Funding opportunities (under construction)

Grants

  • National Geographic grants - Perhaps the most famous giver of grants to photographers and filmmakers, Nat Geo currently has a COVID-19 emergency fund for journalists. They highly encourage applications from all regions of the world.

  • British Ecological Society - Outreach grants up to £2000 to support their members in science communication. The award may be used as part funding for larger projects. You must be a member to apply, but they offer free 12-month memberships to students.

  • Filmmakers Without Borders - Supports independent filmmakers around the world via grants and other funding initiatives. Supported projects include narrative films, documentary films, and new media projects that align with themes of social justice, empowerment, and cultural exchange.

  • Sony Alpha Female Grants - This one is unfortunately only open to residents of the USA and Canada but if you are based there it is a great opportunity! If you have a photo or video project idea, this grant can help you bring it to life. Besides funding, they provide you with Sony gear to shoot on, Adobe software to edit with, and the opportunity to have your project seen worldwide.

  • Alexia Grants - For 30 years, Alexia Grants have supported visual journalists. Two grants are offered: The Alexia Student Grant and the Alexia Professional Grant. Photographers from anywhere in the world are eligible. They have a $20,000 grant for a professional photographer to produce a substantial story.

  • The Awesome Foundation - A global community advancing the interest of awesome in the universe, $1000 at a time.

Crowd funding

  • Kickstarter - One of the most well-known crowd funding platforms, which can help bring your creative project to life. A great example of a successful project funded using this is the Remembering Wildlife book series by Margot Ragget.

Pitch articles to magazines

  • BBC Wildlife - This magazine has a useful web page with detailed guidance on how to submit photo story ideas. These usually receive a small payment so it can be a way to generate income if you have a compelling photo story.

  • Outdoor Photography Magazine - This magazine also has a useful page which publicly lists the payments they offer for content. There are different categories and submitting content successfully could be a great way to generate a little extra income.

  • Wild Planet Photo Magazine - Submit an article to earn some cash. Please note they only pay via PayPal so it is somewhat limited.

Places to look for paid jobs

  • Conservation Careers - Primarily science-based conservation jobs but they also have some communications jobs listed.