Apply For a Grant

The Doug Pensinger Photography Fund supports emerging and early-career sports photographers.

Applications accepted March 15 to May 1 each year.
Instructions will be updated in January.

GENERAL INFORMATION

WHAT WILL BE AWARDED?

7 photographers will be chosen to receive $5,000 grants to be spent on career development. They will also receive an expenses-paid trip to the 2026 DPPF Sports Photography Gathering.

Additional Opportunities
- Up to 3 of those seven grant recipients will be chosen to receive a year-long mentorship with leading industry professionals on the DPPF Advisory Board.
- Up to 3 additional applications may be chosen for Development Grants of $2,500.
- This year’s grant recipients can apply for inclusion in the new DPPF’s partnership with the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Information Service Sports Photography Training Programme at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games (more information here). Participants will learn from industry-leading figures and develop their skills as they cover these winter games.

HOW DO I APPLY?

The application will be live on the Picter platform beginning on March 15.

Submissions will be accepted until 11:59pm PDT on May 1. (Deadline shown on the computer used to submit your application will show the equivalent of that deadline in your local time zone.)

WHO CAN APPLY?

The Doug Pensinger Photography Fund supports emerging and early-career sports photographers. Photographers with more than 3 years cumulative paid professional sports photography experience are considered beyond the scope of the DPPF’s programs.

DPPF programs accept international applicants, but the DPPF is unable to award grants to photographers from countries for which the U.S. has active sanctions in place.
Previous DPPF grant recipients are not eligible to apply.

WHAT WILL I NEED FOR MY APPLICATION?

Resume: Must include dates and be in English. Please note that in addition to demonstrating that you are a serious aspiring sports photographer, the resume is also the tool that the DPPF uses to determine that your level of experience does not exceed the limits of eligibility.

Professional Bio: 1500-character maximum
Portfolio: 20 sports photography images (action and portrait both accepted), minimum size 1500px long side. All 20 required images must be taken on or after 1/1/2021. 15 of the required 20 images must be taken on or after 1/1/2023
Optional Mentorship Essay
Up to three Primary Grant winners will be chosen to receive a year-long mentorship during which they will receive access to leading industry professionals on the DPPF Advisory Board.
Applying for a mentorship is not required to compete for a DPPF grant. More information on the DPPF mentorships is here.
The 2025-2026 mentors are DPPF Advisory Board members Jessica Carroll, Frank Franklin, and Matthew Stockman.
Mentorship applicants are required to answer the following question: How would you benefit from a mentorship with members of the DPPF’s Advisory Board? (1500-character maximum)
Optional Development Grant Essay
After the Primary Grants of $5,000 are awarded, up to three of the remaining applicants will be chosen to receive a Development Grant of $2,500.
Applying for a Development Grant is not required to compete for a Primary Grant.
DPPF Development Grants support sports photographers whose portfolios demonstrate talent and technical skills while their biographies and essays reflect significant economic, geographic and/or cultural challenges that have impacted their ability to advance their careers.
Development Grant applicants are required to answer the following question: How have significant economic, geographic and/or cultural challenges impacted your ability to advance your photography career? (1500-character maximum)

FAQ

When is the deadline?
Submissions will be accepted until 11:59pm on May 1, 2025 (according to the time zone assigned to the IP address of the submitting computer.)
Is there a fee?
No.
Can I enter by email?
No. Submissions can only be made through the application process on Picter.
Are there age restrictions for applicants?
No.
What do you mean by “emerging and early-career” photographers?
If you are a student or are within the first few years of establishing a career, you are eligible.
If you have more than three years cumulative paid professional sports photography experience, you are beyond the scope of our program.
Do you accept applicants from outside the U.S.?
Yes, but the DPPF is unable to award grants to photographers from countries for which the U.S. has active sanctions in place. International applicants should also be aware that full paid transportation to the Sports Photography Gathering is limited to U.S. domestic airfare and that the DPPF is not able to provide support for visa procurement.
How do I contact you?
We may be reached at admin@dppfund.org
How many images can I submit?
20 images are required.
How should I choose my images?
Simply submit your best work.
Must all images be sports-related?
Yes.
May I submit heavily edited photos?
Images may not be digitally manipulated or altered through extensive post-production processing (other than routine exposure correction, white balance and color toning.) The use of AI generative tools to create, add, remove, expand or alter images in any way is expressly prohibited for all entries to the DPPF.
What size / format file should I submit?
jpg only, 1500 pixels minimum on the long side.
What should I enter as a ‘project title’?
“Project Title” is simply a name for your collection of 20 photos, and it doesn’t imply that the photos need to be part of a series or story.
Do my images need to be taken within a certain timeframe?
All 20 required images must be taken on or after 1/1/2021.
15 of the required 20 images must be taken on or after 1/1/2023.
Some of my images have been submitted to other competitions. Is that OK?
Yes
Do I retain copyright to my submitted images?
You retain copyright to your work. Winners agree to allow the DPPF to use their names, likenesses, and a mutually agreed-upon selection of their images, free of charge, for the purposes of promoting its nonprofit programs. See more in DPPF’s Terms & Conditions.
When and how will the winners be notified?
Winners will be notified by phone or email prior to July 1, and their names will be listed on the DPPF website on July 1.
If my work is not selected, will I receive feedback about it?
We regret that we are unable to provide feedback.
Who are the judges of the competition and the mentors of the winners?
The photographers and editors of DPPF’s Advisory Board and other highly-acclaimed industry professionals will serve as judges and mentors.
DPPF states that its grants must be used for career development purposes. What does that mean?
Because the DPPF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting emerging sports photographers, winners of its grants will be required to submit receipts proving that the proceeds were used for career purposes. Examples of acceptable usage include purchase of photographic equipment and supplies, the cost of courses and software, workshop tuition, and direct travel costs associated with career opportunities. Winners will have one year from the acceptance of the award to submit documentation for how the funds were spent. If you have a question about a specific proposed usage for the funds, please contact us.