Field Notes
Love from Papa...
I wrote this eulogy for my beloved Finn the day after he died. Of course, I couldn't sleep so I went down stairs and just starting
The Finn Wardman World Explorer Fund
Changing lives,
one dream at a time.
Grants of $5,000–$10,000 for young people whose dreams are bigger than their budget.
Finn Wardman · 2002–2023
About Finn
Finn Wardman lived
at full speed.
He lived more in his 20 years than most people do in a lifetime. On April 8, 2023, he passed away in an accident. His last day on Earth was spent doing the things that made him happiest — surfing with his brother Somers and afterwards, meeting up with his tribe of besties for laughs and hang time.
We started this Fund because Finn believed in living his best life, seizing the moment, and chasing adventures around the globe. Finn was one of those guys that expressed deep gratitude for all the experiences that he had in life, for the sunsets and the sunrises, for his tribe of best friends, for the ocean. Finn didn't just say yes to adventure; he hunted it down. He had this rare, combustible energy — a way of being "fired up" that was never about the adrenaline and always about the experience. To him, a new experience wasn't a checkbox; it was a form of worship.
Meet the team →Featured · 2026 Promo Grant
The biggest
dream wins $10,000.
Once a year we give away our largest grant to a single applicant with a plan that stops the committee in its tracks. Adventure, sport, or vocation — we don't mind. We mind the size of the dream. Start with a four-question expression of interest. Under ten minutes.
$10K
Single grant · One winner
Open to
Ages 18–26
Finalists
10 selected
Stage 1 takes
Under 10 min
Categories
Adventure · Sport · Vocation
Closes
When votes are in
Three ways in.
We fund three kinds of dream. Pick the one that fits what you're trying to do.
Athletic Grant
$5,000
You're talented enough. Fees, travel, coaching, competitions — that's the gap. This grant closes it. Not capped at $5,000 either. Apply and we'll build the package around what you actually need.
Apply Now
Most Popular
Adventure Grant
$10,000
The biggest grant we give. A real trip, properly funded, somewhere that changes you. We want applicants who can stay in the field for 4 to 12 months. Make a plan. Set a budget. Apply.
Dream big or stay home.
Apply NowVocational Grant
$5,000
A trade, an internship, a course abroad. The dream that doesn't look like adventure but shifts your whole trajectory. If you need to go somewhere to become something, this is the one.
Apply NowWorld Explorer Fund
From the Field
🧭
Finn Wardman
World Explorer Fund
World Explorer Fund
Podcast
WEF Podcast
Travel on the Cheap
How young people go further on less. Real trips. Real budgets. Grant recipients, adventurers, and people who said yes before they'd worked out how. Coming soon — subscribe to be first.
YouTube Shorts
Quick cuts
Short
Finn & Brenda in Bali
Notes from the Field
Field Notes
Dear Finn, from Ally
Not really sure how to start this and to be honest wish I never had to but it seems like you still succeed to persuade me into things
Field Notes
The beautiful life of Finn
Author Devi, Finn's flat mate at Durham University I met Finn in the Collingwood JCR, he was probably the third person I met and one of
Got questions?
We've got answers.
Who can apply?
Ages 18–26, anywhere in the world. No GPA, no institution required. Just a real dream and a concrete plan to make it happen.
How do I apply?
Fill in our online form — takes about 20 minutes. Tell us where you want to go, why, and what you'll need. The more specific, the better.
Always open
We accept applications on a rolling basis year-round. No deadline to stress about — apply when your plan is ready.
Registered charity?
We're a private fund based in Bermuda — not a registered public charity. Grants go directly to recipients, no strings attached.
How much can I get?
Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000 USD. The Adventure Grant tops out at $10,000. Final amounts are built around what you actually need.
What counts as a dream?
Any real trip, serious athletic pursuit, or vocational leap that requires you to go somewhere. Holidays don't count. Dreams do.