In 1996 the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund established the Howard Chapnick Grant, to encourage and support leadership in fields ancillary to photojournalism and documentary photography, 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 photographers. 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 and documentary photography.

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 and documentary photography.

This grant is not intended to be used for the creation or production of photographs, which will continue to be funded by the Smith Grant and the Smith Student Grant.

Applicants should submit:

A biography up to 1500 characters (spaces included). A CV, up to 2000 characters (spaces included), is optional. The CV can also be submitted as a PDF of unlimited length.

The project description is a concise synopsis or summary of the project. This outline should be brief but comprehensive. Ideally, the project will be journalistically realizable, visually translatable, and humanistically driven. The description should not exceed 2000 characters (spaces included).

The project proposal should go into greater detail, describing the practical aspects of the applicant's plan. It should explain how the applicant will use the Chapnick Grant funds to launch or complete the project. The proposal should not exceed 6000 characters (spaces included).

IMAGES: Applicants must submit at least one image, and may include up to 20 images total, related to the project being proposed. Images can provide useful background, but are of lesser priority than a strong written proposal.

Entrance Fee

$50 USD per project

Application Fee Waiver: Through a partnership with the African Photojournalism Database, African Women in Photography, the Authority Collective, Black Women Photographers, Diversify Photo, the Everyday Projects, Foto Féminas, Indigenous Photograph, the Magnum Foundation, 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, the Howard Chapnick Grant, and the Eugene Smith Student Grant. Photographers who cannot afford the submission fee should request a fee waiver from one of the following organizations before March 25, 2022. Please note: You must fit the demographic makeup of the individual organizations from whom you are requesting the waiver. (African Photojournalism Database: apjd@worldpressphoto.org; African Women in Photography: sarah@africanwomeninphotography.org; Authority Collective: authoritycollective@gmail.com; Black Women Photographers: polly@blackwomenphotographers.com; Diversify Photo: diversify.photo@gmail.com; Everyday Projects: peter@everydayprojects.org; Foto Féminas: foto.feminas@gmail.com; Indigenous Photograph: hello@nativesphotograph.com; Magnum Foundation: eraynes@magnumfoundation.org; Women Photograph: daniella@womenphotograph.com).

Juror information

The Fund impanels a three member international jury. The Jury reviews the required materials: applications, bios, summaries, and proposals. They select three finalists on the basis of the substantive and intellectual merits of the projects. If the jury has questions, finalists will be given the opportunity over a short period of time to answer and to refine their proposals. The jury will review any new material and choose the Howard Chapnick Grant recipient.

Requirements for winning grantees

The recipient will be required to submit a final report at the end of the grant period. The Smith Fund will disperse $9,500 upon award of the grant and the balance upon submission of the final report.

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 July 2022.

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.

How do you define a Project Description vs a Project Proposal?

The Project Description summarizes the project in 2000 characters or less (spaces included). The Project Proposal, up to 6000 characters (spaces included), should map out in concrete terms how the applicant will use the Chapnick Grant funding to launch or complete the project.

What is the difference between a Biography and a CV?

A biography is a short paragraph summary of you (maximum 1500 characters, spaces included). A CV (maximum 2000 characters, spaces included) is a fully detailed list of your accomplishments, and is optional. If including a CV, it can be submitted as a PDF of any length.

My Project Description, Project Proposal, or Biography is longer than the length stated in the guidelines. Can I still submit it/them?

We strongly encourage applicants to meet the stated requirements.

Can I enter if I live outside of the U.S.?

Yes. Except where prohibited by law, international applications can be submitted, and in fact are encouraged.

Do you still have questions?

For additional questions email: info@smithfund.org

Cover Image: Photograph by Louis Shotridge, courtesy University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology