The W. Eugene Smith Fund announced it is now accepting applications for its 46th annual Grant in Humanistic Photography with a top prize of $30,000. Two additional awards of $10,000 will be presented as Finalist grants. The Smith Fund is also accepting applications for its 8th annual Eugene Smith Student Grant, which will honor two student entries with $5,000 grants. The student grant is open to all students currently enrolled in full-time or part-time programs, including graduate and undergraduate studies as well as other photography programs recognized by the Smith Fund.
The Howard Chapnick Grant, which recognizes programs–not individuals–that significantly contribute to the field of documentary photography through education, will honor the top entry with a $7,500 grant. Now in its 28th year, the grant was named in honor of Howard Chapnick, president of Black Star photo agency, and a mentor to photographers around the world for decades. The grant awards $7,500 to the top entry as determined by a panel of judges. A voluntary entry fee of $25 can be paid through the Smith Fund’s GoFundMe page.
In total, the W. Eugene Smith Fund will present $67,500 in grants, making it one of the largest annual grant awards in the photographic industry. Since the Smith Fund’s inception in 1979, it has awarded over $1.3 million to photographers whose past work and proposed projects follow the tradition of W. Eugene Smith’s career as a photographic essayist. None of the grants presented by the Smith Fund are endowed, and rely entirely on corporate contributions, foundation grants, and individual donations to fund its grants and fellowships.
The deadline for submitting applications for all grants is October 5, 2025.
