Development Grants

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.

Our judging panel chooses recipients of the Development Grants from the applicants who remain after the primary grants have been awarded.

You may apply to be considered for a Development Grant by answering an optional essay question on the grant application.

International candidates should be aware that the DPPF is not able to provide support that is prohibited under U.S. law.

2025 Development Grantees

Ray Bahner

Ray graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2023 with a degree in entrepreneurship then interned at the Frisco Roughriders. He is currently the Academy/Athletics Photographer at the Air Force Academy.

Ella Hall

A student at Louisiana State University, Ella is a student photographer for LSU Football and is majoring in mass communication with a minor in communication studies. She is a native of Key West, Florida.

Jaiden Tripi

Jaiden was a photography intern with the Boston Red Sox in 2023, after graduating with a BFA in Photojournalism from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a native of Rochester, New York.

2024 Recipients

Wamwayi Hassan Omar

Wamwayi is based in Kampala Uganda. His work focuses on highlighting the growing culture of rugby as a sport in Uganda.

Marison Bilagody

Marison graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Arizona. He is originally from Tuba City, Arizona on the Navajo Nation.

2023 Recipients

Rana Bagheri

Rana is an independent photographer in Isfahan whose mission is capturing women’s activities in Iran.

Philip Peter Kairu

Wamwayi is based in Kampala Uganda. His work focuses on highlighting the growing culture of rugby as a sport in Uganda.

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