National Geographic Society Call for Proposals: Future of Learning, Future of Our Planet

The National Geographic Society (NGS) has launched an exciting new call for proposals under the theme The Future of Learning, The Future of Our Planet. This initiative seeks bold, innovative, and transformative education projects or research that prepare learners of all ages to care for and protect the planet.

With the world facing increasingly complex environmental and societal challenges, this call emphasizes the need to design and scale new learning models today that will help people develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to thrive in the future and protect nature.

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Our Approach to Education

Education has been central to National Geographic’s mission since its founding. NGS views education as both a discipline and a practice—one that prepares people with the tools, knowledge, and values needed to enact change.

Key guiding principles:

• Education as change-making: Education equips learners with skills, knowledge, and behaviors that lead to meaningful action.

• Educators as diverse leaders: Educators can be professionals or community members who empower learners to take action.

• Learning without boundaries: Education can occur in schools, community settings, or informal spaces, and is valuable across all ages—from children to adults.

• Interdisciplinary solutions: The most effective projects span boundaries of discipline, geography, and culture.

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What National Geographic Aims to Fund

This funding call supports projects or research that design for the future today.

Proposals may include:

• Project-based work: Piloting new learning solutions or scaling existing ones with demonstrated effectiveness.

• Research-based work: Measuring the effectiveness of educational innovations that build the capacity of learners to address planetary challenges.

Competitive proposals should include:

• A clear description of the future being envisioned.

• Innovative educational approaches with scalability and impact potential.

• Defined learner communities and the skills, knowledge, and attitudes the project will cultivate.

• Anticipated outcomes for both learners and the planet.

• Use of inclusive methodologies and cross-disciplinary perspectives.

Projects need not rely on technology but may use it as a tool to achieve goals. Topics from NGS focus areas—including Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human Histories and Cultures, Planetary Health, and Space—are all encouraged.

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Who Should Apply

This highly competitive opportunity is open worldwide to applicants aged 18 and above.

Eligibility requirements include:

• The project must align to Education as the primary focus.

• The project must also connect with at least one of NGS’s six focus areas:

  • Ocean

  • Land

  • Wildlife

  • Human Histories and Cultures

  • Planetary Health

  • Space

• Applicants must not be current National Geographic staff members.

• Applicants must have experience implementing education strategies for learners of any age.

• Academic degrees are not required.

Applicants may apply for Level I or Level II grants depending on experience. Current National Geographic Explorers are required to apply at the Level II grant level.

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Webinars

To support prospective applicants, the National Geographic Society will host two one-hour informational webinars:

• Thursday, October 9, 2025 – 12:00 UTC / 8:00 AM EDT

• Friday, October 10, 2025 – 19:00 UTC / 3:00 PM EDT

Both webinars will provide the same information. Registration is required.

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Submission Deadline

• Deadline for applications: November 19, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT

Applicants are encouraged to submit early and ensure they meet all eligibility criteria.

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Contact

For additional questions, email funding@ngs.org with the subject line “Future of Learning RfP”.

Apply now through the National Geographic Society’s application portal.

For more Information and Applications:

Visit HERE

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