Graham Foundation Grant Program (United States)

Priorities

• For individuals, Graham Foundation grant priorities are to:
  • Support efforts to take positions, develop new forms of expression, engage debate around architecture and related fields, and reach new and broader audiences.
  • Contribute to an applicant’s creative, intellectual, and professional growth at a crucial or potentially transformative career stage.
  • Amplify emerging and underrecognized perspectives in architecture and design by giving priority to first-time applicants.

Grant Types

• Production and Presentation
  • These grants assist individuals with the production-related expenses that are necessary to take a project from conceptualization to realization and public presentation. These projects include, but are not limited to, exhibitions, installations; film/video/new media web initiatives; public programs; and publications.
  • Projects must have clearly defined goals, work plans, budgets, and production and dissemination plans.
• Research and Development
  • Though the majority of the grantmaking program focuses on Production and Presentation grants, the Graham Foundation recognizes that projects may require support at early stages of formation. Research and Development grants support research-related expenses such as travel, documentation, materials, supplies, and other development costs. Projects must have clearly defined goals, work plans, and budgets.

Funding Information

• Production and Presentation
  • Grant amount: Production and Presentation grants to individuals do not exceed $20,000 and are likely to be less. The average grant amount range for Production and Presentation grants is $5,000 to $15,000.
  • Grant period: Production and Presentation grants must be completed within two years of the project start date.
• Research and Development
  • Grant amount: Research and Development Grants do not exceed $10,000 and are likely to be less. Given the demand for funding, the Graham Foundation is not always able to fund grantees at the full request amount.
  • Grant period: Research and Development Grants must be completed within one year.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Graham Foundation grantmaking programs focus on supporting individuals and organizations in the United States, however, the Foundation also awards grants internationally. Note that regardless of where a supported grant project originates, all final products must be disseminated in English.
• Grants to Individuals:
  • Individuals are eligible to apply for Production and Presentation grants and Research and Development grants.
  • Collaborative projects by individuals are eligible for funding; a collaborator is defined as a coauthor of the project, not a participant who is providing contracted services for the project.
  • Individuals may only apply for one grant per year.
  • Applicants who have received prior Graham Foundation support must have satisfied all grant requirements before applying again.
  • Individuals working on independent projects who are required by their organization to apply for and receive funding under the aegis of the organization (e.g. a faculty member of an academic institution) may use a fiscal agent.

Ineligible 

• Endowment
• General operating expenses
• Capital projects
• Scholarship aid or work in pursuit of an academic degree; note: advanced doctoral candidates may be eligible for nomination to the Graham Foundation Carter Manny Award program.
• Work focused exclusively on secondary education audiences or younger (K–12).
• Debt or expenses incurred prior to the Graham Foundation grant funding period.

Evaluation Criteria 

• Projects with the greatest potential for funding directly connect to the Graham Foundation’s mission to explore ideas in architecture and fulfill the following criteria:
  • Originality: the project demonstrates an innovative and challenging idea; critical, independent thinking; advanced scholarship; a new or experimental approach.
  • Potential for impact: the project makes a meaningful contribution to discourse and/or to the field; expands knowledge; is a catalyst for future inquiry; raises awareness of an understudied issue; promotes diversity in subject matter, participants, and audience.
  • Feasibility: the project has clear and realistic goals, timeframe, work plan, and budget.
  • Capacity: applicant possesses strong qualifications and/or knowledge; demonstrates ability to carry out the project successfully; has access to necessary resources outside of the grant request.

For more information, visit Graham Foundation.