Equipping young environmental leaders with the tools, networks and support they need to scale their impact and create lasting change in their communities and beyond.
A grant is only the start of what a young leader needs to succeed – and our own funding will only ever reach a small number of them directly each year. That’s why we treat young people as partners, not beneficiaries, and design this work with them, not for them.
Wraparound support – mentorship, safety, and skill-building – is what turns a grant into a sustainable project. It’s what our grantee partners consistently tell us matters most.
Mentoring here is reciprocal: we listen first, and advice is invited, not imposed.
Support like this isn’t the exception here – it’s built in from day one. Every winner and runner-up already has access to risk and security advice and wellbeing support, at any point, for as long as they’re part of the ecosystem.
What we’re working toward is depth over time: by 2030, we want 80% of winners to rate this mentorship and capacity-building as outstanding, and for the relationships built here – between winners, advisors, and alumni – to keep paying off well beyond the grant itself.
Since 2022, The Iris Project and Open Briefing have supported environmental leaders facing ecological and advocacy challenges. Initially workshop-based, this partnership expanded in 2023 to offer hands-on risk and security guidance tailored to each project. Through mentorship, scenario planning, and community-driven strategies, grantees build resilience, address safety concerns, and plan for sustainable growth, ensuring they can navigate challenges and thrive long-term.
CoalitionWILD’s six-month programme empowers emerging environmental leaders with skills to drive action projects. Prize winners join bi-monthly webinars with expert-led sessions on project management, fundraising, grant writing, and communication. They can also apply for extra funding and connect with global changemakers.
Sign up below to stay updated and receive updates from us.
