Using the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.
National Geographic Society’s largest recent grant was a $1.25 million research award to Wildpath LLC, a signal that its giving still centers on field science, exploration, and mission-aligned research. Across the recent grants list, the society backs projects that combine scientific investigation with education, storytelling, and conservation action, often through named programs tied to specific disciplines or expeditions. Its portfolio includes wildlife work, ocean and freshwater protection, archaeology, and initiatives that use media or public engagement to extend project reach. The society also gives repeated support to certain grantees and programs. Conservation Through Public Health appears with both a 2024 research grant and a 2025 conservation grant, showing continuity across years and portfolio types. The Peregrine Fund Inc and Zambian Carnivore Programme each received multiple wildlife-conservation awards, while Blue Grass Community Foundation appears in several education and Azimuth grants. Other large awards went to Regents Of The University of California, Two Wolves Films LLC, and University Of California Santa Barbara, reflecting a mix of academic, nonprofit, and production partners. The foundation’s work is structured around explorers, projects, and targeted initiatives rather than a single grant theme.
In wildlife conservation, National Geographic Society backed Zambian Carnivore Programme with $450,000 for wildlife conservation and later added another $225,000 for the same purpose. The Peregrine Fund Inc also received $430,212 in 2024 and $349,047 in 2025 for wildlife conservation, indicating sustained support for species-focused fieldwork. Ocean and freshwater protection are another clear thread. University of Hawaii Foundation received $214,707 for Pristine Seas, and Appalachian State University received $222,100 for a Perpetual Planet-Mountains Expedition, linking the society’s grants to marine and watershed systems through expedition-based work. The society also funds public-facing science and education. Two Wolves Films LLC received $565,000 for storytelling, while Archaeology in the Community received $256,270 and $218,827 for education grants. Those awards show that the foundation supports both project research and the communication of scientific and historical work to broader audiences.
$11.2M
$2.5B
$340.5M
$222.6M
Most grants fall between $25K and $125K, with a median of $78K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$78K
75th Percentile
$125K
Jill Tiefenthaler
CEO
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Typical grants cluster around a mid-sized range: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $78,098, and the 75th percentile is $125,000. Recent awards extend well above that range for research, expedition, and conservation projects, including seven-figure and high six-figure grants. The grant list shows recurring relationships rather than one-off support only. Conservation Through Public Health, The Peregrine Fund Inc, Zambian Carnivore Programme, and Blue Grass Community Foundation each appear in multiple years, suggesting continued programmatic funding. The society is a regular funder and does not fund individuals directly; its active programs show a mix of unsolicited opportunities and invitation-only initiatives. Level I Grants and The Big Questions accept unsolicited proposals, while several expedition and research programs do not.
Recent grants in the list go entirely to U.S. recipients, with 203 grants to U.S.-based organizations or entities. The biggest concentration by named recipient city appears in California and the District of Columbia-linked university system, but the distribution is broad rather than tied to the headquarters city. Named recipients include Santa Barbara, Davis, and Honolulu through University of California Santa Barbara, Regents Of The University Of California Davis, and University of Hawaii Foundation. Other U.S. locations visible in the data include Tulsa through The University of Tulsa and Boone through Appalachian State University. The recipient-country distribution shows no non-U.S. grant recipients in the recent-grants sample.
Its recent grants support science, conservation, storytelling, education, and technology. Examples in the data include wildlife conservation, ocean work, education grants, storytelling grants, archaeology education, and targeted initiatives such as Wildlife Intelligence Project and Perpetual Planet-Mountains Expedition.
No. The foundation is marked as not funding individuals directly, even though several of its programs support explorers and early-career researchers through project grants, fellowships, and challenge awards.
The grant-size distribution centers on $25,000 at the 25th percentile, a median of $78,098, and $125,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes larger awards, such as $1.25 million and several grants above $300,000.
Yes. The Big Questions and Level I Grants accept unsolicited applications, as does Protect Our Pollinators and the Slingshot Challenge. Other active programs, including Okavango Wilderness Project, World Freshwater Initiative, Perpetual Planet Expeditions, Wildlife Intelligence Project, and Blue Boundaries, do not accept unsolicited proposals.
Yes. Conservation Through Public Health appears with a 2024 research grant and a 2025 conservation grant. The Peregrine Fund Inc, Zambian Carnivore Programme, and Blue Grass Community Foundation also each appear multiple times in the recent grants list.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from National Geographic Society that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must have distinct impact in Canada and align with the Trebek Initiative's mandate; detailed eligibility is specified in the RFP.
Deadline: Applications due October 28, 2026.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildpath LLC | — | $1,975,000 | 2026 | Storytelling Grant |
| Power of Preservation Foundation | — | $1,631,000 | 2026 | Research Grant |
| The Wilderness Project Foundation | — | $800,000 | 2026 | Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative |
| Blue Grass Community Foundation | — | $570,042 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Polynesian Voyaging Society | — | $500,000 | 2026 | Oceans Expeditions |
| Great Plains Conservation Foundation | — | $400,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Alaska Whale Foundation | — | $349,663 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| Oregon State University | — | $314,037 | 2026 | Wildlife Intelligence Project |
| The Regents Of The University Of California Davis | — | $266,784 | 2026 | Wildlife Intelligence Project |
| The Peregrine Fund Inc | — | $265,741 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| The Wild Bird Foundation of America | — | $250,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Wildstar Academy | — | $250,000 | 2026 | Storytelling Grant |
| Zambian Carnivore Programme | — | $225,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| University of Hawaii Foundation | — | $215,796 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| ReWild | — | $200,000 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| California Institute of Technology | — | $196,450 | 2026 | Research Grant |
| Callie Veelenturf For Nature Fdn | Norfolk, MA | $175,000 | 2026 | Research Grant |
| Wildlife Conservation Network | — | $157,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| University of Hawaii | — | $141,622 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| Conservation X Labs Inc | — | $126,000 | 2026 | Research Grant |
| Wildaid Inc | — | $120,000 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative | — | $100,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Ocean Discovery League Inc | — | $100,000 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| School of Leadership Afghanistan | — | $100,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Science Communication Lab Inc | — | $100,000 | 2026 | Research Grant |
| Connecting the Grizzly LLC | — | $100,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Education Recreation Inc | — | $100,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Education for Sharing Inc | — | $99,926 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Walter Anderson Museum of Art | — | $95,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| University of Mississippi | — | $95,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| California State University Bakersfield | — | $93,060 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Black Outside Inc | — | $78,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Global Fishing Watch Inc | — | $75,500 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| Girl Plus Environment | — | $75,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Texas State University | — | $65,137 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Texas Womans University | — | $65,136 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation | — | $61,877 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Consortium of Okla Geographers | — | $57,176 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| CH Luger Studio LLC | — | $50,000 | 2026 | Wayfinder Award |
| Standpipe Hill Foundation | — | $48,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Trubel & Co | — | $46,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Nebraska Children and Families Foundation | — | $45,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Aurora Lights | Morgantown, WV | $43,682 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Dakota Science Center | — | $42,500 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Girl Scout Council of the Nations Capital | — | $40,845 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| SR3 SeaLife | — | $35,000 | 2026 | Ocean Conservation |
| Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation | — | $31,113 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| First Antioch Ministries | — | $30,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
| Claws Conservancy | — | $25,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Earth Charter Indiana | — | $25,000 | 2026 | Education Grant |
Wildpath LLC
$1,975,000Storytelling Grant
Power of Preservation Foundation
$1,631,000Research Grant
The Wilderness Project Foundation
$800,000Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative
Wildlife Conservation
Alaska Whale Foundation
$349,663Ocean Conservation
Oregon State University
$314,037Wildlife Intelligence Project
The Regents Of The University Of California Davis
$266,784Wildlife Intelligence Project
The Wild Bird Foundation of America
$250,000Wildlife Conservation
Wildstar Academy
$250,000Storytelling Grant
Zambian Carnivore Programme
$225,000Wildlife Conservation
Callie Veelenturf For Nature Fdn
$175,000Research Grant
University of Hawaii
$141,622Ocean Conservation
Science Communication Lab Inc
$100,000Research Grant
Connecting the Grizzly LLC
$100,000Wildlife Conservation
Education Recreation Inc
$100,000Education Grant
Education for Sharing Inc
$99,926Education Grant
Walter Anderson Museum of Art
$95,000Education Grant
University of Mississippi
$95,000Education Grant
California State University Bakersfield
$93,060Education Grant
Girl Plus Environment
$75,000Education Grant
Texas State University
$65,137Education Grant
Texas Womans University
$65,136Education Grant
Consortium of Okla Geographers
$57,176Education Grant
CH Luger Studio LLC
$50,000Wayfinder Award
Standpipe Hill Foundation
$48,000Education Grant
Trubel & Co
$46,000Education Grant
Aurora Lights
$43,682Education Grant
Dakota Science Center
$42,500Education Grant
First Antioch Ministries
$30,000Education Grant
Claws Conservancy
$25,000Wildlife Conservation