Photographing Humanity: A Special New Grant & Mentorship Program

We’re fortunate to have within the PhotoShelter community several of the world’s best humanitarian and travel photographers.  Their work takes us places and gives us access to cultures in a way not quite attainable to everyday folks. Photographers like Ami Vitale, Gavin Gough, Matt Brandon, David duChemin, and Jeffrey Chapman each exhibit a keen ability to create images that tell stories of people and cultures that are powerful, intimate, and inspiring…and they do so at a level which other photographers respect and aspire to reach.  These photographers stand unique not simply for their photographic technique but for their approach and sense of responsibility to their subjects.  

With this in mind, we were delighted to help out when Marco Ryan approached us about Focus For Humanity, a nonprofit he has developed along with Loren Roberts and in collaboration with the International Guild of Visual Peacemakers.  Focus for Humanity has a very special mission – to provide financial support, resources and training for amateur and professional photographers throughout the world to focus their work on telling cultural and humanitarian stories.

FFH Screengrab.JPGSimply put, FFH wants to provide a powerful helping hand that brings more photographers into humanitarian endeavors in a sustainable way.  FFH has created a series of grants and awards designed to help photographers perfect their craft by funding not only fully expensed photographic assignments to work with underfunded NGOs, but also grants to help people become full-time photographers or to improve their craft by subsidizing attendance on photographic workshops and providing mentoring arrangements with leading humanitarian and travel photographers.


The foundation’s Advisory Council is made up of 8 of the world’s leading travel and humanitarian photographers and industry professionals, and they handle award judging, mentorship, marketing, and sponsor development. They are: David duChemin, Gavin Gough, Matt Brandon, Jeffrey Chapman, Karl Grobl, Edoardo Agresti, and Mario Mattei.

“Successfully making the transition to full-time work as a photographer is frequently the result of one final boost over the hurdle: maybe something as simple as a workshop, the chance to travel, advice from an experienced mentor, the right new gear, or the recognition that comes from winning a competition. Focus For Humanity is designed to provide that extra boost.” (From their website)

They have already created four impressive initiatives to provide this “boost”:

FFH Scholarships. An annual scholarship of up to $15,000 for a non full-time photographer keen to focus on photography as a career and probably within the humanitarian or cultural field, but who needs that final push or help to overcome that last barrier that is stopping them turning full-time. The winner has the choice of either undertaking their own assignment or working with one of an FFH Advisory Council member on a new assignment with an NGO. Included in the prize is a years membership of the IGVP, mentoring with one of the Guild members, business and digital marketing coaching and advice and a grant of up to $5000 towards new equipment.

NGO Pro Grants. Provides funding for a photographer to collaborate with an NGO in developing imagery that furthers the strategic communication objectives and mission of a nonprofit organization. The NGO-PRO grant is an annual award of up to $15,000 for a specific assignment between the working photographer and the established but underfunded NGO.

Workshop Grants. Covers the full cost for a photographer to attend one of several sought-after workshops of the IGVP Guild and FFH Advisory Council members. These workshops typically cost about $5000 for a week.

Mentoring Grants. Arranges customized mentorship sessions for individual photographers with IGVP Guild members. Often, the one-on-one support of a seasoned pro can be the extra help a photographer needs to elevate their own career. Gavin Gough (images below) for example, is one of the IGVP members providing mentorship through the program.

    

Street Portraits – Images by Gavin Gough

More information about applying for each of the programs can be found on the Focus for Humanity website.  You can also connect with FFH on Twitter and Facebook.  

One final point – FFH is seeking additional donors.  Financial support is appreciated and will enable them to expand their programs to help more photographers get involved.  If you can help, please contact Marco Ryan directly.

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This article was written by

PhotoShelter CEO. Follow on Twitter: @awfingerman and Instagram: @awfinger

There are 2 comments for this article
  1. Denisse Miranda at 12:08 am

    Hi, I was wondering if there are openings to date for the NGO pro grants? Where could I address further questions about this opportunity? We are based in Honduras, Central America.

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