In 1996 the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund established the Howard Chapnick Grant, to encourage and support leadership in fields ancillary to photojournalism, such as editing, research, education and management. The Grant was established to honor the memory of Howard Chapnick, and to acknowledge the value of his enormous contribution to photography. As president of the photo agency Black Star, Chapnick was responsible for making and maintaining a network of photographers around the world. He mentored numerous photographers and taught annual workshops at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In 1994 he published the book Truth Needs No Ally: Inside Photojournalism, summarizing his decades of experience in the field working with photojournalists. Chapnick was a principal founder of the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund. After his death in 1996, the Fund established a grant in his memory to encourage and support leadership in fields related to photojournalism.

The annual $10,000 grant may be used to finance any of a range of qualified undertakings, which might include a program of further education, research, a special long-term sabbatical project, or an internship to work with a noteworthy group or individual. According to the Fund's Board of Trustees, special consideration will be given to individuals, initiatives, organizations or projects that promote social change and/or serve significant concerns of photojournalism. This grant is not intended to be used for the creation or production of photographs, which will continue to be funded by the Smith Fund Grant and the Smith Fund Student Grant.

The W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, a not-for-profit corporation qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, independently administers this grant which provides the selected 2021 recipient with a grant of $10,000.

Applicants should submit:

A biography with up to 1500 characters (approximately 275 words) and a CV with up to 2000 characters (approximately 350 words). The CV, which is optional, can be submitted as a PDF.

The project description is a brief summary of the project. It should not exceed 2000 characters. The project proposal may be longer and more fully described; however, this should be concise, journalistically realizable, visually translatable, humanistically driven, and not exceed 6000 characters. The applicant must indicate how they will use the Chapnick Grant to realize their project.

Entrance Fee

$50 USD per project.

Application Fee Waiver: Through a partnership with the African Photojournalism Database, Arab Documentary Photography Program, the Authority Collective, Diversify Photo, Foto Féminas, Natives Photograph, and Women Photograph, the Smith Fund will be making a select number of application fee waivers available to photographers seeking to apply to the Eugene Smith Grant and the Howard Chapnick Grant. Photographers who cannot afford the submissions fee should request a fee waiver from one of the following organizations before March 25, 2021. *Please note: You must fit the demographic makeup of the individual organizations from whom you are requesting the waiver**. *(Arab Documentary Photography Program: noelle@magnumfoundation.org; African Photojournalism Database: apjd@worldpressphoto.org; Authority Collective: authoritycollective@gmail.com; Diversity Photo: diversify.photo@gmail.com; Foto Feminas: foto.feminas@gmail.com; Natives Photograph: hello@nativesphotograph.com; Women Photograph: daniella@womenphotograph.com).

Juror information

The Fund's Board of Trustees appoints a four-member international jury every year. The jury meets twice. At the first session, the Jury reviews the required materials: CVs, proposals and photographs. They select a small number of Finalists on the basis of the substantive and intellectual merit of the project. Finalists will be given the opportunity over a short period of time to refine their proposals and to answer specific questions from the Jury about their project.

• Is there any age restriction for applicants?
  No.

• Can an organization apply?
  While special consideration is given to ‘initiatives, organizations or projects’ that promote social change and/or serve significant concerns of photojournalism, the grant is constructed to recognize these ‘initiatives, organizations or projects’ through recognition of an individual. Commonly that person might be a founder, director or part of the leadership team, though this is not mandated by the Smith Fund.

• Can students apply?

  Yes.

• Can I submit my application by mail
  No, the Smith Fund does not accept applications by regular mail. The application is online only.

• When will I be notified of the outcome of the Chapnick Grant?
  We will send an email notification to all applicants on July 15, 2019.

• Does the Smith Fund offer guidance or commentary on the proposals?
  No. The Chapnick Grant receives many submissions each year. With only a volunteer staff we cannot advise or offer feedback on submissions or proposals

• Can I submit multiple applications for different projects?
  Yes. Individuals can submit multiple proposals. "Add another project" during the submission process. A separate application (and fee) is required.

• Can I enter if I live outside of the U.S.?
  Yes. Except where prohibited by law, international applications can be submitted.

• Do you still have questions?
  For additional questions email: info@smithfund.org