NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Annual Giving
$26.4M
Grants
109
Median Grant
$75K
Organizations Funded
33
Is this foundation right for you?
SciRise maps the network of who funds whom to surface your next funders. Enter your nonprofit to check your fit.
Foundation Overview
Mission
The National Geographic Society's mission is to use the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, the National Geographic Society has awarded over 15,000 grants worldwide to recipients called National Geographic Explorers, who are a community of changemakers working to support conservation, science and education.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
Meridian Grant Program $1.5M for 10 projects globally; For Nature Program supporting Rights of Nature movement; 2025 Wayfinder Award recipients; Ocean Exploration & Discovery grants up to $20K with Schmidt Ocean Institute; The Big Questions storytelling grants up to $100K; Spatial Thinking grants for educational solutions
How to Apply
Applications only accepted through online portal, mailed or emailed applications not accepted. May submit proposal as project leader for only one project at a time. Must submit final report from previous grants before applying for new project.
Does Not Fund
Must comply with U.S. Department of Treasury OFAC regulations for work in Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Crimea; U.S. Department of Commerce export requirements for certain items including encryption software
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$26.4M
Grants
109
Median
$75K
States
—
$26.6M
Grants
116
Median
$100K
States
—
$21.2M
Grants
148
Median
$57K
States
—
Grant Size Distribution
$75K
Typical Grant (Median)
$6K
Smallest
$24K
25th Pctile
$158K
75th Pctile
$4.9M
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $24K and $158K.
Largest Recent Grants
$4.9M
2024
Individual Grants (Aggregated)
Individual assistance program
$3.1M
2024
Foreign Grants - Sub-Saharan Africa
Okavango Wilderness Project
$2.3M
2024
Foreign Grants - Europe (Including Iceland and Greenland)
Research Grant
$1.5M
2024
Foreign Grants - Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Grant
$1.3M
2024
Wildpath LLC
Research Grant
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.