Deadline: April 12, 2023.
The National Geographic Society Grants are given out annually to newcomers to the National Geographic community and seasoned professionals working on ambitious projects.
The National Geographic Society is now accepting applications for its Grants Program, which aims to shed light on and preserve the natural and cultural wonders of the world.
Each opportunity has its own set of criteria and benefits to make sure that their Explorers receive support and funding that is tailored to their individual needs and goals, regardless of whether they are budding explorers or renowned experts in their field.
To that end, the National Geographic Society encourages and welcomes applications from people who identify with groups that have been historically or are currently underrepresented or underserved.
National Geographic is dedicated to funding Explorers who reflect the world’s diversity. When considering applicants, the National Geographic Society does not look at factors such as race, religion, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, country of origin, ancestry, age, or physical or mental disability (no discrimination).
National Geographic Society Grants Benefits
- Level 1 Grants are awarded up to $20,000 and come with a wide variety of opportunities for training, networking, coaching, mentoring, and more from other National Geographic Explorers, experts, staff, partners, and forums. They are looking for those who wish to join the Explorer Community and play an integral role in it.
- Allottees of Level 2 Grants can receive up to $100,000 in funding. It doesn’t matter whether you have a large or small request; the National Geographic Society Grants welcomes you. Grantees at this level are expected to act as mentors to other members of the Explorer community, share their knowledge and insights, and give presentations at conferences and other events where their expertise is sought.
National Geographic Society Grants Funding
- Funding is provided to individuals whose work is related to science, conservation, storytelling, education, or technology that fits within the scope of at least one of their focus areas.
- Furthermore, they are dedicated to facilitating their networking, connections, and learning opportunities with National Geographic and one another, as well as providing them with state-of-the-art resources, technology, and training to increase their storytelling’s impact and visibility.
- Ocean: In addition to their work in ocean exploration, research, and conservation, they also work to educate, inspire, and equip people worldwide to value and protect the ocean.
- Land: Through their work, they inspire and equip people worldwide to learn about and protect their local ecosystems, including the land, lakes, and rivers on which they depend.
- Wildlife: They find new information about previously unknown species or genera of animals, plants, or other life forms and then use that knowledge to educate and empower people worldwide to do the same.
- Human Culture and History: They help us remember the past, learn from the present, and appreciate the rich diversity of human culture and history, and they pique the interest of people all over the world in learning more about our shared humanity.
- Human Ingenuity: They develop ingenious, novel, or scaleable solutions to the world’s most pressing sustainability issues and launch initiatives that showcase ground-breaking solutions and innovations in this field.
National Geographic Society Grants Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the National Geographic Society grants are as follows:
- To be eligible for the National Geographic Society grant, you must be at least 18 years old.
- It is recommended that projects begin no less than six months after the submission deadline to allow for the timely receipt of any awarded funds.
- If you are working on it outside of your home country or community, you should have at least one local collaborator on your team who plays a significant role in the project.
- As the leader of multiple projects, you can only submit one proposal at a time.
- Before applying to lead a new project, you must submit a final report and media from any National Geographic Society grants for which you were the leader.
- The application should be written by the person leading the project’s execution.
- Level 1 Grants are intended for people who are just starting in their careers, who want to make a name for themselves in their field, who want to learn from the experiences of those further along in their careers and other fields, and who want to expand their professional networks and make a greater impact by becoming part of the global community of National Geographic Explorers. This opportunity is best suited for people interested in making a big impact in their field. It can benefit from the resources and networks that the National Geographic Society and its Explorers provide. A thoughtful demonstration of how joining the Explorer Community will help advance one’s career will give applicants an edge in the fierce competition for these grants.
- Those already considered National Geographic Explorers (previously awarded a National Geographic Society grant) are not eligible for Level 1 Grants. To qualify for a Level I Grant, applicants must be either completely new to the National Geographic Society network or an existing network member who is not yet an Explorer. This includes team members on previous grants, National Geographic Young Explorers awarded in 2019 or later, and recipients of discretionary funding opportunities like the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists and the COVID-19 Remote Learning Emergency Fund.
- Apply for a Level 2 Grant if you are well-established in your field, have previously received a grant from the National Geographic Society, or are looking for additional funding. Applying for this opportunity does not require that you have ever received funding from the National Geographic Society. This funding is extremely competitive and is only awarded to the most innovative and ground-breaking projects that will have a major, lasting impact in their respective fields. The maximum duration for a project is two years.
