Photography Contest

National Geographic Explorers Grants

National Geographic Explorers Grants

Deadline |

CLOSED

Theme |

Several categories

Territory |

Worldwide

Eligibility |

18+

Entry Fees |

FREE

Prizes |

Cash Prize
The recipients of these grants, who we call National Geographic Explorers, are a diverse community of changemakers from around the world working to support our mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.
Our Explorers are people of all walks of life from all over the world. They don’t just venture to the tops of mountains or the bottom of the ocean. They’re also in the lab diving deep into the microscopic world, in their local communities capturing the stories of a fishing village, or in the classroom sharing their discoveries with the next generation.
We fund individuals working on projects in science, conservation, storytelling, education, and technology that align with one or more of our focus areas.
And we don’t just support their incredible work. We actively seek to help them network, connect, and learn with National Geographic and each other, empower them with cutting-edge tools, technology, and training, and further their impact and recognition through our storytelling.
The National Geographic Society warmly welcomes and encourages applicants from historically and currently underrepresented and underserved populations to apply. National Geographic is committed to funding a diverse and globally representative cohort of Explorers. The National Geographic Society does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, or disability.

Who should apply
Level I Grants are designed for individuals who may be earlier in their career, those looking to establish themselves better in their field, those seeking mentorship from others in their field and beyond, or those who want to grow their network and enhance their impact by joining a global community of National Geographic Explorers. This opportunity is best suited for individuals who have the potential and desire to make significant positive contributions to their field by leveraging the funding, capacity, and additional support provided by the National Geographic Society and connections to other Explorers. These grants are highly competitive and priority will be given to applicants who thoughtfully demonstrate how joining the Explorer Community will help to advance their career.

Individuals who are already National Geographic Explorers (i.e., those who have already received a grant from the National Geographic Society) are NOT eligible to apply for Level I Grants. Level I Grants are only available to individuals who are entirely new to the National Geographic Society network, as well as individuals already in the network who are not yet Explorers, including team members on previous grants, National Geographic Young Explorers awarded in 2019 or later, recipients of discretionary funding opportunities such as the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists and the COVID-19 Remote Learning Emergency Fund, and recipients of grants from the China Air & Water Fund.

Funding requests at this level can be up to USD $20,000. Projects can be up to one year in length, although projects with “Technology” as the primary focus can be up to two years.

Pre-applications
The National Geographic Society is accepting pre-applications for Level I Grants.
To ensure that invited applicants are prepared to submit competitive full applications, we recommend that applicants already have an understanding of — or are prepared to assemble — the methods, dissemination strategies, and proposed outputs of the full project (as relevant and appropriate). We also recommend that applicants have identified local collaborators and have considered access to facilities and equipment prior to submitting the pre-application. You may submit a proposal as the project leader for only one project at a time.

Benefits
Level I Grants receive funding up to USD $20,000 and offer unique opportunities for training, networking, coaching, mentorship, and more from fellow National Geographic Explorers, experts, staff, partners, and forums. We are looking for individuals who are interested in becoming an active part of the Explorer Community.
We only accept applications that are submitted through our online portal. Please do not mail or email your application.

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Best Photography Contests in 2024

Each year, there are hundreds of photography competitions all over the world, so we've decided to select for you the best of the best! Our selection of the best photo contests in 2024 is thoroughly curated to help you, whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur, to help find your next creative breakthrough. These all-star competitions offer the greatest opportunities for international exposure and/or incredible financial benefits. Some of them are closing soon, so get your photo submissions in!

ENDS 12/22/24
Become the Photographer of the Week and win Exposure on the Home Page & Social Media
ENDS 12/31/24
If you're a passionate amateur or professional photographer, we invite you to share your photographic project with us.
ENDS 01/03/25
Rewarding the best single images! Enter for free and you could win $5,000, top Sony digital imaging equipment plus more!
ENDS 01/03/25
Dedicated to young photographers under 19 years-old - first prize is top Sony digital imaging equipment plus benefit from global exposure
ENDS 01/10/25
Rewarding the best photo series worldwide! Enter for free and you could win $25,000, a range of Sony digital imaging equipment plus more!
ENDS 01/10/25
The annual photo contest rewards photographers for the best single exposure pictures contributing to the past year of visual journalism.
ENDS 01/10/25
We are glad to share the news that Anadolu Agency’s international news photography contest Istanbul Photo Awards to be held for 10th time.
ENDS 01/10/25
The Aperture Portfolio Prize aims to identify trends in contemporary photography and highlight artists whose work deserves greater recognition.
ENDS 01/19/25
MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language.
ENDS 01/21/25
Be Featured in our February 2025 Online Juried Solo Exhibition! Harvey Stein is the curator for the show.
ENDS 01/31/25
The biennial Belfast Photo Festival provided the perfect platform for gaining exposure to an international audience, with previous editions having welcome over 100,000 visitors from all over the world
ENDS 02/04/25
Our 10th edition of the All About Photo Awards invites photographers from around the world to submit their best work for consideration. Winners will receive $5,000 in cash awards, extensive press coverage and global recognition.
ENDS 02/16/25
Art is born out of passion. Fine Art photography is a perfect instrument, which allows a person to communicate with the world and share their vision. It results from the author's deep sensitivity, a need to express feelings through image.
ENDS 02/17/25
This year’s contest theme, "Inspire," seeks entries that provoke thought, elicit emotions, and inspire audiences to view the world from new angles.
ENDS 02/28/25
The proceeds from the project will go towards the international co-financing grant “Water is Life 2024“.
ENDS 03/03/25
We aim to celebrate the best imagery and storytelling that engages with and represents life on our planet including diverse habitats from forests, cities, deserts, rainforests, urban and managed lands...
ENDS 03/31/25
Entries are open worldwide to photographers using an iPhone or iPad. Photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) are eligible.
ENDS 04/15/25
Submit your best work to our photo competition for a chance to win up to $11,500 in cash prizes, be selected by our curators for the PX3 exhibition in Paris and inclusion in the Annual PX3 book.
ENDS 04/30/25
Nikon’s Small World is regarded as the leading forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope. The Photomicrography Competition is open to anyone with an interest in microscopy and photography.
ENDS 12/15/25
Women photographers can participate with her female visual perspective in 23 thematic categories.
ENDS 02/08/26
The winner will receive £15,000, the second prize is £3,000, and the third prize is £2,000.