The National Geographic Society Grant Program

The Human Journey supports projects that explore and document the human experience through time to preserve and celebrate our shared heritage. The Human Journey funds impact-oriented projects within the fields of anthropology, archaeology, paleoanthropology, psychology, human health, and human geography. They are particularly interested in the themes of human migration (i.e., the causes and effects of human population movement), human adaptation (i.e., how societies adjust to and mitigate environmental changes), and human diversity (i.e., the cultural, linguistic, and genetic diversity of our species). They are also interested in supporting innovations in technology, education, mapping, and storytelling related to these themes, particularly data visualization, high-tech approaches, cultural heritage preservation, educational outreach, and curricula development. Please note, however, that they do not provide financial support for the reconstruction or restoration of archaeological sites or for architectural conservation.

Wildlife and Wild Places supports projects that explore and document the Earth’s biodiversity to better understand and conserve species, habitats, processes, and ecosystems (marine and terrestrial). Wildlife and Wild Places funds impact-oriented projects within the fields of biology, ecology, and conservation. They are particularly interested in the themes of biodiversity in human-altered environments (including human-wildlife conflict and mitigation, urban ecology, zoonotic diseases), the effects of climate change on biodiversity (including science- and policy-oriented solutions), the exploitation of natural resources (including bushmeat, legal but unsustainable harvesting, wildlife crime), landscape connectivity and habitat corridors (including animal migrations), and the science of restoration (i.e., ecosystem restoration at all scales). They are also interested in supporting innovations in technology, education, mapping, and storytelling related to these themes, particularly data visualization, high-tech approaches, educational outreach, and curricula development.

Our Changing Planet supports projects that explore and document Earth and ocean systems in the present, past, and future to better understand and protect the evolving environment. Our Changing Planet funds impact-oriented projects within the fields of geology, geochemistry, physical geography, marine ecology, oceanography, paleontology, and observational astronomy. They are particularly interested in the themes of ocean research and conservation (including reef processes, marine ecology and management, and sea-level change), disasters associated with natural hazards (including volcanoes, earthquakes, and landslides), environmental change (including records of past climates, glacial retreat, pollution, and remediation), and the history of our planet (including plate tectonics, paleobotany, mass-extinction events, and planetary analog science). They are also interested in supporting innovations in technology, education, mapping, and storytelling related to these themes, particularly data visualization, high-tech approaches, educational outreach, and curricula development.