Waitt Grants Program

The National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program, an initiative of the National Geographic Society and the Waitt Institute for Discovery, helps qualified and experienced individuals launch the most difficult stage of a project for which to secure funding-the search. Grants are made for exploratory fieldwork that holds promise for new breakthroughs in the natural and social sciences. NGS/Waitt Grants applications are processed throughout the year and grants are awarded expeditiously to help researchers take advantage of immediate opportunities.

Funded through a five-year grant from the Waitt Family Foundation, the NGS/Waitt Grants Program is administered by National Geographic Mission Programs and makes approximately one hundred grants annually of $5,000 to $15,000. Proposals are considered as they are received and awards are made within weeks of application.