A Healthier Planet Awaits
Using the power of science, exploration, education,
and storytelling to illuminate and protect
Investing in a diverse, global community of changemakers
Bold Explorers
We fund a global community of Explorers who investigate, test hypotheses, innovate, stretch their creativity, and push the boundaries of traditional thinking in ways that fundamentally change our world.
Impactful Programs
We support and cultivate a portfolio of diverse, Explorer-led programs within our five focus areas to drive impact and fulfill our mission of illuminating and protecting our world.
Connection & Education
We leverage our global expertise, platforms, and unparalleled convening power to inspire educators, youth, and future Explorers and help more people learn about, care for, and protect our world.
Responsible Stewardship
Our innovative business model allows us to invest every philanthropic dollar—100% of donations—directly to our Explorers and programs. Join us to support what matters most to you.
Maximizing impact
in six key areas
Revealing and protecting underwater worlds
Our Explorers discover, understand, and conserve marine and coastal systems and inspire and empower local and global audiences to better understand and protect the ocean.
Preserving and protecting land environments
Our Explorers explore, understand, and conserve terrestrial and freshwater systems and inspire and empower local and global audiences to better understand and protect our lands, lakes, and rivers.
Protecting and conserving wildlife
Our Explorers inspire and empower local and global audiences to better understand and protect wildlife, including animals, plants and fungi.
Understanding our past and protecting our future
Our Explorers work to preserve cultural knowledge, better understand human histories, cultures, practices, diversity, and evolution—past and present, center communities, and inform and inspire global audiences with stories or lessons about humanity.
Protecting the planet
Our work in Planetary Health covers projects that explore the relationships and interdependencies between human health and the environment. These include all natural systems, such as oceans, land. atmosphere, flora, fauna, fungi and microbes.
Exploring what's beyond our world
Our work in Space encompasses projects dedicated to exploring and understanding the universe and supporting National Geographic Explorers who examine and illuminate our world and what lies beyond it.
Make a Difference
Now through December 31, you can join the National Geographic Society as we raise funds to help preserve wonder and invest in the future of exploration. Your support is vital to funding our mission work and Explorers working across 140 different countries to illuminate and protect our planet’s natural treasures. Whether it’s inspiring some of the largest marine reserves in the world, using innovative photography techniques to reveal what exists beyond what the human eye can see, or restoring freshwater resources that both humans and wildlife rely on, our global community of Explorers and impact programs are leading the way in conservation and working to ensure a more sustainable future for our planet.
Make your special year-end gift today to help fund exploration! A brighter future awaits.
Your impact begins today!
Supporting future changemakers
Marine Biologist
Meet Our Explorers
Meet Our Explorers
Our Funding Strategy
Our Funding Strategy
Cultivating an environment of opportunity, mutual respect,
and belonging
Learning from our past, examining our present, and building a more inclusive future.
We believe we can only achieve our mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world when people of every race, identity, experience, and ability have a role in our work. Although we have much more work to do, the Society has made strides to achieve and maintain equity.
Latest perspectives, news, and stories
Photo Credits (from top of page): Michael Nichols, Beverly Joubert, Sam Kittner, Joshua Irwandi, Chris Mbanza Schwagga, Manu San Felix, David Gill Below: Michael Nichols, Andy Mann, Paul Nicklen, Ami Vitale, Christian Tryon, Kenneth Garrett, Mark Thiessen