BWP x Nikon Grant Fund 2026 — Quarter 2

Black Women Photographers (BWP) is a global community founded in 2020 by Polly Irungu — a Kenyan-American photo editor — to combat the underrepresentation of Black women photographers in the industry. BWP's membership directory now spans more than 60 countries and 35 U.S. states. The BWP x Nikon Grant Fund is the organization's flagship support program, structured as four quarterly grant cycles running across 2026.

Each quarterly recipient receives a $2,500 USD unrestricted cash grant plus a Nikon Z6III with 24-70mm f/4 lens kit. The funds carry no project restrictions — past recipients have used them for production, travel, gear replacement, studio setup, and other professional needs. The Q2 2026 deadline is June 5.

Eligibility is for Black women photographers globally, including emerging, independent, and professional practitioners as well as visual storytellers and content creators. There is no application fee. To date, the program has distributed more than $230,000 in cash grants and $80,000 in Nikon mirrorless gear across previous cycles.

Applications are submitted via the BWP grant fund page. The program is run jointly with Nikon USA and is one of the most consistent direct-funding initiatives for Black women photographers in the field.