Photo essay must depict work of a charitable organization.All photographs must have been taken within the last 3 years.Photographers may enter two essays in the same year.An essay entered in a previous year may not be re-entered.PhotoPhilanthropy will verify that each photo essay was made with the permission and collaboration of the charitable organization in question.Entrant must include with the submitted photo essay:- Statement - outlining the work or cause of the featured organization, why the photographer chose that organization, and how their work helped the non-profit and/or the larger community. This will be published on PhotoPhilanthropy's website, along with the photo essay. - Entrants in the Professional category must also submit a second statement describing how their work is being used by the photographer and/or the organization to effect positive social change, and describing how the photographer will continue to promote and distribute this body of work.

The Activist Awards are prizes recognizing past achievement. PhotoPhilanthropy does not impose restrictions on how the funds are spent, nor does it require or review reports from the winners of previous Activist Awards because the awards are based on past performance and not limited in how they can be spent.