The W. Eugene Smith Grant

About the Open Call

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. For 2025, the amount of the W. Eugene Smith Grant is $30,000 and two additional $10,000 Finalist Grants will be awarded. The primary grant recipient receives $24,000 upon receipt of the grant and $6,000 upon receipt of twelve (12) digital images and twelve (12) prints within eighteen (18) months. Finalist Grants pay $8,000 upon receipt and $2,000 upon receipt of twelve (12) digital images within eighteen (18) months. Recipients must submit a final report. The images and prints become part of the W. Eugene Smith Legacy Collection at the International Center of Photography (ICP), with recipients granting a worldwide nonexclusive license for non-commercial use in exhibitions and reproductions related to the Smith Fund or ICP. The Fund’s Board of Trustees impanels a three-member international jury who review applications, proposals, and photographs, select finalists, and then choose the grant recipients. Application fee is $50 USD. Fee waivers are available through partnerships with various organizations (e.g., African Photojournalism Database, Black Women Photographers, Magnum Foundation). Requests for waivers must be made to these partner organizations before September 23, 2025.

What is Offered

A W. Eugene Smith Grant of $30,000. Two additional Finalist Grants of $10,000 each. Recipients' images and prints become part of the W. Eugene Smith Legacy Collection at the International Center of Photography (ICP), with non-exclusive license for non-commercial use by the Smith Fund and ICP.

Requirements

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. No AI generated imagery is allowed. Students are not eligible for this grant; they should apply for the W. Eugene Smith Student Grant. Collaborators and non-professional photographers can apply. Individuals can submit only one proposal. The grant is designed to help photographers begin working on a photographic project or complete photography for an ongoing project; it is not for fully finished projects or for archiving personal work. International applications are encouraged.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply via picter.com. Submission requirements include a biography (up to 1500 characters), an optional CV (up to 2000 characters or PDF), a concise project description (up to 2000 characters), a detailed project proposal (up to 3000 characters), and up to 40 images (representative of the proposed project or past work clearly marked). No AI generated imagery is allowed. Fee waivers can be requested from specific partner organizations before September 23, 2025.