A groundbreaking initiative is rallying behind young environmental visionaries as the 2025 Iris Prize opens its call for entries, offering grants, mentorship, and a global platform to teens and young adults spearheading grassroots climate action.
Founded by financier Ben Goldsmith and philanthropist Kate Rothschild, the prize—now fiscally hosted by the Global Fund for Children—aims to dismantle the stark funding barriers facing youth-led projects, particularly in the Global South, where less than 1% of institutional climate finance reaches young leaders.
Now in its fourth year, the Iris Prize awards $30,000 annually across three tiers: the Seed Prize ($5,000), Stem Prize ($10,000), and flagship Iris Prize ($15,000). Beyond funding, winners gain access to tailored mentorship, communications training, and a global network of peer advisors, fostering collaboration over competition.
Ben Goldsmith, founder of The Iris Project, emphasized the urgency of supporting youth-led efforts: “Young people are our greatest asset when it comes to nature protection, and the lack of climate funding being directed to them means we’re missing out on their incredible potential. That’s why we created The Iris Project – to channel more resources into youth-led initiatives that have the power to create lasting change. Investing in these projects is an investment in our future. The Iris Prize welcomes exceptional youth-led projects into our ecosystem—but the real transformation happens through our funding model. At a time when global philanthropic funding has been cut, putting pressure on hundreds of organisations in the Global South, funding grassroots initiatives is more important than ever.”
The urgency is clear. From Bolivia’s Uru Uru Lake, where 2024 winner Gustavo Blanco’s team filters polluted waters using native plants, to Sierra Leonean beekeepers reviving ecosystems, past recipients exemplify the prize’s impact. Blanco credits the Iris grant with scaling community-led gardens and anti-pollution efforts: “This support turned local ideas into lifelines for our environment.”
Despite these successes, disparities persist. Youth-led groups in the Global North receive 16 times more funding than their Southern counterparts, per ClimateWorks Foundation—a gap the Iris Prize deliberately counters. Over 80% of its 20 funded projects since 2022 operate in regions disproportionately battered by climate impacts but starved of resources.
Millie Edwards, Director of The Iris Project, highlighted the initiative’s collaborative ethos: “We’re excited to welcome applications from this year’s group of environmental leaders from around the world and shine a light on the incredible work they are already doing in their communities. Over the last three years, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the unique and diverse challenges these young leaders face and are committed to amplifying their voices and supporting their incredible efforts. Those selected to be this year’s winners will receive tailored support based on their needs, with our team and youth advisors walking alongside them as experts on their projects. We are building a global community, connecting incredible young leaders who are driving efforts to protect and restore nature all across the world.”
This ethos extends to the prize’s Youth Advisory Panel, where past winners like Kenya’s Steve Misati mentor new cohorts, fostering a cycle of knowledge-sharing.
Judging this year’s entries are luminaries such as Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti and Earthshot laureate Desmond Alugnoa, who emphasize scalable, community-rooted solutions.
As applications pour in from Guatemala’s aquaculture trainees to Indonesian river clean-up crews, the Iris Prize underscores a rising truth: the fiercest climate solutions aren’t crafted in boardrooms but in the neighborhoods least heard. For Goldsmith, the equation is simple: “Bet on these young minds, or gamble with our planet’s future.”
