Indianapolis Prize Increases Monetary Award for Finalists

The Indianapolis Prize is announcing a major increase in the cash award for the Finalists of the Prize. The finalists will now receive $50,000 instead of $10,000. The elevation of the award for the finalists will help support their work to protect and save species on a global scale. The Winner continues to be awarded a $250,000 unrestricted grant.

Each Prize award cycle, the Indianapolis Zoo will now provide a half a million dollars to support the conservationists who are truly making a difference preserving animal species. The increase for the finalists’ award is made possible through a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The grant increases the capacity for the Zoo to make an authentic difference for wildlife around the world and right here in Indiana. Through the Zoo’s work supporting conservation efforts worldwide, awarding the Indianapolis Prize, and hosting global conservation experts in Indianapolis, our city continues to be recognized a central hub for animal species conservation in the U.S.

“This grant is influential and meaningful for the Zoo’s efforts to support the heroes who are truly protecting nature and saving species,” said Dr. Rob Shumaker, President & CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. “Lilly Endowment has once again demonstrated its support for our natural world. We are immensely proud to be stewards of such a generous gift and are grateful for their continued support.” 

The $50,000 award will be given to the five Finalists for the first time at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 30, 2023. To date, the Indianapolis Prize has awarded more than $1.6 million and has reached more than six billion people with the conservationists’ heroic stories of protecting wild things and wild places.

Lilly Endowment Inc. has a strong history of supporting the Zoo and its conservation efforts. In addition to significant support for the Indianapolis Prize, Lilly Endowment provided grant support for the opening of the Global Center for Species Survival at the Zoo in 2020. The Center is the first-of-its-kind, and its new team of coordinators support the work of thousands of conservationists on the frontlines of saving species.

The nomination period for the 2023 Indianapolis Prize is currently open and will close on Feb. 25, 2022.To obtain an application for nomination, please send an email to Nomination@indianapolisprize.org to request a nomination materials. The Deadline for completed nominations for the Indianapolis Prize must be submitted by Feb. 25, 2022. Go to IndianapolisPrize.org for more information.