The Mario Savio Young Activist Award
The award, given out once a year, offers a cash prize of $6000 to a young person who has committed themselves to the causes of human rights and social justice. There is an emphasis on a proven ability to turn commitment into effective action, like working within the context of a specific organization or social movement. Anyone may nominate a candidate, and the application is due by the end of July

Do Something Awards
Do Something offers a bunch of grants and awards on a regular basis. The Do Something Awards recognize the unique experiences and achievements of two types of role models: community leaders and social entrepreneurs.  Awards up to $100,000.  The Do Something Awards are a star-studded, nationally televised event that will air on Vh1 in April. Apply or tune in and be inspired.

Increase Your Green competition
Do Something is also calling on you to green your school! The Increase Your Green competition challenges middle and high school students nationwide to take action and shrink the size of their school's carbon footprint. The schools that take the most innovative action to save energy, reduce and recycle waste, and involve the whole community win $1500 environmental grants.  

Nestlé Very Best in Youth
Created to spotlight the best in youth leadership, the program identifies teens whose efforts are making a profound impact in lives other than their own. Nestlé donates $1,000 in the name of each winner to the charity of his/her choice. Nestlé also awards the winner a trip for them and a parent or guardian to Los Angeles, California for the Nestlé Very Best In Youth awards ceremony.

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors ten outstanding young leaders ages 8-18 annually that have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Half of the winners have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings; half have focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.  Several past Brower Youth Award winners have also won the Barron Prize, which includes a $2000 check written to an organization of the winner’s choice.  Youth are nominated by an adult familiar with their work (nominations due in late April).

Anthony Grassroots Prize given by the Rose Foundation
The Anthony Prize is a $1000 cash award recognizing achievement in the field of grassroots environmental activism. The prize money is awarded to an organization of the winner’s choice, and not to an individual. The focus is on projects based in California, though they may have a wider scope of impact. Applications are due by mid-march, and the award is announced on Earth Day.

The Hitachi Foundation’s Youth Community Service Awards
The Hitachi Foundation gives out ten $5000 grants a year to high school seniors on the basis of their community service activities. The activities must be geared toward long-term community-based change and should be focused in economically isolated communities. Winners must be nominated by another community member. The deadline is at the beginning of April.

President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA)
The President's Environmental Youth Award is given to young people from grades kindergarten through twelfth for an outstanding project to promote local environmental awareness. Young people can work individually or in groups; each project requires a responsible adult to act as a sponsor.

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Awards
This is a $750 annual prize given to a student enrolled at an AASHE member institution who has played a leadership role in implementing sustainable initiatives throughout their college campus. In addition to the cash prize, the student will be featured in the journal Sustainability. Students should apply by August.

Action for Nature – Eco-Hero Awards
This organization honors the work of 8 to 16 year-olds who have been part of creative environmental projects. The 14 annual award recipients receive a cash prize, certificate, and recognition on Action for Nature’s website. Applications are due at the end of February.

Nestle Very Best in Youth Awards
Win $1,000 for the charity of your choice and a trip for you and a parent/guardian to LA from this award, created to spotlight teens whose efforts are making a profound impact in lives other than their own.

Environmental Protection Agency – Region 9 Environmental Awards
This award from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and is awarded to recipients living in California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii or the Pacific Islands. The goal is to promote individual environmental projects. They look for the promotion of innovative ideas, collaborative efforts, and how well the program has met its stated goals. Approximately 25-30 winners are selected each year. Applications are due in mid-February.

SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards
These awards give eight projects annually a $10,000 grant towards their work. The focus is on recognition for prior work, instead of a grant focusing on a future project. The judges are looking for strong project goals, community support, and impacts on the environment. Apply by the end of November.

The Wild Gift Prize
This prize is awarded to five recipients a year, aged 21 to 30 years of age. They are looking for youth with demonstrated leadership talent who wish to propose an international project. The Wild Gift prize will provide the support for the newly initiated project to get off the ground. This is a 17-month opportunity worth $11,000-15,000.

Prudential Spirit of Community Award
This award is for students in grades 5-12 who are part of a volunteer-service activity. The program is in tandem with 4-H, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, and the YMCA. One of those organizations should be able to provide application forms and support for this award.

American Museum of Natural History – Young Naturalist Awards
The Young Naturalist Awards is a research essay-based contest for youth grades 7-12. The essay should be based on original scientific research in the areas of biology, earth science, or astronomy. Two cash prizes are given per grade level. The essays will be based on their level of scientific investigation and presentation. Apply by March.

The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program
The Kodak award recognizes outstanding achievement related to the creation of greenways, blueways, trails and open space systems throughout America. The award gives grants to 3-4 awardees each year to continue and expand their greenway projects. The deadline is around the end of June.

Kos Fellowship
Take Flight Microgrants is a grant foundation reaching beyond traditional talent pools to seed the best new organizations and infrastructure concepts originating from within the emerging grassroots networks of the progressive movement. These small grants, ranging from $500 to $5000, reward smart, creative activists and organizations who, from outside the Beltway, are able to bring fresh perspectives, wide-ranging expertise and on-the-ground political know-how to outflank the conservative movement from the bottom up.

River of Words
River of Words conducts a free international poetry and art contest for youth on the theme of watersheds and the environment.  The grand prize and international winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, to attend the awards ceremony at the Library of Congress.  Deadline each February. 

Volvo Adventure Award
In collaboration with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the Volvo Adventure Award rewards young people creating their own environmental projects. The Adventure Award is for youth, ages 13-16, working in groups of two to five, that are actively involved in devising and managing the project. Deadline in late January.

Siemens We Can Change The World Challenge
A K-12 challenge for youth to launch sustainability projects in their own communities, and share their results on the Discovery Channel online.