Vital Impacts - Environmental Photography Grants and Mentorships

• Vital Impacts

• Deadline: September 15th, 2025

• Theme: Environmental Photography

• Prize: $20,000 Grant + Mentorship + Exposure

• Entry Fees: Yes

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

At Vital Impacts, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling to protect our planet. We are passionately committed to empowering visual storytellers who bring to light impactful, solutions-oriented environmental narratives—especially those rooted in local communities. These stories are crucial not only for raising awareness but also for inspiring tangible change, and we are here to help bring them to life.

As part of our ongoing mission to uplift environmental storytelling, we are thrilled to offer a series of grants designed to support photographers in their creative journey. This year, we will award one (1) major grant of $20,000 and six (6) additional grants of $5,000 each to selected recipients. These grants are intended to provide the financial foundation needed to explore, document, and share powerful stories of environmental resilience, innovation, and hope.

Grantees will have a full twelve months to develop their projects. Throughout this period, they will receive continuous support from Vital Impacts, including guidance on how to publish and promote their work. Our goal is not only to fund important stories, but also to amplify them—ensuring they reach the audiences who need to see and hear them most.

In addition to the grants, we are launching an exciting mentorship initiative to cultivate the next generation of environmental storytellers. Ten (10) emerging photographers will be selected for an intensive, hands-on mentorship program designed to nurture artistic growth, develop storytelling skills, and foster career advancement through one-on-one guidance and community support.

Furthermore, all applicants—regardless of grant or mentorship status—will be invited to join our comprehensive online mentorship series. This inclusive educational offering is open to everyone interested in improving their craft and deepening their understanding of visual storytelling in service of environmental impact.

We are honored to help shape and share the stories that matter most—and we can’t wait to see the incredible work that will emerge through this program.