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Home - National Geographic Society
Home - National Geographic Society
Celebrate Earth Month
Where Curiosity Meets Passion
Meet the National Geographic Explorers working to protect pollinators and the planet.
Our Mission
Using the power of science, exploration, education,
and storytelling to illuminate and protect
the wonder of our world
our approach
Investing in a 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 Explorer-led programs within
our six 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.
Opening June 26, 2026
National Geographic Museum of Exploration
Spark a lifetime of wonder.
Reserve Your Ticket Now
Our Focus
Maximizing impact
in six key areas
Ocean
Land
Wildlife
Human Histories
& Cultures
Planetary
Health
Space
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.
Watch how our Explorers are using connection, science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world.
changing the world
Your impact begins today!
450
Active Explorer-led projects in more than 140 countries
324
Average gift amount donated to the Society
100
Amount of donations that go to fund mission-driven work and Explorer programs
Our promise
Supporting future changemakers
"By uniting groundbreaking conservation science with masterful storytelling, we can not only deepen our understanding of important species like penguins, but galvanize global action to protect them—demonstrating the power of collaboration in exploration and how these impactful partnerships can help us to illuminate and safeguard the wonders of our world."
Bertie Gregory
Pablo Garcia Borboroglu
2025 Rolex National Geographic Explorers of the Year
Stories of Impact
Meet Our Explorers
Meet Our Explorers
Our community of Explorers is working to inspire, educate, preserve, and protect the wonder of our world.
GRANTS AND INVESTMENTS
Our Funding Strategy
Our Funding Strategy
We invest in individuals working on projects in science, conservation, storytelling, education, and technology that align with one or more of our focus areas.
our insights
Latest perspectives, news, and stories
From the Deep Sea to Ancient Reefs, Expedition Supports Marshall Islands' Reimaanlok Vision for Community-led Ocean Conservation
National Geographic Society Launches American Keystones Initiative to Protect Our Living Icons
National Geographic Society Bolsters Archival Access with Transformative $57 Million Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Illuminate the Richness of Our Shared Human Journey
Read more stories
Photo Credits
(from top of page): Charlie Hamilton James, Maddie McGarvey, 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