The Whitley Fund for Nature began as a single award of £15,000 in 1994, and from these small beginnings has grown to become an established charity offering several different funding schemes that allow us to give support throughout the career path of a conservationist.

Over the fifteen years or so we have been in existence, our name has changed, but throughout we have remained committed to our founding goal; to provide some of the world’s most competent and effective nature conservation leaders with the opportunity to implement direct-impact grass root projects.

Some highlights in the history of WFN:

1994
The first Whitley Award is offered by Edward Whitley. Worth £15,000, the Award is administered by the Royal Geographical Society.

1995
Support from The Iris Darnton Foundation enables the Whitley Awards to offer the first runner-up awards.

1998
The Rufford Foundation (which later merged with the Maurice Laing Foundation to form the Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation) joins the Whitley Awards Scheme, sponsoring two major awards.

1999
The Rufford Foundation and Whitley Awards Scheme together establish the Rufford Small Grants to provide upcoming conservationists with the opportunity to pursue smaller scale nature conservation projects.  In April, HRH The Princess Royal becomes patron of the Whitley Awards Scheme. Four major Whitley Awards are now offered.

2000
The Whitley Laing Foundation is created as a stand-alone charity and sets about the task of raising further funds for distribution.

2001
The Whitley Award for People and Environment is introduced following support from WWF-UK.

2002
A new Whitley Award for bird conservation is launched following a three year sponsorship arrangement with the Studs Trust (the last Bird Award was given in 2004). Five major awards are offered in 2002. Sigrid Rausing becomes a Trustee.

2003
The Whitley Laing Foundation has grown in size and is able to offer significantly increased levels of Continuation Funding. The first ever Friends Award is awarded following generous support from individuals. The charity is sad to announce the death on April 23rd 2003 of James Teacher, one of the WLF’s Founder Trustees and most inspirational advocates.

2004
The William Brake Charitable Trust sponsors an annual Award, and for the first time, The Whitley Laing Foundation gives away an annual total of more than £1 million in Awards and Grants. In response to great popularity and growth, the Rufford Small Grants are established as a separate awards scheme administered by the Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation.

2005
The charity becomes the Whitley Fund for Nature. Sir David Attenborough and Catherine Faulks become Trustees of WFN.

2006
HSBC becomes one of our major donors, along with the Arcadia Trust.

2008
WFN celebrates its 15th Anniversary.