ELIGIBILITY

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.

The DPPF is committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity and to providing free merit-based access to its programs. International applicants should also be aware that the DPPF is not able to provide support for visa procurement.

Previous DPPF grant recipients are not eligible to apply.

THE GRANTS

7 photographers will receive

A $5,000 grant, to be spent on career development
Expenses-paid trip to the next DPPF Sports Photography Gathering (see below).

In addition to the main grants program, the DPPF also awards Development Grants supporting 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. After the Primary Grants are awarded, up to three of the remaining applicants will be chosen to receive a Development Grant of $2,500.

MENTORSHIPS

Up to 3 of the 7 grant winners will be chosen to receive a year-long mentorship opportunity during which they have access to leading industry professionals on the DPPF Advisory Board.

Mentorships recipients will be chosen based on their current profiles and mentorship essay.
Applying for a mentorship is not required in order to compete for a DPPF grant.

The 2025-2026 mentors are DPPF Advisory Board members Jessica Carroll, Frank Franklin, and Matthew Stockman.

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY GATHERING

Scheduled for 2026 (exact dates TBD), this weekend event will be led by top working professionals in the business and will include:

Multiple individual portfolio feedback sessions
Small group sessions on issues critical to the world of sports photojournalism
1-1 connections with the renowned photographers and editors on the DPPF Advisory Board
Opportunities to connect with other DPPF grant recipients

Please note: The Gathering is not a workshop. It is designed to provide career advice, access to leading professionals, and individual feedback on the attendees' body of work. This dynamic informal gathering will give unprecedented access to high-level working professionals in the business. It will honor Doug Pensinger's generosity of spirit, strong work ethic, sense of camaraderie, and spirited approach to life and work.

International applicants should also be aware that the DPPF is not able to provide support for procuring a visa for attendance at the Gathering.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The DPPF is committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity and to providing free merit-based access to its programs. There is no application fee and the process is open to all aspiring sports photographers.

Submissions will be judged on the basis of merit and overall quality. Only complete submissions will be considered, and all decisions by the judges are binding.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Portfolio

Quantity: 20 sports photographs (action and portrait both accepted)
Timeframe (metadata for each image must include the date it was taken):
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.

Essays

Candidates applying for an optional mentorship opportunity must respond to an essay question about how they would value a mentorship. (1,500 character maximum) Note: This essay is required if you wish to apply for a mentorship opportunity.

Candidates applying to be considered for Development Grants must respond to an essayquestion about how their experience makes them a suitable candidate. (1,500 character maximum) Note: This essay is required if you wish to apply for a Development Grant.