Women Photograph
OVERVIEW: Women Photograph supports gender nonconforming, transgender, genderqueer and nonbinary photographers.
IP TAKE: This accessible foundation considers non-binary and transgender applicants, featuring a straightforward online submission process. While this foundation is laser-focused on funding documentary photography through a gender lens, it is very approachable in its field. Given the limited grantmaking space for women in photography, grants are highly competitive, so reach out to this responsive funder before applying if you have any questions about the application process. Excellent work that questions power structures and women’s issues have an edge.
PROFILE: A conglomerate of more than 500 independent female documentary photographers launched Women Photograph in 2017 to “[e]levate the voices of female visual journalists” by shifting “[t]he gender makeup of the photojournalism community and ensure that our industry’s chief storytellers are as diverse as the communities they home to represent.
Grant for Women, Journalism and Visual Arts
Women Photograph offers several grants. The Women Photograph Project Grant offers five $5,000 for new and in-progress documentary projects. The initiative accepts submissions for this program from April 1 to May 20. This grant earmarks at least one grant for a transgender or nonbinary photographer.
Women Photograph + Leica Grants provide $10,000 in funding to ongoing documentary projects and photographers who “demonstrate a long-term commitment to their story.”
The organization distributes 50% of grant funds at the beginning of the project and the remaining 50% upon the project’s completion. Applicants must submit their work in English, there is no fee to apply for a grant, and grantees retain full ownership of their work. Deadlines vary, so interested applicants should check the website. Applicants should note that awards and themes vary from year to year depending on various partnerships.
The foundation also supports a Women of Color database to increase opportunities for POC photographers.
Important Grant Details
Women Photograph’s grants are awarded in amounts of up to $10,000, with most grants amounts specified by program. The foundation accepts applications for all of its grantmaking programs and offers mentoring and professional development opportunities to woman, woman-identifying and nonbinary people. Application guidelines and due dates are available on individual program pages. Submit general inquiries to the organization’s staff via email.
PEOPLE:
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