Mission
The AIA Ohio Foundation provides outreach, supporting the future of the architectural profession in its service to society.

Vision
The AlA Ohio Foundation seeks to advance the profession of architecture.

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

Purpose
The Grant is intended to support the profession of architecture and its various constituencies in the state of Ohio, with financial assistance, for individuals and organizations to be inspired to develop new/novel Projects | Events that are implemented in the State of Ohio and that embody the Mission, Vision and Values of the AIA Ohio Foundation.

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 proposal is deemed to have a direct and positive benefit to architects and to the profession of architecture in the State of Ohio.

Guidelines
The AIA Ohio Foundation, in support of the profession of architecture and with a focus on our strategic goals, has created the following criteria in support of its grants program.

  1. The application portal opens May 1, with a final submission deadline of July 15 annually. Notification of award decision will take place mid-September.
  2. Awards are typically in the range of $1,000 – $5,000 and may not exceed $5,000. Applicants may propose a minimum and maximum funding amount and should describe the project viability if the proposal is only partially funded. However, the AIA Ohio Foundation Board may limit the total dollar award in any calendar year. Requests for funding for repeat/annual events or projects may have lower priority.
  3. Applications are evaluated based on the cost-benefit of the proposal. Projects with greater reach and higher impact will be prioritized. Applications should carefully describe team collaborations, area served (community, city, state, national), the project impact and alignment with mission, vision and values of the AIA Ohio Foundation.
  4. Multiple or matching funding sources and collaborative applications are encouraged, in that such applications have the potential for cost sharing and for higher impact. Applications that identify local AIA Component funding will be given priority.
  5. The AIA Ohio Foundation, as part of the global community, champions a culture of sustainability, equity, diversity and inclusion within the profession of architecture. Achieving this vision has a direct impact on the relevance of our profession and the world’s prosperity, health, and future well-being.
  6. The AIA Ohio Foundation’s values align with AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence, and applicants should identify how no more than five of the ten principles support the Framework. These include Integration (social, economic, and environmental vales), Water (protection of resources), Resources (consideration of waste, material selection), Economy (enhancing community wealth and prosperity), Equitable Communities (positively impacts diversity, equity, and community), Energy (reducing energy consumption), Change (adaptability/resilience), Ecosystems, Well-Being, Discovery (innovation, improved performance, learning, research).
  7. Applications will include a budget and timeline for the program. Timely completion is expected, and any necessary time extensions are to be in writing to the AIA Ohio Foundation. Any unused funds are to be returned to the AIA Ohio Foundation.
    1. Grant Applications Available: May 1 – Current Year
    2. Applications Due: July 15, Midnight – Current Year
    3. Notification of Award: September 15 – Current Year
    4. Disbursement of Funds:  October 1 – Current Year
    5. Formal Announcement of Award: AIA Ohio Awards Dinner – Current Year 
      The AIA Ohio Foundation will purchase a ticket for one authorized grant representative to receive the award and assist in its presentation.
    6. Submission of Deliverables: September 1 – Following Year
      Deliverables include a PowerPoint Presentation with the format established by the AIA Ohio Foundation, digital photographs and documentation, and a 150 – 250 word narrative
    7. Project | Event Presentation: AIA Ohio Awards Dinner – Following Year
  8. The AIA Ohio Foundation logo and name are to be prominently displayed on all promotional and marketing printed literature, websites, and recognized during audio and visual interviews, for its financial contributions and support of the project.
  9. A subcommittee of the Board of Trustees will review all applications and make recommendations for award to the AIA Ohio Foundation Board for final consensus. Any potential conflict of interests 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
  10. Should a proposal be unsuccessful in a given year, the applicant may request verbal feedback from the AIA Ohio Foundation Board.

    Applications are evaluated based on these criteria:

    • How does the project/event support the future of the profession?
    • How does the project/event serve society?
    • To what extent is the application collaborative?
    • Does the project/event address equity, diversity, and inclusion — either through content or target audience?
    • Is this request new/novel or for an annual/ongoing project?
    • Does funding request reflect an achievable, realistic, and adequately funded project?
    • Are the project/event timeline/deliverables realistic and achievable?
    • Is there a future “return-on-investment” from the project, based higher yield in reach, efficacy, and alignment with mission, purpose, and priorities of AIA Ohio Foundation?
    • Are other sources for funding sought or cost sharing with local AIA chapters?
    • Are the 10 Principles of the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence considered?
    • Does the proposed timeline meet the requirements of the review committee (with project execution occurring between October-July and the completion of report and poster included)?