The Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a San Francisco-based nonprofit foundation founded in 1989 that annually awards $200,000 to each of six grassroots environmental activists from six world regions, having recognized 239 winners from 98 countries cumulatively.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Goldman Environmental Prize does
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a San Francisco-based nonprofit foundation established in 1989 by philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization governed by a board of directors, with John Goldman serving as Vice Chairman as of 2026. Its sole core offering is the annual Goldman Environmental Prize, an internationally recognized award honoring six grassroots environmental activists each year — one from each of six continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America. Each recipient receives $200,000 in unrestricted prize funding, totaling $1.2M in annual disbursements, and is selected through a confidential nomination process reviewed by international juries. Winners are announced and honored at an annual in-person ceremony held in San Francisco during Earth Week (April), with the most recent ceremony held on April 20, 2026.
The foundation does not develop proprietary technology products. Its operational infrastructure consists of a website (goldmanprize.org), an active social media presence across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, email newsletters, a digital media room with downloadable photos and video assets, and educational resources including a Teacher Video Guide for grades 8-12. The organization's revenue model is foundation-based rather than commercial: it does not generate revenue from operations and is funded by charitable donations and endowment returns that underwrite the annual $1.2M prize disbursement and minimal overhead for its 1-10 person staff.
Since inception, the prize has awarded $33M cumulatively to 239 environmental activists from 98 countries, including 112 women. The 2026 cohort marked the first all-women winner class in the prize's 37-year history. Notable alumni include Wangari Maathai (1991, Nobel Peace Prize 2004), Zuzana Čaputová (2016, President of Slovakia 2019-2024), and Francia Márquez (2018, Vice President of Colombia 2022). The foundation operates without parent company ownership, private equity, or venture capital investment, and its primary strategic partners include major conservation organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, and BirdLife International.
The Goldman Environmental Prize firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Goldman Environmental Prize
- Legal name
- Goldman Environmental Foundation
- Website
- https://goldmanprize.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Goldman Environmental Prize is a San Francisco-based nonprofit foundation founded in 1989 that annually awards $200,000 to each of six grassroots environmental activists from six world regions, having recognized 239 winners from 98 countries cumulatively.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Goldman Environmental Prize industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Awards and Recognition
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
Keywords
Where The Goldman Environmental Prize is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Goldman Environmental Prize business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Prize Awards to Recipients: The organization awards $200,000 to each of six grassroots environmental activists annually (totaling $1.2M per year). The prize money is funded by the Goldman Environmental Foundation through charitable donations and endowment returns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Each of the six annual winners receives $200,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
The Goldman Environmental Prize product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Goldman Environmental Prize is an annual award that recognizes six grassroots environmental activists from world regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, South & Central America), awarding each $200,000. Recipients are selected through confidential nominations and reviewed by international juries, then honored at an annual San Francisco ceremony. The organization complements the prize with educational resources for classrooms and a media asset library for journalists.
Product overview
The Goldman Environmental Prize operates as a single unified award program rather than a multi-module platform. The core offering is the annual Goldman Environmental Prize—an internationally recognized environmental award that honors grassroots activists from six world regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America). The prize is accompanied by educational resources including the Teacher Video Guide for classroom use and a Media Room providing photos, videos, and digital assets for all winners. The organization does not offer software products, subscriptions, or technology platforms; its services center entirely on the prize program, award ceremonies, and educational/outreach materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Goldman Environmental Prize An annual award that honors six grassroots environmental leaders from six world regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, South & Central America), each receiving $200,000 for environmental activism. Recipients are selected through confidential nominations reviewed by international juries and honored at an annual ceremony in San Francisco.
- Teacher Video Guide A free downloadable PDF guide for educators of students in grades 8-12, designed to accompany Goldman Prize winner profile videos (3-6 minutes each) that can be filtered by prize winner for classroom use.
- Media Room and Digital Assets Library A media repository providing photos, videos, B-roll footage, and social media assets for all prize winners and ceremonies, including recipient portraits, in-country photos, ceremony photos, profile videos, acceptance speeches, and press releases available in multiple resolutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 239 environmental leaders honored from 98 countries since 1989
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Goldman Environmental Prize
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Goldman Environmental Prize technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Goldman Environmental Prize partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- World Wildlife FundminorPartner organization in wildlife protection initiatives. Listed as part of the Goldman Prize's partners in wildlife protection ecosystem, working alongside other conservation organizations globally.
- Wildlife Conservation SocietyminorConservation organization partner in the Goldman Prize's wildlife protection network, collaborating on global wildlife conservation efforts.
- BirdLife InternationalminorPartner in bird and biodiversity conservation, working with Goldman Prize on wildlife protection initiatives worldwide.
- Wildlife Conservation NetworkminorPartner organization connecting wildlife conservationists, featured at events like the Wildlife Conservation Expo where Goldman Prize winners have participated.
- Wild Salmon CenterminorConservation partner focused on wild salmon protection, aligned with Goldman Prize's environmental protection mission.
- Wild Earth AlliesminorPartner organization where 2010 winner Sereivathana Tuy serves as Cambodia Program Director, supporting elephant conservation efforts.
- Save Vietnam's WildlifeminorPartner founded by 2021 Goldman Prize winner Thai Van Nguyen, focused on rescuing pangolins from illegal wildlife trade.
- Lowveld Rhino TrustminorTrust established by 2011 Goldman Prize winner Raoul du Toit to protect Zimbabwe's black rhinos from poaching, representing a prize winner's ongoing conservation work.
- Integrated Rural Development and Nature ConservationminorConservation partner organization working on rural development and nature conservation in Africa.
- Small Mammal Conservation Organization (SMACON)minorOrganization founded by 2026 winner Iroro Tanshi, dedicated to small mammal research and conservation in Nigeria.
- Youth 4 Climate ActionminorOrganization led by 2026 winner Borim Kim, channeling youth voices for climate action in South Korea.
- Weald Action GroupminorUK-based organization led by 2026 winner Sarah Finch, focused on opposing fossil fuel extraction in southeast England.
- United Tribes of Bristol BayminorCoalition of 15 Indigenous nations in Alaska led by 2026 winner Alannah Acaq Hurley, protecting salmon habitat from mining development.
- Alianza Colombia Libre de FrackingminorColombia Free of Fracking Alliance supported by 2026 winner Yuvelis Morales Blanco, advocating against hydraulic fracturing in Colombia.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Goldman Environmental Prize competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- MacArthur Foundation: The MacArthur Foundation's 'genius grants' provide no-strings-attached fellowships to exceptional individuals across many fields, with stipends of $800K+. It is comparable to the Goldman Prize as a high-profile foundation that provides substantial financial recognition to individuals for transformative work, though the MacArthur program covers many disciplines beyond environment.
- Templeton Prize: The Templeton Prize, valued at over $1M, honors individuals whose work affirms life's spiritual dimension. While not environmental, it is comparable as one of the world's most prestigious individual recognition awards, often referenced alongside the Goldman Prize in discussions of high-value, high-impact recognition prizes.
Direct peers
- Whitley Fund for Nature: The Whitley Fund for Nature provides annual Whitley Awards to grassroots conservation leaders worldwide, similar to the Goldman Prize's focus on recognizing grassroots environmental leaders. Both organizations fund conservation leaders from developing regions with substantial prize money to support ongoing environmental work.
- Heinz Awards: Established in 1993 by Teresa Heinz in honor of Senator John Heinz, the Heinz Awards recognize outstanding contributions across five categories including the environment. Its environment category directly compares to the Goldman Prize as a philanthropic recognition award for environmental leadership, though it also spans arts, technology, and public policy.
- Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement: The Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement is one of the world's premier awards for environmental achievement, awarded by the University of Southern California since 1973. Like the Goldman Prize, it recognizes individuals making outstanding contributions to environmental protection, though it skews more toward scientific/academic contributions versus grassroots activism.
- Volvo Environment Prize: The Volvo Environment Prize, awarded since 1990 by the Volvo Foundation, honors outstanding discoveries or innovations that fall within the broad field of the environment. It is comparable to the Goldman Prize as a long-running prestigious environmental award, though it skews toward scientific research and innovations rather than grassroots activism.
- Blue Planet Prize: The Blue Planet Prize, awarded by the Asahi Glass Foundation since 1992, recognizes outstanding contributions to solving global environmental problems and includes a substantial cash award. It is comparable to the Goldman Prize as a long-established prestigious environmental award, though it focuses more on applied scientific research contributions than grassroots activism.
- Right Livelihood Award: Often called the 'Alternative Nobel Prize,' the Right Livelihood Award recognizes individuals and organizations offering practical answers to the most urgent challenges facing humanity, including environment. It is comparable to the Goldman Prize as a prestigious international recognition award with substantial financial grants, though it spans multiple causes beyond environment.
Emerging players
- The Earthshot Prize: Launched by Prince William and the Royal Foundation in 2020, the Earthshot Prize awards £1M+ across five environmental goals annually. It is comparable to the Goldman Prize as a high-profile environmental award with substantial prize money, but focuses on scalable innovative solutions rather than individual grassroots activists and has significantly larger purse sizes.
Broad incumbents
- Champions of the Earth (UNEP): The United Nations Environment Programme's Champions of the Earth award recognizes environmental leaders at the global policy level. It is comparable to the Goldman Prize as a prestigious environmental recognition program, though it operates under the UN umbrella, focuses more on policy leadership, and lacks a comparable cash prize component.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Goldman Environmental Prize social profiles
Digital presenceThe Goldman Environmental Prize financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Goldman Environmental Prize leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Goldman Environmental Prize funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Goldman Environmental Prize M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Goldman Environmental Prize
What does The Goldman Environmental Prize do?
The Goldman Environmental Prize is an annual award that recognizes six grassroots environmental activists from world regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, South & Central America), awarding each $200,000. Recipients are selected through confidential nominations and reviewed by international juries, then honored at an annual San Francisco ceremony. The organization complements the prize with educational resources for classrooms and a media asset library for journalists.
Is The Goldman Environmental Prize a public or private company?
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Goldman Environmental Prize founded?
The Goldman Environmental Prize was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Goldman Environmental Prize based?
The Goldman Environmental Prize is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Goldman Environmental Prize make money?
One revenue line is on record: prize Awards to Recipients.
Who are The Goldman Environmental Prize's main competitors?
Others on record are MacArthur Foundation and Templeton Prize. Direct peers are Whitley Fund for Nature, Heinz Awards, Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, Volvo Environment Prize, Blue Planet Prize and Right Livelihood Award. The Earthshot Prize is listed as an emerging player. Champions of the Earth (UNEP) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Goldman Environmental Prize have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Goldman Environmental Prize.
What industry is The Goldman Environmental Prize in?
The Goldman Environmental Prize's product category is Environmental Awards and Recognition. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 813211.