National Geographic Society

“The Society's Form 990 was prepared by tax and financial staff at the Society, and was reviewed by senior management, including the CEO, CFO and Chief Legal Officer. It was also reviewed by the Society's outside tax advisors. A draft of this Form 990 was provided to the full Board of Trustees for comments and questions before it was filed with the IRS.”

“The National Geographic Society maintains a Code of Ethics stating the Society's expectation that staff (employees), officers and third party representatives (including independent contractors, consultants, business partners and others who support our mission or receive our funds), will perform their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the highest standards of ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics is published internally, and on the Society's public facing Website https://www.nationalgeographic.org/ethics/. The Code of Ethics is rooted in the Society's commitment to carry out its mission in a manner that earns the respect of everyone we interact with including charitable donors, business associates, third party representatives, Society members, our staff, explorers, fellows, grantees and the general public. In recognition that accomplishing this objective depends on the individual commitment of our staff and business partners to acting with personal integrity, the following core principles apply: (1) we will conduct every aspect of our business in a fair, lawful and ethical manner; (2) we will encourage and expect everyone we work with to do the same; and (3) we will maintain a culture that reinforces these principles. The Code of Ethics includes the Society's Conflict of Interest Policy, which (1) defines potential conflicts of interest and provides several illustrative examples; (2) requires disclosure of any potential conflict to the Society; and (3) prohibits a conflicted staff member from engaging in any activity or decision-making concerning a potential conflict of interest in the absence of disclosure and independent resolution (including recusal and other steps deemed appropriate to resolve the potential conflict) by the Society, as set forth as follows in the terms of the policy itself: Avoid Conflicts of Interest A conflict of interest arises when you, a family member, or a close friend has a business, financial, or personal interest in the other side of a transaction or business dealing with the National Geographic Society. You must always act in the best interest of the Society. This includes being sensitive to situations where it might appear that your responsibility to the Society has been compromised. Here are some ways a conflict of interest might arise: Having a personal, family, or financial interest in any Society transaction Acting as an employee or consultant for, or providing any other assistance to, a competitor Having a financial interest in a competitor, supplier, contractor, grantee, fellow, consultant, or other business partner Hiring or supervising a family member Accepting gifts, discounts, or services beyond policy limits from anyone doing (or seeking) business with the National Geographic Society Most potential conflicts can be resolved in a simple and mutually acceptable way. The key is to disclose the issue promptly-before it becomes an actual conflict that could compromise your responsibility to act exclusively in the National Geographic Society's best interest. If you have a potential conflict of interest, you must report it to your manager-before you engage in any activity related to the situation. Your manager, in consultation with you, Human Resources, and Law &Business Affairs, will determine what measures should be taken to resolve it appropriately. Such measures typically include recusing yourself from any decision relating to the matter. If you are unsure but have questions, get help from your manager, Human Resources or the Society's ethics officer. Gifts and Gratuities Staff members may not receive any gift worth more than $100 from any person or organization doing business with the National Geographic Society. Staff members involved in purchasing decisions must take extra care to avoid any gifts that might affect, or appear to affect, their decision-making responsibilities on behalf of the National Geographic Society. Additionally, the Society's Code of Ethics expressly prohi”

“The Board of Trustees of the National Geographic Society has delegated authority to the Compensation Committee to oversee the compensation and benefits of certain senior executives of the Society. The Committee, which is composed exclusively of independent members of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for overseeing an executive compensation program for the Society's senior executives. The Committee follows the procedures set forth in the IRS regulations under Section 4958 in making compensation decisions. In particular, the Committee engages an independent compensation consultant to prepare and present comparable market data with respect to the Society's cash compensation and benefits programs, and is also advised by outside counsel. The Committee reviews the performance of senior executives and evaluates their compensation and benefits in light of the comparable market data provided by the independent compensation consultant and other relevant factors. The Committee relies on such market data in awarding cash compensation and reviewing benefit programs for the Society's senior executives, and receives an opinion from the independent compensation consultant as to the reasonableness and comparability of the Society's executive compensation and benefits programs to that provided for similar services by similar organizations under similar circumstances. The Committee documents its decisions regarding executive compensation decisions in its minutes. The Chair of the Committee promptly reports all actions taken by the Committee to the full Board of Trustees.”

“The Compensation Committee followed the process described above at meetings held in March & September of 2024 with respect to compensation decisions for the following senior executives positions: CEO, CFO, Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Communications Officer, Chief Science and Innovation Officer and Chief Education Officer and Chief Campus & Experiences Officer. The compensation committee also held an ad-hoc meeting in May 2024 to approve a contract extension for the CEO .”

“The Society's corporate charter is available to the public through the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Corporations Division. The financial statements of the tax-exempt parent, the National Geographic Society, are made available in this Form 990. The Society does not currently make its audited financial statements available to the public because they are issued on a consolidated basis, which include financial details of the activities of Society's taxable subsidiary which are not disclosed for competitive reasons. The Society's Forms 990 and 990T are available upon request, as well as online at Guidestar.org and CharityNavigator.org”

“SUSTAINABILITY The National Geographic sustainability program demonstrates that the way we conduct our operations impacts not just our financial bottom line, but also the people we employ, the communities we engage, and the environments we inhabit. Our buildings follow the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for existing buildings (EB) to ensure that our operations are as efficient as possible and maintain a safe and healthy atmosphere for occupants and guests. With seven LEED-EB certifications, our Washington, DC headquarters (called Base Camp) are the longest continuously certified and most recertified buildings in the world. Because our sustainability efforts depend on the engagement of our staff, tenants, guests, and construction vendors, we provide continuous communication, training, guidelines, policies, and volunteer opportunities to model sustainable mindsets. As we renovate Base Camp and build the new Museum of Exploration, we are pursuing platinum LEED-CI certification for the construction project to hone our focus on ensuring efficient use and disposal of materials, energy and water saving upgrades like an updated central plant and stormwater cistern, maintenance of excellent internal air quality, and expansion of our support for low carbon transportation options for staff and guests. To lower the carbon footprint of our project, the concrete mixes in the new structures achieved a 40% reduction in embodied carbon from the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) 2021 baseline and 23% reduction from the even more stringent National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA) Eastern Region Baseline. Meanwhile, thousands of tons of concrete from the project's demolition stage are being turned into aggregate to replace typically quarry-sourced fill and base material for other projects. In clearing space for the construction, we continue to repurpose, rather than simply dispose of, useful items; in 2024, we gave 39,000 pounds of furniture, books, magazines, equipment, office supplies and more to the local community, benefiting two dozen nonprofits and schools. IMPACT INVESTING The Pooled Endowment is managed as a single pool of assets with a common set of objectives and constraints. The Endowment is intended to provide a permanent base of funding and timely financial support for the Society's programs and operations to fulfill its mission to use the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. The Society's primary investment objective for the Endowment is to achieve the highest long-term total investment return that is within appropriate risk parameters as determined by prudent, fiscally sound investment practices and the financial circumstances of the Society. As such, the minimum long-term return target is the rate of inflation plus the spending rate while the aspirational goal is to maximize sustainable distributions to the operating budget. We seek to accomplish this objective in a manner that is consistent with the Society's shared sense of responsibility and commitment to a better world. The Communications Division advances the mission of the National Geographic Society by elevating the Society's work as a nonprofit organization, amplifying Explorer-led stories while enhancing global brand awareness of our leadership, key programs, initiatives and impact. The professionals within the Division develop and execute mission-driven, on-brand, and strategic communications, content, marketing, and creative to promote across a variety of distribution channels and platforms. The Technology division builds and maintains a portfolio of products, platforms, and services that help advance the mission of the National Geographic Society. This portfolio both enables and scales the work of staff, and also provides the Society's constituents with valuable resources and multiple avenues to engage with the organization. In 2024,”

“For nearly 13 years, the National Geographic Society and Cengage Group have proudly joined forces as National Geographic Learning to bring the world into the classroom for tens of millions of learners each year. In 2024 alone, nearly 17.4 million students engaged with Explorer-inspired books and media created through the Society's partnership with Cengage. Esri, National Geographic Society and National Geographic Learning completed twelve new curriculum-aligned StoryMaps and a defined GIS Module to be embedded in National Geographic Learning's textbooks and were used by nearly 3,000 students in the 2023-2024 school year. Based on the incredible impact this partnership has accomplished, in 2024, Cengage and the Society agreed to extend our powerful partnership through 2043, ensuring we can continue to serve learners and educators for decades to come with quality, enriching content. NGS Education develops strategic collaborations to extend Explorer-led, Explorer-centered, and innovative geography education programs into classrooms and communities domestically and internationally. By supporting these initiatives, we scale existing work, test initiatives to reach new audiences, and help build the pipeline of the next generation of Explorers. In 2024, the Education team leveraged 41 restricted endowments across 30 states, D.C., and Canada to scale and spread Explorer-centered and Explorer-led work into classrooms and communities. These funds were used to expand the reach and impact of the Slingshot Challenge, Photo Camp programming, and other Explorer-led collaborations. We identified and contracted with 36 collaborators that have the potential to reach a combined total of ~18,000 educators and young people across 2024-2025 that could not have been reached without support from education endowments, utilizing approximately ~$2.20MM in restricted endowment funding in support of NG Next. NGS Education recruits, awards grants, and supports a global group of Explorers using interdisciplinary approaches to build agency in learners of all ages, in any educational setting, to take informed actions and find solutions to illuminate and protect our world. By funding Explorer-led projects that either build capacity in a group of people to care for and take action to create, maintain, and expand solutions to protect our world or use educational research or tools to advance knowledge about how to effectively spark curiosity and inspire people of all ages, our grantmaking furthers NGS's mission by inspiring people to care and act on behalf of our planet and its people. In 2024, we added to our portfolio of over 330 Explorers with education-focused grants & awards by awarding grants to 23 Explorers. Explorers represented 19 different countries and 6 major world regions, with expertise across NGS focus areas including Land, Ocean, Wildlife, Human Histories & Cultures, and Planetary Health. We continued to support three Explorer-Led programs as these higher-level investments contributed to the Society's mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Explorer Classroom connects students with National Geographic Explorers for live virtual events filled with interactive moments. Learners hear behind-the-scenes stories and interact with leading scientists, researchers, and storytellers in real-time bringing the spirit of exploration to classrooms in the US and worldwide. All events are free, designed for a range of ages, and include resources to help educators extend the learning beyond the event. In 2024, Explorer Classroom hosted 66 events featuring 35 Explorers. These sessions engaged over 100,000 live participants and reached an additional 58,000 viewers through recorded events. Topics ranged from ocean conservation and wildlife protection to storytelling and cultural heritage, giving learners firsthand insights into the impact of National Geographic Explorers. The newer series model continued to expand the program's depth and impact. Th”

“The Slingshot Challenge empowers the next generation of global problem solvers and builds an innovation pipeline for solutions that address the planet's most pressing environmental issues. In partnership with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Society launched the challenge in 2023 to inspire youth ages 13-18 to build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that help them develop and implement locally-relevant, youth-designed solutions to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Youth research an environmental problem in their community, design a solution idea, and create and share a one-minute video for a chance to receive up to $10,000 USD in funding and an invitation to our iconic Explorers Festival. In May 2024, we announced our second cohort of 15 award recipients from around the globe and amplified their solution ideas. Participants reported a 15% gain in their solution-finding knowledge and skills, a 25% gain in their belief they can make a difference and a 22% increase in their confidence in knowing how to protect nature. In August 2024, we launched Year 3 of the challenge, including the social media campaign, landing page, youth and educator toolkits, and workshops for youth and educators. More than 16,000 youth and more than 4,600 educators signed up to learn more about Year 3 of the challenge, and we received more than 2,700 submissions from 5,700 youth. The selection process will take place February-April 2025, and award recipients will be announced in May 2025. National Geographic Student Travel offered immersive travel experiences for high school-aged students. These fee-based experiences were designed to connect youth with the National Geographic Society, our mission, and our Explorers with the goal of building an Explorer Mindset in participants through authentic, experiential travel and exploration. In 2024, the end of our two year period, 285 high school students from around the globe traveled on 12 trips across 8 locations. National Geographic Society supported 15 students with fully funded scholarships to increase access to these experiences. 9 National Geographic Explorers were featured in 2024 programming and they helped students explore themes such as photography, climate and geology, and wildlife conservation. These experiences were designed to encourage participants to deepen interests that they already have, discover new interests, and to use the Explorer Mindset they develop throughout the program to care and act on behalf of our planet and its people in their local community upon returning home. EduLab is a team within NGS Education that works with and through NGS Explorers to create innovative learning solutions that amplify their impact, expand our understanding, and inspire educators and learners to illuminate and protect the wonders of our world. Through these projects, we also identify useful, transferable educational elements to share with the broader Explorer community, as well as to invite educators and learners to practice and develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge of the Explorer Mindset. In 2024, the program focused on developing its approach to globally inclusive learning design, emphasizing human-centered approaches to create impactful educational resources and programs. This work informed the development of new tools and workshops designed to support learning initiatives, and allowed EduLab to support the creation of new and impactful learning solutions. A key success was prototype development and support of the launch of SOLAx, an online academy developed with 2023 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year Shabana Basij-Rasikh, founder of the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA). SOLAx uses microlearning strategies to deliver education via WhatsApp, ensuring Afghan girls and young women have access to learning opportunities despite restrictive conditions. Within six months, SOLAx reached over 14,000 learners in Afghanistan and worldwide. EduLab also supported a”

“The National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project is working to secure permanent, sustainable protection for the greater Okavango Basin-the source of water for more than one million people and one of the most biodiverse places in Africa. A team of National Geographic Explorers, local and regional experts, and partners at the Wild Bird Trust are working to preserve this irreplaceable natural wonder spanning Angola, Namibia and Botswana-and help address threats to the basin from the effects of climate change and human impacts. Through rigorous scientific research, impactful conservation education projects and storytelling about the ecosystems and people who live there, the Okavango Wilderness Project is helping to protect this unique ecosystem for generations to come. In 2024, the team launched a two-team expedition for its annual crossing of the Okavango Delta in Botswana which serves as an annual checkup on the Delta's water quality and ecosystem health, and is critical for understanding how the system is changing over time. The team also conducted research to further understand the undescribed biodiversity that exists in the project landscape. Working with partners and local and Indigenous communities, the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project is helping to preserve one of the last great wildernesses on Earth for the people and wildlife who call it home. National Geographic Pristine Seas is an exploration, research and filmmaking project that inspires the creation of marine protected areas around the world. Founded and led by National Geographic Explorer in Residence Enric Sala, the project has helped to create 29 of the largest marine reserves on Earth, which cover more than 6.9 million square kilometers of ocean. These "national parks of the sea" preserve the wonders of the ocean while increasing the food supply, providing economic benefits, and building resilience against global warming. In 2023, Pristine Seas launched The Global Expedition: a bold conservation effort to explore little known areas of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Working aboard the Argo - a 130-foot customized research vessel and media center - local and international scientists conduct underwater research and share their knowledge, insights, and personal connection to the study areas. The ship is Pristine Seas' modern-day equivalent of Jacques Cousteau's famous Calypso, but with an ocean conservation mission. As part of the Global Expedition, Pristine Seas conducted expeditions to Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Solomons Islands in 2024. These expeditions aimed to support ongoing efforts by local authorities to protect their waters. Today, only 8% of the ocean is somehow protected - and less than 3% is fully protected from fishing and other damaging activities. Pristine Seas supports the global goal of conserving at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, which will not only benefit marine life but also provide value to communities. The interactions between animals and their environments are critical for maintaining a healthy planet. But for many species, time is running out. When you remove one, it affects us all. The National Geographic Photo Ark, led by Explorer and photographer Joel Sartore, aims to document every species living in the world's zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries; inspire action through education, and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts. In 2024 Sartore photographed 1,190 species for the Photo Ark and passed the 16,000 species mark with the addition of the Santa Cruz Salamander. Over the last 12 months, Sartore photographed in Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, Chile, Peru and in 15 US states, totaling 150 days photographing. Some of the species photographed include the critically endangered Hawaiian birds, a mother a baby elephant at the Omaha Zoo, the European wolf and the South China tiger. Photo Ark also awarded the second Species Impact Initiative grant, funding”

“The Society awards Level I Grants to individuals working on projects in science, conservation, storytelling, education, and technology who may be earlier in their career, those looking to establish themselves better in their field, those seeking mentorship from others in their field and beyond, or those who want to grow their network and enhance their impact by joining a global community of National Geographic Explorers. This opportunity is best suited for individuals who have the potential and desire to make significant positive contributions to their field by leveraging the funding, capacity, and additional support provided by the National Geographic Society and connections to other Explorers. The Level II grant opportunity is for individuals who are more established in their field and are seeking a higher level of funding. Projects at this level should push the boundaries of the applicant's field or discipline and be designed to achieve significant and tangible impacts. Applicants may be new to the Society or existing National Geographic Explorers. Projects can be up to two years long. At Level II, grantees will provide mentorship to others within the Explorer community, contribute their expertise, and may participate in relevant speaking engagements upon request. The Explorer Capacity Development Team supports National Geographic Explorers in their individual and collective leadership development by offering a portfolio of online and in-person learning and development opportunities rooted in the Society's values and mission. The Capacity Development learning and development offerings for Explorers include onboarding courses for new grant recipients and awardees, which set them up for success in their project journey by helping them access key NGS resources and offerings around ethics, unconscious bias, and communications to name a few. In addition, bespoke learning and development support is provided as part of a cohort experience to specific programs such as the Young Explorer program and our Wayfinder Award program. In 2024, a total of 786 learners, including National Geographic grantees, award recipients and team members, participated in 55 online course offerings. In addition, we engaged 82 Explorers through a series of in-person workshops in the Asia Pacific, Europe/Western Asia and Northern North America regions. The National Geographic Society's Explorer at Large program supports proven luminaries and changemakers who are uniquely positioned to act as ambassadors and thought leaders in support of National Geographic's mission, and to help them catalyze the next generation of planetary leaders. These Explorers are at the frontiers of their respective disciplines, have a strong passion for our mission, and are committed to fostering the next generation of Explorers. As of December 2024, there are 11 National Geographic Explorers at Large: Shahidul Alam, Bob Ballard, James Cameron, Sylvia Earle, Beverly Joubert, Dereck Joubert, Louise Leakey, Maya Lin, Rodrigo Medellin, Nalini Nadkarni and Azu Nwagbogu. The National Geographic Society annually recognizes the achievements of extraordinary individuals working to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world with our portfolio of awards. The Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year award is an annual recognition that is awarded to an Explorer whose recent actions, achievements and spirit push the boundaries of leadership in exploration and demonstrate a commitment to share new knowledge with the world. In 2024, Colombian marine biologist Fernando Trujillo received the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year award.The National Geographic Society/Buffett Awards for Leadership in Conservation were established by the Society and The Howard G. Buffett Foundation to recognize and celebrate unsung conservation heroes working in the field. Two awards are presented each year: one for achievement in Africa (established in 2002) and the other for achievement in Latin A”

“The Impact Story Lab is an award-winning creative unit within the National Geographic Society that combines world-class storytelling with social and behavioral science to drive positive change. Our interdisciplinary team has three bodies of work. We produce media to support the goals of our institutional goals. We create all video for the new Museum of Exploration. And we collaborate with National Geographic Explorers to produce media to help accomplish the goals of their programs. The Impact Story Lab also has a "science of storytelling" component in which we conduct research, publish our findings, and host workshops to advance the field of impact storytelling. In 2024 our projects included a feature film, multiple productions for the Museum, and full media coverage of the 4-week Perpetual Planet Southern Ocean Expedition. Africa Refocused, a collaboration between NEWF and the National Geographic Society, addresses the critical need for the stories of Africa to be refocused and told through the perspectives of African people, by African people. Africa Refocused is led by Explorers Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok and is designed to build the capacity of local African wildlife photographers, filmmakers and conservationists. In 2024, NEWF added 84 new Africa Refocused Fellows, bringing the total to 293 from 31 out of the 54 African countries. NEWF also completed 18 labs, finished the production of 17 films, with 52 more in production, and was part of two exchange programs: one with Youth Diving with a Purpose and the other with Storytellers Collective. Three NEWF fellows also joined the NGS Explorer community. eKhaya, NEWF's Storytelling, Research, and Dive Center, celebrated its first anniversary, positively impacting the local Sodwana community by offering swimming and diving lessons and community screenings. The center continues to be a key hub for learning and engagement. These accomplishments mark significant growth and deepened impact for the program across regions and disciplines. National Geographic Photo Camp provides a meaningful introduction to photography for young people around the world and aims to inspire the next generation of storytellers, and support them in sharing their experiences and perspectives. Founded in 2003 by Explorer in Residence and photographer Kirsten Elstner, the National Geographic Society has hosted more than 176 in-person and virtual Photo Camps in 45 countries. In 2024 across 13 workshops, students explored the theme "How do we see our future?" by exploring stories and reflections of the past through the wisdom of previous generations to create a better future. By way of instruction and guidance from world-class National Geographic Explorers and photographers, students build their technical skills, grow in confidence, and develop deep connections with each other. The Out of Eden Walk is a years-long journalistic expedition through which National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek is walking the globe, retracing the pathways of human origins from Africa to South America. This 21,000-mile odyssey is an exercise in slow journalism, allowing Paul to report the major stories of our time holistically by slowing down to walking speed to share the full context and voices of local people behind the headlines of the stories of our time. The Out of Eden Walk is a global storytelling initiative for education and cross-cultural engagement that promotes journalistic education and people-to-people connectivity via the ethos of slow journalism. In 2024, the World Freshwater Initiative launched the World Water Map Insights Edition. This enhanced version of the World Water Map, which was launched in 2023, provides expanded datasets and improved visualization tools for policymakers, water sector professionals, and data storytellers who want a deeper analysis on the drivers of water scarcity around the world. This expanded map will enable users to project water availability scenarios through 2100 and generate co”

“Special Collections shares the story of National Geographic Society's past and present by expertly managing its unique archival, media, and information resources. We seek to create a more inclusive narrative by inspiring users to engage with and build on these materials. Our distinctive collections chronicle 137 years of the Society's history and impact through historical documents, maps, oral histories, audio and video recordings, photographs, artwork, artifacts, and digital assets. Our dedicated staff of archivists, librarians, digital asset managers and subject matter experts collect, organize, preserve, manage, and make accessible the diverse materials that make up the Society's Special Collections. In 2024, Special Collections increased its support of the Museum of Exploration, contributing more than 20,000 assets to create exceptional content and enrich gallery spaces with authentic items representing our legacy. The team responded to 1,316 reference and research inquiries from Society staff and our partners at Disney and Cengage; digitized more than 11,000 items from the archives; and ingested 3.6 million newly-created digital assets submitted by our grantees and staff. The National Geographic Storytellers Collective, a B2B entity and a center for storytelling excellence, serves nonprofits, universities, and affinity corporate clients with live Explorer-led workshops. With valuable one-on-one feedback and guidance on creating story and engagement, the Storytellers Collective delivers a unique perspective on ethically and effectively creating stories with impact. In 2024, we focused on growth by launching our first marketing campaign, doubling our bookings and quadrupling our revenue. We are creating multi-year engagements with new partners, expanding our reach internationally and laying the foundation to support an ecosystem for impact storytelling that expands our revenue, creative networks, and opportunities for Explorer engagement. These partnerships support development and delivery of impact storytelling workshops including immersive storytelling, science communication, data visualization and multimedia storytelling; connect our Explorers to collaboration opportunities with new communities; and offer wider visibility for all our National Geographic programs. The Geography & Mapping Group provides geospatial expertise and cartographic support to our Explorers, programs, and staff. We work with our most influential programs and partners to promote innovation, increase impact, and keep National Geographic at the forefront of applied geography and cartography. We provide our Explorers, programs, and staff with consulting, mapping services, and access to geospatial technology to enhance the effectiveness and impact of mission driven work. In 2024 we provided ongoing support to our major Zenith and Azimuth level programs (Pristine Seas, Out of Eden Walk, and Perpetual Planet) with award winning cartography to help each program communicate their findings and achieve their goals. We also worked closely with the Education division to further efforts in geography education. Our team members worked with our partner Esri in the continued development of the National Geographic Mapmaker and collaborated on a more advanced version of our global hydrology tool, World Water Map: Insights. We continue to improve our foundational geographic database that powers mapping work for the Society and for our partners at Disney/NGP. In addition, we have supported individual Explorers and National Geographic staff members to improve and accelerate their work with geographic data and tools that provide actionable insights and further the Society's mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world. National Geographic Live brings the stories of National Geographic Explorers to life through unique in-person experiences. We partner with our Explorers and photographers to unpack their work and build it into compelling narratives that are ea”

“Meridian Projects is a National Geographic Society funding opportunity that empowers National Geographic Explorers to collaborate and connect across disciplines to maximize and accelerate impact through innovative, interdisciplinary projects and solutions. By activating teams of National Geographic Explorers to engage and empower communities around the world, Meridian Projects create deeper connections between Explorers, help Explorers broaden their horizons with new skills, ideas, and perspectives, and supercharge Explorers' ability to contribute to creative solutions that combine efforts across science, storytelling, and education. This funding opportunity is only open to Explorers who are collaborating together on a project that combines at least two of NGS's broad disciplines (storytelling, research, technology, education, or conservation) and integrates, engages, and supports local communities in the project. The Society also invests in Meridian grants with resources, tools, capacity develop and learning opportunities to support effective cross-cultural, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a community-of-practice centered around collaboration for collective impact. In 2024, the Society supported 10 Meridian projects carried out by 39 Explorers at a funding total of $1,465,359.”

“(Expenses $ including grants of $ 10,125)(Revenue $ 109,758) In 2024, miscellaneous program activity included a continuing sustainability initiative and impact investing, communication, & technology. Continued on Sch. O Other Miscellaneous Programs.”

“The 990T is on extension awaiting final K-1 investment information necessary to prepare a complete and accurate return.”

“Post-retirement Benefits-FAS 158 - -2025737; Grants cancelled/returned - 506436;”