DPPF 2026 Sports Photography Grants

The Doug Pensinger Photography Fund (DPPF) was established to support emerging and early-career sports photographers. The fund's annual grants program is one of the few dedicated funding mechanisms specifically for sports photography rather than documentary or fine-art categories.

Eligibility is restricted to photographers with fewer than three years of cumulative paid professional sports photography experience. Open worldwide except countries under active US sanctions. AI-generated work is not accepted.

Selection structure has two grant tiers. The main grants: seven photographers each receive $5,000 for career development plus an expenses-paid trip to the Sports Photography Gathering (September 16–18, 2026). The Gathering is the fund's annual professional convening — selected grantees attend at no personal cost. Up to three of the seven main grantees are eligible for an additional year-long mentorship with members of the fund's Advisory Board.

Development Grants: up to three additional applicants receive $2,500 each as a smaller-scale grant track.

The 2026–27 mentors are Jean Fruth, Bob Martin, and Jamie Schwaberow — all working sports photographers. Submission is through Picter, with 20 images. Application is free. The 2026 deadline was May 1; results announced July 1, 2026.