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.

DPPF programs are not limited to U.S. citizens, but the DPPF is unable to award grants to photographers from countries against which the U.S. has active sanctions. International applicants should also be aware that paid transportation to the Sports Photography Gathering is limited to reimbursement for the U.S. domestic portion of your airfare and that the DPPF is not able to provide support for visa procurement. Previous DPPF grant recipients are not eligible to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS

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.

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 1/1/2022.

• 15 of the required 20 images must be taken on or after 1/1/2024.

Essay

• 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 only required if you wish to apply for a mentorship opportunity.

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

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). * Complete travel coverage for the Gathering is limited to U.S. domestic airfare

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 cultural, political and/or geographic 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 with leading industry professionals on the  DPPF Advisory Board.

• Mentorship 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.

• Mentorships run October 1 - September 30

• See our website for more info on the Mentorship Program

The 2026-2027 mentors are DPPF Advisory Board Members Jean Fruth, Bob Martin, and Jamie Schwaberow.

2026 DPPF SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY GATHERING

Scheduled for September 16-18, 2026, this event will be led by top working professionals in the business and will include:

• Multiple individual portfolio reviews and professional consults 

• 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 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.