AIA Ohio Foundation Mission

The AIA Ohio Foundation supports the future of the architectural profession in its service to society.

AIA Ohio Foundation Vision

The AIA Ohio Foundation seeks to advance the profession of architecture.

AIA Ohio Foundation Values

The AIA Ohio Foundation acts with integrity and transparency as a trusted partner to the architectural profession with a focus on stewardship, collaboration, and inclusion.

Grant Eligibility

Eligible applicants include AIA Ohio local components, Ohio accredited architecture schools, AIAS students and student chapters, individual AIA Ohio members, and other individuals and organizations where the submitted proposal is deemed to have a direct and positive benefit to architects and to the profession of architecture in the State of Ohio.

Grant Guidelines

The AIA Ohio Foundation, in support of the profession of architecture and with a focus on its strategic goals, has set the following criteria for awarding grants:

  1. Application submission is once a year, opening May 1 and due July 15. Applicants will be notified on or before Sept. 15. Applications received by the deadline will be reviewed in a special session held by designated members of the Board of Trustees. Funds will be disbursed upon completion of the AIA Ohio Foundation Grant Funds Request Form.
  2. Awards are typically in the range of $1,000 – $5,000 and may not exceed $5,000. The Board plans to allocate a benchmark amount of $10,000 toward the support of project/programs annually. Should there be a number of compelling proposals that if funded would exceed that benchmark amount, then the Board may choose to allocate funds beyond the $10,000 amount. Applicants may propose a minimum and maximum funding amount and should describe the project viability if the proposal is only partially funded. The AIA Ohio Foundation Board may limit the total awards in any calendar year.
  3. Should a proposal be unsuccessful in a given year, the applicant may request feedback from the Board and with suggestions, can choose to revise and resubmit during a future grant cycle, but with no guarantee of funding for resubmission.
  4. Applications are evaluated based on the merits of the of the project/proposal in relation to the mission, vision, and values of the AIA Ohio Foundation. Projects with greater reach and efficacy, especially when considering equity, diversity, and inclusion within the architectural profession—as well as impact on K-12 populations—will be prioritized. Project descriptions should describe the project’s alignment with mission, purpose, and priorities of AIA Ohio Foundation.
  5. Multiple or matching funding sources and collaborative applications are encouraged, in that such applications have the potential for cost sharing and for higher impact. Requests for funding from local AIA Ohio components are encouraged where the project is more local or regional, and should be clearly indicated in the application. Where funding is not being solicited from local components or other sources, application should indicate why.
  6. The AIA Ohio Foundation, as part of the global community, champions a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion within the profession of Achieving this vision has a direct impact on the relevance of our profession and the world’s prosperity, health and future. Applicants shall indicate how the grant addresses this policy. Project type, applicant diversity, geographic diversity, and target audience will also be considered. Given this priority for diversity in the grant awards, the quality and impact of the proposal remain paramount in the decision to fund or not fund the project.
  7. Requests for funding for repeat/annual events or projects may have lower priority when the Board believes that permanent funding could be sought.
  8. Applications will include a budget and timeline for the program. Projects and final reports are expected to be completed by Sept. 1 of the year following the grant award. AIA Ohio Foundation requires a final report on the success of the project and the expenditure of funds, using the AIA Ohio Foundation Grant Report Form. Timely completion is expected. Any necessary time extensions must be requested and approved by the AIA Ohio Any unused funds are to be returned to AIA Ohio Foundation. Applicants who do not submit a final report will not be eligible for subsequent grants.
  9. AIA Ohio Foundation should be recognized in all promotional and marketing efforts for their financial contributions and support of the project.
  10. The grant application will be reviewed by the AIA Ohio Foundation Board of Trustees. Any potential conflict of interest between an AIA Ohio Foundation Board member or members and the grant applicant(s) should be disclosed and, if a conflict is determined, said Board member(s) shall be recused from the review process.
  11. Award recipients will be announced at the AIA Ohio Awards Program at the AIA Ohio Annual Conference.