide, eligibility quiz and application form are available in five languages; English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Arabic.