National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is a public charity based in Washington, DC. Founded in 1888, it supports individuals working in science, conservation, storytelling, education, and technology to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world.
National Geographic Society at a glance
In short: National Geographic Society gave $11.2M across 62 grants in 2025 (avg $181K), top state Massachusetts. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $11,231,569
- +26.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 62
- -16.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $181,154
- +51.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $85,530
- Total assets
- $2,456,049,733
- +20.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (24 of 62, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (2% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to National Geographic Society
- How to Apply
-
Review the criteria for the relevant opportunity and submit an application through its application process. The budget guidelines require requested costs to be entered in the online application form in U.S. dollars, with a description for each requested budget item.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1600 M St Nw, Washington, DC 20036-4688
Phone: (202) 857-7000
Website: https://nationalgeographic.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
12 open opportunities from National Geographic Society
American Keystone Species Grant
National Geographic Society
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Building Resilience in Agriculture RFP Grant
National Geographic Society
Amount
Up to US $150,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Coastal Ecosystems for People and Planet- Level I grants Grant
National Geographic Society
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who National Geographic Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wildpath LLC ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $7.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
352 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 160 grants of 352 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Society describes its Explorer community as global, with Explorers representing more than 140 countries. Its 2025 Freshwater Storytelling opportunity highlights freshwater challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Western Asia, and the Middle East.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is National Geographic Society open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 62 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $200K; repeat grants $169K. How we count
Medians: $96K first-time, $70K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.0M (2020) to $11.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 62 grants totaling $11.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wildpath LLC | Storytelling Grant | $1,975,000 |
| Power of Preservation Foundation | Research Grant | $1,631,000 |
| The Wilderness Project Foundation | Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative | $800,000 |
| Blue Grass Community Foundation | Education Grant | $570,042 |
| Polynesian Voyaging Society | Oceans Expeditions | $500,000 |
| Great Plains Conservation Foundation | Wildlife Conservation | $400,000 |
| Alaska Whale Foundation | Ocean Conservation | $349,663 |
| Oregon State University | Wildlife Intelligence Project | $314,037 |
| The Regents Of The University Of California Davis | Wildlife Intelligence Project | $266,784 |
| The Peregrine Fund Inc | Wildlife Conservation | $265,741 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,456,049,733 | $340,516,012 | $222,560,462 | $11,231,569 | 62 | $134,764,896 |
| 2024 | $2,036,115,001 | $209,304,518 | $220,522,212 | $8,865,814 | 74 | $102,326,490 |
| 2023 | $1,872,730,796 | $231,981,168 | $212,737,237 | $8,218,299 | 64 | $119,703,101 |
| 2022 | $1,790,673,716 | $157,560,446 | $188,921,145 | $5,446,855 | 65 | $63,617,377 |
| 2021 | $2,037,588,957 | $203,876,504 | $141,186,606 | $5,367,312 | 87 | $124,158,205 |
| 2020 | $1,696,779,808 | $70,469,785 | $145,411,426 | $4,994,283 | 105 | $29,824,595 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Society’s stated mission is “to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge in the broadest sense, using the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world.” Its six focus areas are Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human Histories and Cultures, Planetary Health, and Space.
The Society’s 2025 filing describes grantmaking in storytelling, science, conservation, and technology, as well as education and community engagement. The filing says its education work supports educators, researchers, and learners by expanding access to knowledge and developing learning resources. The Society’s website describes its grants as supporting individuals at different career stages.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Society reported 62 grants totaling $11,231,569. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $1,975,000, with a median of $85,530. Among the largest awards were $1,975,000 to Wildpath LLC for a Storytelling Grant; $1,631,000 to Power of Preservation Foundation for a Research Grant; $800,000 to The Wilderness Project Foundation for the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative; $570,042 to Blue Grass Community Foundation for an Education Grant; and $500,000 to Polynesian Voyaging Society for Oceans Expeditions.
The Society’s website lists funding opportunities with distinct criteria and benefits. The 2025 funding overview describes Level I grants for one-year projects, with requests up to $20,000; technology-focused projects may run up to two years. The Society’s budget guidelines ask applicants to provide a detailed, realistic project budget in U.S. dollars, with a reason for each requested line item. The guidelines say the Society prioritizes costs directly required to complete a project and does not fund scholarships, tuition, study-abroad programs, school living expenses, or internships.
Current opportunities listed on the Society’s website include an Ocean Exploration and Discovery request for proposals, with applications due October 21, 2026, and a Southern Ocean Visiting Scientist Program aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet. A Freshwater Storytelling request for proposals invites projects such as photography, film, and data visualization focused on sustainable freshwater use and equitable access.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jill Tiefenthaler as CEO. Trustees listed include Afsaneh Beschloss, Angel Cabrera, Anthony A. Williams, Brendan P. Bechtel, Claudia Madrazo, Dambisa Moyo, David Marriott, Deborah Lehr, and Dina Powell McCormick.
National Geographic Society is led by Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO on every filing since 2020; 20 of 43 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jill Tiefenthaler
CEO
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$514K (2020) → $1.5M (2025)
Jean Case
Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$6K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Angel Cabrera
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$19K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Anthony A. Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$7K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Ellen R. Stofan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Frederick J. Ryan Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Joseph M. Desimone
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Mark Moore
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Nancy Pfund
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$14K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Rajiv Shah
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$6K (2024) → $0 (2025)
John Coombe
Director & Investments
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$353K (2023) → $637K (2025)
Evan G. Greenberg
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$6K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Kate Brandt
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$6K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Sandesh Kadur
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$51K (2024) → $49K (2025)
Afsaneh Beschloss
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brendan P. Bechtel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Strive Masiyiwa
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Madrazo
Trustee
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Lehr
Trustee
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dina Powell McCormick
Trustee
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John K. Delaney
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dambisa Moyo
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Marriott
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Henry Ellenbogen
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Moen
Chief Explorer & Engagement Officer
Chief Explorer & Engagement Officer → Chief Explorer Engagement Officer, 2022
Chief Explorer Engagement Officer → Chief Explorer & Engagement Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$307K (2020) → $398K (2025)
Enric Sala
Explorer in Residence
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$377K (2020) → $450K (2025)
Jason Southern
Chief Technology Officer
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$286K (2020) → $392K (2025)
Kaitlin Yarnall
Chief Storytelling Officer & Senior Vice President
Chief Storytelling Officer & Senior Vice President → Chief Storytelling Officer Senior Vice President, 2022
Chief Storytelling Officer Senior Vice President → Chief Storytelling Officer & Senior Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$307K (2020) → $411K (2025)
Kara Ramirez Mullins
Chief Advancement Officer
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$181K (2020) → $639K (2025)
Katherine Bradley
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Mara Dell
Chief Human Resources Officer
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$344K (2020) → $491K (2025)
Michael Ulica
Former President, COO & Treasurer
President, COO & Treasurer → Former President, COO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
$759K (2020) → $334K (2025)
Sumeet Seam
Chief Legal Officer
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$116K (2020) → $632K (2025)
Crystal Brown
Chief Communications Officer
On filings since 2021
45 hrs/week
$453K (2021) → $593K (2025)
Ian Miller
Chief Science & Innovation Officer
Chief Science Innovation Officer → Chief Science & Innovation Officer, 2023
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$528K (2022) → $559K (2025)
Kim Waldron
Chief of Staff & Program Alignment
Chief of Staff Program Alignment → Chief of Staff & Program Alignment, 2023
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$361K (2022) → $433K (2025)
Kristi Craig
Chief Investment Officer
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$583K (2022) → $1.3M (2025)
Shannon Bartlett
Chief Community Engagement & Social
Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer → Chief Community Engagement & Social Impact Officer, 2024
Chief Community Engagement & Social Impact Officer → Chief Community Engagement & Social, 2025
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$305K (2022) → $359K (2025)
Deborah Grayson
Chief Education Officer
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$396K (2023) → $429K (2025)
Angela Taylor
Former Interim CFO
Interim CFO Jan-Apr → Former Interim CFO, 2025
On filings since 2024
45 hrs/week
$348K (2024) → $339K (2025)
Darien Wright
CFO & COO
On filings since 2024
45 hrs/week
$445K (2024) → $666K (2025)
Emily Dunham
Chief Campus & Experiences
Chief Campus & Experiences Officer → Chief Campus & Experiences, 2025
On filings since 2024
45 hrs/week
$380K (2024) → $472K (2025)
Kevin J. Maroni
Vice Chairman
Trustee → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: George Munoz (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Robert Young (2020–2024) — CFO
- Former: Beth Comstock (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Frank Borman (2020–2023) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Paula Kahumbu (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Alexandra Grosvenor Eller (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Gary E Knell (2020–2022) — CEO President
- Former: Lyndon Rive (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Tara Bunch (2020–2022) — Chief Administrative Officer
- Former: Valerie Craig (2020–2022) — Vice President & Operating Programs
- Former: Vicki Phillips (2020–2022) — Executive Vice President Chief Education Officer
- Former: Anthony Luckett (2022) — Vice President & Business Development
- Former: Angelo M. Grima (2020–2021) — Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corp. Secretary
- Former: Edward Roski Jr. (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Emma Carrasco (2020–2021) — Chief Marketing, Engagement & Senior Vice President Global Strategy
- Former: Jack Dangermond (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Michael J. Cole (2020–2021) — Senior Vice President, Controller & Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Tracy R Wolstencroft (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Amy Kreider (2020) — Chief Media & Public Affairs Officer
- Former: Christopher Johns (2020) — Director Executive & Yellowstone Project
- Former: Jane Lubchenco (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Jonathan Baillie (2020) — Chief Scientist, Executive Vice President Science & Exploration
- Former: Michael Bonsignore (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Robert Bernard (2020) — Global Head of Strategic Partnerships
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.5M, to Jill Tiefenthaler (CEO). 20 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National Geographic Society
How much does National Geographic Society give each year?
National Geographic Society gave $11.2M across 62 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $8.9M across 74 grants.
What is National Geographic Society's typical grant size?
National Geographic Society's median grant in 2025 was $85,530, and its average grant was $181,154, across 62 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from National Geographic Society that year got $200K on average.
Does National Geographic Society give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 62 grants with a stated purpose on National Geographic Society's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education Grant" (28 grants), "Ocean Conservation" (10 grants) and "Wildlife Conservation" (10 grants).
Who are National Geographic Society's largest grantees?
National Geographic Society's largest 2025 grantees include Wildpath LLC ($1,975,000), Power of Preservation Foundation ($1,631,000) and The Wilderness Project Foundation ($800,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Geographic Society?
National Geographic Society reported $2.5B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $340.5M.
What does National Geographic Society fund?
The Society’s stated mission is “to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge in the broadest sense, using the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Geographic Society?
Review the criteria for the relevant opportunity and submit an application through its application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does National Geographic Society make grants?
The Society describes its Explorer community as global, with Explorers representing more than 140 countries. Its 2025 Freshwater Storytelling opportunity highlights freshwater challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Western Asia, and the Middle East.
What is National Geographic Society's EIN?
National Geographic Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0193519. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in National Geographic Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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National Geographic Society down — hundreds of funders to go?