Illuminating Climate Solutions (NGS + The Climate Pledge)

Enriched private-foundation · Found: 2026-04-20 20:41

National Geographic and The Climate Pledge seek storytellers to illuminate climate resilience and solutions. Deadline May 25, 2026.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/grants-and-investments/rfp-the-climate-pledge/

Funding Details

Funder

National Geographic Society

Funding Goal

Support individual storytellers (journalists, photographers, filmmakers, scientists) to produce media projects that illuminate climate resilience and solutions globally. Priority themes: climate and energy transition (carbon-free energy, decarbonization), nature and land systems (water stewardship, nature-based solutions, biodiversity, restoration, regenerative agriculture, food systems), built and human systems (built environment, climate migration, public health, social adaptation), and adaptation in extreme weather (hurricanes, heat waves, wildfires, floods).

Funding Amount

Up to $100,000. Recommended: up to $20,000 for applicants with five or fewer years of experience. Funds may be used over two years. (up to 100.000 €)

Deadline

2026-05-25 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Apply through the National Geographic Society online funding portal (funding.nationalgeographic.org). No email or mail submissions accepted. Application must be in English. First-time grant recipients join the Explorer Community and gain access to training, tools, and future funding opportunities.

Target Region

Global — no geographic restrictions stated, though stories about communities navigating climate impacts prioritized

Contact

funding@ngs.org — subject line: RFP Illuminating Climate Solutions

Last Checked

2026-04-21 02:24

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be an individual storyteller (not an institution or NGO)
• Must have lived in or significant experience working in the story's community
• Project leader must be the individual responsible for carrying out work

Project Scope

• All story ideas must be grounded in climate solutions (not just problem documentation)
• Applicants with 5 or fewer years experience should request up to $20,000

Required Documents

• Must submit a portfolio (website) demonstrating prior successful media projects
• Application must be submitted in English via online portal only

Constraints

• May submit as project lead for only one project
• Deadline: May 25, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT

Summary

The Illuminating Climate Solutions RFP is a joint initiative of the National Geographic Society and The Climate Pledge, designed to fund a global portfolio of storytelling projects focused on climate resilience and solutions. The program recognizes that human stories are more powerful than data and statistics in motivating climate action by business leaders and policymakers. Thematic scope covers four broad areas: climate and energy transition (carbon-free energy, decarbonization); nature and land systems (water stewardship, nature-based solutions including biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, regenerative agriculture, food systems); built and human systems (built environment, climate migration, public health, social adaptation); and adaptation in extreme weather events (hurricanes, heat waves, wildfires, floods). All submitted story ideas must be grounded in solutions rather than problems. The program is designed for individual storytellers — journalists, filmmakers, photographers, scientists — who have lived in or have significant professional experience in the communities they propose to cover. No institutional applicants; projects must be led by a named individual. Applicants must demonstrate a portfolio of completed media projects. Storytellers with five or fewer years of experience are guided to request up to $20,000; more experienced applicants may request up to $100,000. Funds are usable over two years. Applications are open to existing National Geographic Explorers and new applicants worldwide. Submissions are accepted only through the online portal in English by May 25, 2026. Successful applicants join the National Geographic Explorer Community and gain access to training resources, tools, and future funding opportunities. This RFP is aimed at individual storytellers, not at NGOs or membership organisations. It is not suitable for organizations seeking institutional project funding. The focus is media production — journalism, documentary, photography — rather than operational conservation or waste-management interventions.

Historical Context

Partnership between National Geographic Society and The Climate Pledge (Amazon's climate coalition). National Geographic Society has awarded more than 15,000 grants since founding in 1888.

Why it was added

discovered from funder #272: National Geographic Society

Sources

• https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/grants-and-investments/rfp-the-climate-pledge/

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