Goldman Environmental Foundation

The Goldman Environmental Foundation was established by Richard & Rhoda Goldman in 1989 to honor and inspire grassroots environmental activists around the world. The Foundation administers the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s largest prize for grassroots environmental leaders. The Prize is awarded each year to environmental heroes from six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America. The Prize is presented at ceremonies each April in San Francisco and Washington, DC.

The Prize recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk. Each winner receives a significant and unrestricted cash award, international recognition that enhances their credibility, and worldwide visibility for the issues that they champion. The Goldman Environmental Foundation views grassroots leaders as those creating positive change through community or citizen participation in the issues that affect them. By putting a spotlight on these individual leaders, the Prize seeks to inspire ordinary people to take extraordinary actions to protect the natural world.

The Goldman Environmental Foundation accepts nominations from only two sources: a network of internationally known environmental organizations, and a confidential panel of environmental experts from more than 45 nations, including citizen activists and prominent policymakers. There is no application for the Goldman Prize, and unsolicited nominations are not accepted.