135 Years of Storytelling

Learn more about supporting outstanding storytelling.

Science, exploration, and education are our foundation and storytelling is our superpower.

National Geographic continues to inspire millions of people worldwide through unforgettable storytelling. Our global community of storytellers push boundaries and bring untold histories forward. Storytelling sparks curiosity and connects us across cultures and species, even across history and time. But at its best paired with education, it leads to protection, informing and inspiring people to care and act on behalf of our planet and its people.

We invest every philanthropic dollar—100 percent of donations—directly into our Explorers and programs.

For 135 years, the National Geographic Society has funded the best and brightest individuals dedicated to scientific discovery and understanding of our world. The Society not only supports Explorers through funding, but also through expanded professional development, training, leadership and speaking opportunities, community building, and connections.

A Legacy of Storytelling

Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration and storytelling. Our historic commitment to dauntless exploration dates back 135 years when 33 prominent scholars and scientists established an organization dedicated to the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

Storytelling Today

National Geographic Explorer and Eliza Scidmore Award Winner Kiliii Yüyan is an award-winning photographer capturing the human experience in some of the world’s harshest environments.

The Future of Storytelling

When it comes to the environment, young people can help us move toward a brighter future. Supported by the National Geographic Society and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Slingshot Challenge is all about sharing ideas for slingshotting our planet forward.

Meet more storytellers

We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of science, storytelling, and education, and we’re making exploration more inclusive. We’re tapping scientists, educators, and storytellers in more than 140 countries; amplifying the voices of diverse groups of Explorers; and working closely with local communities.

Ready to harness the power of storytelling?

Learn from world-class National Geographic photographers, videographers, and visual designers in a series of online courses.

Photo credits (from top of page): Babak Tafreshi, Sam Kittner, Steve Benisity, Ciril Jazbec, Will West, Oshin Zakarian, Mark Thiessen, Meghan Peterson