Photographers with a passion for environmental storytelling are invited to apply for the Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Grant.
This opportunity is open to visual storytellers working on long-term documentary photography projects that explore themes around nature, conservation, and sustainability.
The goal is to elevate powerful environmental narratives while fostering collaboration with communities that are actively involved in protecting ecosystems and wildlife.
This grant is about more than just funding — it’s about empowering photographers to tell urgent, impactful stories from within their own communities.
With a strong emphasis on solution-focused storytelling, Vital Impacts seeks to support work that doesn’t just expose challenges but also highlights local efforts and innovations that are driving real environmental change.
Throughout the one-year grant period, recipients will work closely with mentors and be supported by the Vital Impacts community.
This includes guidance, feedback, and a network of peers and experts dedicated to the power of documentary photography.
By the end of the year, each grantee is expected to deliver a comprehensive, publication-ready visual story that captures the essence and outcomes of their chosen environmental theme.
Grant Details
Vital Impacts is offering several awards to support photographers at different stages in their careers:
- One (1) grant of $20,000 will be awarded to an established photographer
- Six (6) grants of $5,000 will go to emerging photographers from around the world
These grants are designed to help photographers develop and complete a full documentary project over the span of twelve months.
Projects should focus on environmental themes and be rooted in local communities, showcasing real issues and real solutions.
Each recipient will receive ongoing mentorship and support from the Vital Impacts team and their network, ensuring both creative freedom and strong editorial guidance throughout the process.
Who is this for?
This opportunity is designed for photographers who are deeply embedded in their communities—those who not only understand the issues firsthand but are also positioned to tell those stories with accuracy, depth, and empathy.
Here’s what they’re looking for:
- Applicants should be local photographers who live within the communities they plan to document.
- Projects must be focused on environmental or conservation issues specific to their region, with clear community relevance.
- The storytelling approach should explore both the complexity of environmental challenges and the efforts being made to address them.
- Applicants are welcome to submit their proposals in English or in their native language. If a proposal is submitted in another language, Vital Impacts will handle the translation to ensure fair review.
Vital Impacts is especially interested in photographers who are already engaged in long-term work and have built relationships with local stakeholders around the environmental issue they want to highlight.
Importantly, this grant is about amplifying local voices — so applicants who are outsiders to a community or applying to document issues in unfamiliar regions will not be considered.
Additional eligibility criteria
- Applicants must be able to commit to the full 12-month grant period.
- Grantees must adhere to the Vital Impacts Code of Ethics.
- All selected applicants will be required to sign an official Environmental Grant Agreement.
- Applicants must not be the subject of international sanctions and must not reside in countries or regions facing comprehensive territorial sanctions.
- Previous publication is not a requirement — what matters more is passion, potential, and a meaningful connection to the story being told.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted by September 16, 2025. You’ll need to provide a clear, thoughtful proposal describing your project, your connection to the issue, and how the grant would support your work.
Only complete submissions will be reviewed.
For full details and the application form, visit the official Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Grant page.