Grant and Mentorship Resources
We are honored to be offering one professional grant of $20,000 and six additional emerging photographer grants of $5,000 each. These funds are dedicated to supporting documentary projects that focus on solution-based environmental narratives. Grant recipients will have the opportunity to develop their projects over a twelve-month period, bringing these crucial stories to life and sharing them with the world.
Beyond the financial support, Vital Impacts will also select ten emerging photographers to participate in an intensive mentorship program. This program is designed to provide guidance and support, helping participants refine their skills and broaden their impact. All applicants will be invited to join our online mentorship program.
To help you better prepare your applications, we have compiled answers to common question and are sharing above our discussion on Preparing a Successful Grant Application with Musuk Nolte, a recipient of our 2023 professional grant and two of our judges; Sabine Meyer, Photography Director of the National Audubon Society, and David Barreda, Senior Photo Editor of National Geographic. Vital Impacts founder and Executive Director Ami Vitale moderates the panel.
What kinds of projects is Vital Impacts looking to support?
Vital Impacts is looking to exclusively support local, solutions-based stories. We are not looking to fly photographers to far-flung site around the world. We are looking for photographers that live near the story they will be telling and who are intimately connected with the community, so that they can return over and over again during the course of a year to tell a complete and profound story.
The stories were are looking to fund should also be solutions based. We want to support and promote photographic projects that provide hope and a road map forward in these difficult environmental times.
What should I do if I haven't started the project I am proposing?
If you haven't started working on the project you are proposing, you should submit a body of work that demonstrates your ability to tell a story similar in scope and scale to the one you are proposing. Demonstrate your ability to deliver a compelling narrative, backed by thorough research, and craft a pitch that captivates the judges - even without the project in motion.
What is the difference between the proposal and the project description?
The proposal is the project you intend to undertake. The project description describes the body of images that you submit with your application. If you have already started the proposed project, this may be the same. If you are showing images that are different from your proposal, they would be different.
Should I submit a collection of my strongest images (a portfolio) or a story?
Please submit a photo story that demonstrates your ability to convey a full idea or situation through a sequence of images. A collection of your best stills will not help the judge see how you can implement your proposal with images.
Can I submit more than one project?
You may submit more than one project. To do so, you must submit an additional application.
However, we strongly recommend focusing on just one project. By committing fully to a single idea, you'll create a stronger proposal and project, showing the judges that you truly believe in your work.
What should I do if I am only interested in the mentorship program?
The application for the mentorship and the grants is the same. Be sure to check the box on the application saying you would like to be considered for the mentorship.
You will still be considered for the grants, but if you're not in a position to accept one, you can always decline it.
Can I apply as part of a team or group?
No. These grants and mentorships are meant to support the work of one, individual photographer.
No. While we appreciate the power of film as a medium for conservation causes, these grants are meant to fund still photography projects.
Can I submit my application in Spanish?
Yes, you can. Please write your application in the language that best allows you to express your ideas. We will handle the translation for the judges.
Can I edit my application after I submit it?
Yes, you can edit your application as long as it's before the deadline. To re-open your submission, just email us at hello@vitalimpacts.org.
What makes an application stand out?
With judges reviewing hundreds of applications, the beginning of your pitch is crucial. Your opening sentences should immediately capture attention, clearly convey the direction of your project, and highlight the story's importance and uniqueness. Make sure it leaves a strong impression right from the start.
Stick to the facts—prose isn't necessary. Focus on why your story is important, why it matters to you, why it’s relevant now, and how it contributes to solutions. Keep these questions in mind as you write, and let them guide your application. Also, be clear on why you’re the right person to tell this story.
More information about our grants and mentorship program, including how to apply can be found here.