Freshwater Storytelling: Request for Proposals

Eligibility

The RFP will support accomplished and talented storytellers from across the world. A variety of content formats, including, but not limited to, Photography, Film and Video, Mapmaking, Data Visualization, Written Word, Spoken Word, etc. will be considered. 

Projects that dig deeper into the challenges facing specific communities such as last mile households, low-income households, women and girls, and children face in achieving equitable access to freshwater and how these issues are worsening as freshwater scarcity increases are encouraged. Applications are also encouraged for projects that highlight specific solutions to these challenges, and elevate the voices of individuals, organizations and communities at the forefront. 

Storytellers who have lived in or have significant experience working in the communities where their stories are focused or will collaborate with organizations in these communities will be prioritized. Applicants should show a record of successful media projects and must submit a portfolio as part of their application packet.

Summary

Opportunity Overview

Access to Safe and Clean Water is crucial to human development. Sustainable Development Goal #6 captures the essence of water by committing to making safe and affordable drinking water available for all by the year 2030. Despite this, many parts of the world are currently having significant challenges with access to safe water. Issues like climate change, and the way that we live, are putting unsustainable demands on the global supply of freshwater. In essence, we are using more freshwater than we can regenerate, and this has led to approximately 10% of the world’s population currently lacking access to clean and fresh water.

The National Geographic Society’s World Freshwater Initiative seeks to illuminate the status of freshwater supplies and demands globally by highlighting areas of water shortage, assessing human use of water on local and regional ecosystems and exploring the impact of climate change on water provinces around the world. The World Freshwater Initiative has two key components that help us accomplish this:

• The World Water Map, a powerful geo-visualization of water availability globally. It promotes water literacy, informs audiences of freshwater issues at the global and hyper-local level, and helps answer important questions such as: where are the world’s “water gaps,” where human demand for freshwater outpaces the renewable supply? What sectors are driving this demand?
• Grantmaking in the areas of storytelling, conservation and education. Through these grants, we’re cultivating a community of Explorers who are inspiring actions that promote sustainable water use.

In partnership with the Conrad Hilton Foundation’s Safe Water Initiative, The National Geographic Society seeks submissions from storytellers interested in creating and disseminating content that raises public awareness and engagement of important issues around the sustainable use of freshwater resources.

Applicants should show a record of successful media projects and must submit a portfolio as part of their application packet.

Applicants may request between US$20,000 (Level I) to US$100,000 (Level II) per grant. We do, however, encourage storytellers who are early in their careers (5 years or less experience) to apply at the US$20,000 level. National Geographic Explorers (individuals who have already received a grant) cannot apply at the lower level. All first-time grant recipients will join our Explorer Community and become eligible for future funding. You will also gain access to training courses, software tools and other resources.

Overhead

Budget of successful proposals will include reasonable, well justified costs directly required to complete the project, and may support field expenses, equipment and stipends for freelancers.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Additional Details

Applicants may request between US$20,000 (Level I) to US$100,000 (Level II/Storytelling) per grant. We do, however, encourage storytellers who are early in their careers (5 years or less experience) to apply at the US$20,000 level. National Geographic Explorers (individuals who have already received a grant) cannot apply at the lower level. All first-time grant recipients will join our Explorer Community and become eligible for future funding. You will also gain access to training courses, software tools and other resources.

Budget of successful proposals will include reasonable, well justified costs directly required to complete the project, and may support field expenses, equipment and stipends for freelancers.

All applicants should explicitly state the plan for disseminating their project, and for evaluating the impact of their work. Grant recipients are expected to complete and submit their project to National Geographic Society within one year of receiving funding.

Only applications submitted through our online portal are accepted. Please do not email or mail your application. All applications must be submitted in English, although English does not have to be your primary language. The individual responsible for carrying out the project should write the application and must be listed as the project leader. You may submit a proposal as a project lead for only one project. The deadline for submission of applications is April 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM US-EDT.

If you have any questions or need additional information regarding this RfP, please email us at funding@ngs.org with Freshwater Storytelling RfP in the subject line.

Additional Resources

Using RMS:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.