The Iris Project Announces Transition to Global Fund for Children
The Iris Project, a global organisation dedicated to highlighting and supporting the transformative impact of youth-led initiatives in protecting and restoring nature, is excited to announce its transition of fiscal hosting from Global Greengrants Fund to Global Fund for Children (GFC) in February 2025. This strategic move reflects The Iris Project’s continued growth and commitment to innovative, trust-based grantmaking that amplifies the impact youth-led environmental projects are having worldwide.
Since its inception in March 2022, The Iris Project has been supported by Global Greengrants, and with their guidance, The Iris Project successfully launched and grew its flagship initiative, The Iris Prize, a global, annual environmental award enabling young people aged 14 to 24, to protect and restore nature in their communities.
As The Iris Project transitions its fiscal sponsorship from Global Greengrants Fund UK to Global Fund for Children, we’re thrilled to have been part of their journey over the past three years,” said Dr. Nisha Owen, Executive Director of Global Greengrants Fund UK. “Our shared commitment to supporting young environmentalists’ creativity and activism has been the bedrock of our partnership. We’ve proudly watched The Iris Project grow from a fledgling initiative to a thriving grantmaking program. Through us, they’ve funded diverse projects, from addressing plastic waste in Bali’s rivers and oceans, to reducing deforestation and supporting communities in Malawi to adapt to climate change.
A New Chapter with Global Fund for Children
As The Iris Project evolves, its alignment with GFC’s expertise in participatory and flexible grantmaking marks an exciting new phase. GFC’s dedication to youth-centered initiatives and innovative programs, such as the Spark Fund, reflects The Iris Project’s mission of empowering young leaders to drive local solutions for global environmental challenges.
Global Fund for Children is proud to partner with The Iris Project to advance our shared goal of powering young people driving meaningful environmental change and exercising energetic leadership,” said GFC Co-CEO John Hecklinger. “Youth activists have the passion, knowledge, and creative ideas to spark climate action, yet they face significant barriers to investment in their work. GFC has been striving to break down these barriers by funding young people through our climate resilience initiatives. We look forward to expanding this commitment alongside The Iris Project while honouring the legacy of Iris Goldsmith.
With over 30 years of experience championing trust-based, long-term, and flexible funding models, GFC will provide invaluable support to expand The Iris Project’s reach and effectiveness. This transition underscores a shared mission of reshaping philanthropy to place young people at the heart of solutions for our planet.
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About The Iris Project:
The Iris Project is a global movement that enables young people to lead environmental solutions. Established in memory of Iris Goldsmith, a passionate young environmentalist, the project was created to honour her legacy by empowering youth to take action for the planet. Through its annual award, The Iris Prize, the organisation identifies, supports, and amplifies youth-led initiatives tackling the planet’s most urgent challenges – from protecting biodiversity to reducing waste and regenerating ecosystems.
The Iris Project doesn’t just fund ideas – they provide the tools, resources, and networks young environmentalists need to scale their impact and inspire change within their communities. Focused primarily in the Global South, The Iris Project supports projects that demonstrate how local action can drive global change.
The Iris Project is shaping today’s environmental stewards, recognising that the future of our planet depends on the bold ideas and leadership of today’s youth. By investing in young people, we’re investing in our shared future, creating a ripple effect that will benefit generations to come.
We are grateful to Global Greengrants Fund for taking a chance on The Iris Project at the start, trusting and nurturing us through our first three years. The support of GGF has been vital, and together we have gained so much invaluable experience along the way. Moving now to Global Fund for Children is an exciting new step for The Iris Project. With our aligned vision and expertise, we’re confident we can scale our impact even further. The Iris Prize is working out, and I know Iris would be so proud of what we’ve achieved and where we’re headed.
Ben Goldsmith, Iris’ father and Founder of The Iris Project
About Global Greengrants Fund:
Global Greengrants Fund is a leader in participatory, trust-based grantmaking, supporting grassroots action for environmental and social justice for over 30 years. Over its partnership with The Iris Project, GGF’s expertise has been instrumental in enabling young leaders to create tangible impacts in their communities.
About Global Fund for Children:
Global Fund for Children (GFC) partners with community-based organisations around the world, helping them deepen their impact and develop their capacity for social change. By offering flexible funding and a range of capacity development services, GFC centers children, young people, and their communities
as drivers of systemic change. Since 1994, we have invested over $60 million in more than 1,000 organisations worldwide.
Notes to editors
About the Spark Fund
Global Fund for Children’s Spark Fund is a youth-led fund that invests in youth-led and youth-focused groups. These regional youth panels award funding to community-based organizations driving change by addressing social issues from climate change, mental health, LGBTQ+ rights to gender justice and more.
