W. Eugene Smith Grant 2025

W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund announces 2025 Grants: $30,000 Award and two $10,000 Finalist Grants for visual storytellers.

Overview

The W. Eugene Smith Grant is designed to encourage and support visual storytellers whose photographic work renews the tradition of W. Eugene Smith’s dedicated compassion as evidenced during his 45-year career as a photographic essayist. Special consideration will be given to work that promotes social change, that embraces new technologies and image distribution, and that seeks to integrate the tradition of photography and social change with contemporary practice. 

The judges will be looking for a photographer and project that seem most likely to use exemplary and compelling photojournalism and documentary photography (possibly supplemented by or incorporating multi-media) to address an issue of import and impact related to the human condition: social change, humanitarian concern, armed conflict, or other topics of interpersonal, psychological, cultural, social, environmental, scientific, medical and/or political significance, ideally expressing an underlying acknowledgement of our common humanity.

Practical Info

To apply for the W. Eugene Smith Fund, applicants must submit a biography, with a CV being optional. A key component of the application is the project description—a concise yet comprehensive summary that outlines the proposed project. This description should reflect a journalistically feasible, visually compelling, and humanistically driven concept. In addition, a more detailed project proposal is required, explaining the practical execution of the idea and how the applicant intends to utilize the Smith Grant funds to either launch or complete the work. For 2025, the W. Eugene Smith Grant award is $30,000, with two additional $10,000 Finalist Grants also being awarded. Applicants may include up to 40 images, featuring representative visuals from the proposed project or, if submitting a new concept, relevant past work that demonstrates their creative vision and ability to execute. All imagery must be original; AI-generated images are not permitted. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to be eligible. Photographers who cannot afford the submission fee may request a fee waiver.

The Fund’s Board of Trustees impanels a three-member international jury. The jury meets twice. At the first session the jury reviews the required materials: applications, proposals, and photographs. They select finalists based on the substantive and intellectual merits of their projects. Finalists will be given the opportunity over a short period of time to refine their proposals and to answer specific questions from the jury about their project. At the second session the jury will review all new material and select the W. Eugene Smith Grant recipient, the W. Eugene Smith Grant Fellowship recipient, and the W. Eugene Smith Grant Finalist.

About the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, Inc.

The W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, independently administers the grant program that provides photographers with the opportunity to carry out or complete a major photographic essay.