Pulitzer Center: Eyewitness Photojournalism Grant

Pulitzer Center: Eyewitness Photojournalism Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Pulitzer Center
Last Updated: November 26, 2025

Summary

The Pulitzer Center's Eyewitness Photojournalism Grant, awarded annually, supports independent photojournalists from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Launched in 2020, this grant aims to amplify BIPOC and non-western voices in media. It offers funding for reporting costs, including travel and equipment rentals, while fostering mentorship opportunities. As part of an ongoing commitment, the grant continues to encourage impactful storytelling that reflects diverse perspectives and tackles underreported issues in journalism.

Overview

Eyewitness Photojournalism Grant Awarded annually, the Eyewitness Photojournalism Grant supports projects by independent photojournalists historically underrepresented in the global media landscape The Eyewitness Grant, a collaborative award from the Pulitzer Center and Diversify Photo, began in 2020 as a response to the ongoing challenges of our time. Conceived as a way to support BIPOC and non-western photojournalists in the U.S., it reflected both organizations’ missions of supporting underreported stories by local journalists. To support historically underrepresented photojournalists in navigating an evolving media landscape, we have expanded the scope of our program to accept proposals from independent photojournalists worldwide. Former Eyewitness grantees have gone on to showcase in Photoville exhibits, collaborate with students on documentary films, and participate in Pulitzer Center events around the world. As our partnership enters its third year, we are continuing our support of photography projects and stories from historically underrepresented journalists. The grant can be used for costs associated with reporting, including transportation, translator fees, lens rental, food, and other personal expenses. As part of this year's program, recipients will also have the opportunity to be mentored by other visual and photojournalists. Our partner Diversify Photo is a community of BIPOC and non-western photographers, editors, and visual producers working to break with the predominantly colonial and patriarchal eye through which history and the media have recorded the images of our time. Their curated database is used by editors at major media outlets seeking to expand their talent rosters.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applications must be received in English.

Ineligibility

What we DON'T fundBooks (we can support a story that might become part of a book, as long as the story is published independently in a media outlet) Feature-length films (we do support short documentaries with ambitious distribution plans) Staff salaries Equipment purchases (equipment rentals are considered on a case-by-case basis) An outlet’s general expenses (for example rent, utilities, insurance) Seed money for start-ups Routine breaking news and coverage Advocacy/marketing campaigns Data projects aimed solely at academic research. Data should be developed to enhance/support journalism.