THE SOCIETY
[My Account](https://account.nationalgeographic.org/) [Get Email Updates](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/sign-up/) [Visit Newsroom](https://news.nationalgeographic.org/)
[Journey further at NationalGeographic.com](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/)
Wonder Awaits
-------------
As a global nonprofit, the National Geographic Society is committed to supporting Explorers whose work inspires all of us to take action for our planet and its people.
[Will You Join Us?](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/wonder-awaits/)
Our Mission
#### Using the power of science, exploration, education,
and storytelling to illuminate and protect
#### [the wonder of our world](/society/our-story/)
[](/society/our-story/)
our approach
### Investing in a diverse, global community of changemakers
##### [Bold Explorers](/society/our-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](/society/our-programs/)
We support and cultivate a portfolio of diverse, Explorer-led programs within our six focus areas to drive impact and fulfill our mission of illuminating and protecting our world.
##### [Connection & Education](http://education.nationalgeographic.org/)
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](/society/ways-to-give/)
Our innovative business model allows us to invest every philanthropic dollarâ100% of donationsâdirectly to our Explorers and programs. Join us to support what matters most to you.
### National Geographic Museum of Exploration
Opening 2026
[Learn More](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/museum-of-exploration/)
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.
[LEARN MORE](/society/our-focus/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.
[LEARN MORE](/society/our-focus/land/)
##### Protecting and conserving wildlife
Our Explorers inspire and empower local and global audiences to better understand and protect wildlife, including animals, plants and fungi.
[LEARN MORE](/society/our-focus/wildlife/)
##### Understanding our past and protecting our future
Our Explorers work to preserve cultural knowledge, better understand human histories, cultures, practices, diversity, and evolutionâpast and present, center communities, and inform and inspire global audiences with stories or lessons about humanity.
[LEARN MORE](/society/our-focus/human-histories-and-cultures/)
##### 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.Â
[LEARN MORE](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-focus/planetary-health/)
##### 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.
[LEARN MORE](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-focus/space/)
* [Watch how our Explorers are using connection, science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world.](https://youtu.be/-dKLQXDlrkQ?list=PLdiqWK-4jVXrqyCJlV7wMNdum6PNakQUE)
Join Us
### Make a Difference
The National Geographic Society is proud to support Explorers in the U.S. and around the world who are working everyday to better understand and protect our planet. When you support the National Geographic Society with a tax-deductible donation, 100 percent of your support will go to the important work of preserving and protecting the wonder of our world.
[Donate](https://give.nationalgeographic.org/page/49060/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=WSXX1W&utm_content=acq&utm_medium=web&utm_source=ngs&en_txn6=WSXX1W&en_txn7=XXXX1&transaction.donationAmt=35)
Play Video
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
[Support our Explorers
and their research](https://give.nationalgeographic.org/page/53299/donate/1?homepage)
Your donation today will fund on-the-ground research and other mission programs that illuminate and protect our world through science, exploration, education, and storytelling.
[Protect marine life
and ecosystems](https://give.nationalgeographic.org/page/68549/donate/1)
Give a gift today to help explore and protect our planet's threatened ocean ecosystems. Your donation will support Pristine Seas and our other ocean programs.
[Stories from the COVID-19 emergency fund](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/funding-opportunities/grants/what-we-fund/covid-19-emergency-fund/map/)
Thanks to our generous donors, we were able to give emergency funding to storytellers around the world who are on the frontlines of COVID-19. Explore some of their projects.
Our promise
### Supporting future changemakers
"Dolphins are the âambassadors of the Amazon.â As they move across bodies of water they demonstrate the importance of freshwater conservation and the impact climate change has on all these river basins. This very same water enriches the environment, the soil and impacts the lives of the millions of people who surround it."
Fernando Trujillo
2024 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year
Marine Biologist
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.
[Read More](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/impact)
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.
[Learn More](/society/grants-and-investments)
Our commitment to dei
### 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.
[Learn more](/society/our-commitment-to-diversity-equity-inclusion/)
our insights
### Latest perspectives, news, and stories
[Marshall Islands creates first marine sanctuary, protecting two of the most pristine ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean](https://news.nationalgeographic.org/marshall-islands-creates-first-marine-sanctuary-protecting-two-of-the-most-pristine-ecosystems-in-the-pacific-ocean/)
[National Geographic Explorers drive change through collaborative grant program](https://news.nationalgeographic.org/national-geographic-explorers-harness-the-power-of-collaboration-to-drive-change-through-meridian-grant-program/)
[National Geographic Society celebrates 137 years of global impact](https://news.nationalgeographic.org/national-geographic-society-celebrates-137-years-of-global-impact/)
[Read more stories](https://news.nationalgeographic.org/)
**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