O Projeto Íris
Capacitar os jovens a proteger e restaurar a natureza em suas comunidades locais.
About The Iris Project
Global Fund for Children has partnered with The Iris Project, stepping in as its fiscal host in February 2025. With its participatory, youth-first approach, The Iris Project aligns very closely with GFC’s commitment to championing young leaders and our own expertise in participatory, flexible grantmaking.
The Iris Project is a youth-led, trust-based grant-maker that believes in the power of young people to drive environmental change. It recognizes that young leaders are already developing solutions to the climate and ecological crisis – but too often, they struggle to access the funding and support they need. The Iris Prize exists to change that.
As a global, annual award, The Iris Prize provides flexible grant funding, mentorship and tailored skill-building to outstanding young environmental leaders (aged 14-24) all over the world – helping them take their impact even further.
“Investing in Indigenous young innovators is crucial because we are not just the leaders of tomorrow, we are the leaders of today. If we are supported now, our projects will have a more significant impact, laying the foundation for a sustainable and resilient future. Investing in us means investing in hope, creativity, and determination, which are key to addressing global environmental and social challenges in harmony not only with humans but with Mother Earth too."
– Gustavo Blanco from Uru Uru Team, winner of The Iris Prize 2024
About The Iris Prize:
An annual award, The Iris Prize, highlights the vision and innovation of young leaders who are building a sustainable future, often in the face of extraordinary obstacles. It don’t just fund ideas – it provides the tools, resources, and networks young environmentalists need to scale their impact and inspire change within their communities. While the Iris Prize is a global initiative open to young environmental leaders from every region, the majority of their grantee partners are based in the Global South – where communities are most affected by climate change and often have limited access to resources.
Who can apply:
- Your project or organization must be led by young people aged 14 to 24, with youth holding decision-making power and project autonomy. If you fall outside this age range, please do not apply.
- You must be commited to protecting and restoring nature and upholding the rights of those working to defend it.
- The Iris Prize welcomes applications from projects that are fiscally sponsored or affiliated with larger organisations, as long as the young leader retains full autonomy over their work.
- If you are a minor in your country, you must collaborate with a local organisation or NGO to act as a fiscal sponsor, ensuring safe and responsible grant management.
Awards categories:
The Iris Prize recognizes that nature restoration takes a variety of forms – from traditional land stewardship to innovative technological solutions. The Iris Prize celebrates both new ideas and established projects, breaking down barriers that often prevent young people from driving nature-based change.
To foster sustainability within the youth movement, The Iris Project funds ideas, small-scale projects and established projects ready to be replicated or scaled:
- O Seed Prize ($5,000): (14-24) awarded to an individual or team with a groundbreaking idea to protect and restore nature in their local community.
- The Stem Prize ($10,000): (16-24) awarded to an individual or team an existing project established recently and on a small-scale.
- The Iris Prize ($15,000): (16-24) awarded to an individual or team with a groundbreaking idea to protect and restore nature in their local community.
Flexible, impact-driven support:
The Iris Project believes in empowering young environmental leaders to drive meaningful change on their own terms. Their role isn’t to dictate but to support and amplify their efforts, enabling them to achieve their vision while respecting their autonomy. They recognise that each prize winner is navigating unique challenges, and their approach is built around the winners’ priorities, not theirs.
The Iris Project lets their grantee partners decide how they wish to engage with their capacity-building opportunities – whether through mentorship, skill development, or tailored support. This ensures their programs remain genuinely helpful, not an added burden. From mentorship rooted in reciprocity and transparency to practical tools for scaling impact, initiatives are designed to meet young innovators where they are and help them grow sustainably