Visual storytellers can apply for one of seven grants and 10 mentorship program slots to help them tell important environmental stories through photography.
Of the seven grants, six offer $5,000 each in funding, while the Dr. Jane Goodall Environmental Photography Grant comes with $20,000 in financial support to help the winning photographer complete a photo project.
“The Vital Impacts Jane Good Goodall Grant, honoring ethologist and conservationist, will support a photographer dedicated to telling powerful, solutions-focused environmental stories,” Vital Impacts explains. “It is with immense pride and gratitude that we celebrate Dr. Goodall’s legacy and unwavering dedication to both humanity and the planet. Her spirit of hope and resilience continues to inspire us all to make a difference.”
The remaining six environmental photography grants are all named in honor of people who have made a significant impact on environmental science and conservation, including Sylvia Earle, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Ian Lemaiyan, Chico Mendes, Madonna Thunder Hawk, and E.O. Wilson.
Each grant recipient will receive funding to work on their projects over 12 months. Applicants do not need to have prior publishing experience, as the program is designed to help uplift visual journalists and storytellers working on long-term projects, not necessarily those with extensive professional experience.
That said, as for who it is looking for, Vital Impacts offers the following:
Vital Impacts is seeking out local photographers deeply connected within their communities, possessing both the knowledge and passion to report on environmental issues, particularly those relevant to their own surroundings. We’re on the lookout for individuals who can convey the complexities of environmental or conservation challenges, along with potential solutions.
It is imperative that grant recipients focus on documenting a story within their own community. Our goal is to bolster local journalism, so we’re specifically targeting photographers rooted in the communities they aim to spotlight. We won’t be considering applications from photographers outside of the respective community or country.
In addition to these grants, Vital Impacts will also select 10 emerging photographers to participate in an intensive mentorship program. Each mentee will receive guidance and support from Vital Impacts and be invited to participate in an online education series.
Photographers have until September 15, 2024, to apply. Complete submission details are available here.
Image credits: Photos by the 2023 Grant Winner Musuk Nolte, courtesy of Vital Impacts