Graham Foundation
for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts		  

G R A N T   G U I D E L I N E S

To increase the effectiveness of our grantmaking and our impact in architecture and related fields, the Graham Foundation has developed new grant guidelines and an online application process. We now offer two types of grants: Production and Presentation Grants to individuals and organizations and Research and Development Grants to individuals.

The next grant application deadline for individuals is September 15, 2008. The Inquiry Form for this deadline is now available online.

The 2008 grant application deadline for organizations has passed. The next grant application deadline for organizations is February 25, 2009. The Inquiry Form for this deadline will be available online to organizations by January 7, 2009.

Mission
Focus and Priorities
Criteria for Evaluation
Grant Types
Eligibility
How to Apply
Deadlines
Inquiry Form

MISSION
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts makes project-based grants to individuals and organizations and produces public programs to foster the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society.

FOCUS AND PRIORITIES
Architecture and related spatial practices engage a wide range of cultural, social, political, technological, environmental, and aesthetic issues. We are interested in projects that investigate the contemporary condition, expand historical perspectives, or explore the future of architecture and the designed environment.

We support innovative, thought-provoking investigations in architecture; architectural history, theory, and criticism; design; engineering; landscape architecture; urban planning; urban studies; visual arts; and related fields of inquiry. Our interest also extends to work being done in the fine arts, humanities, and sciences that expands the boundaries of thinking about architecture and space. In an effort to bridge communities and different fields of knowledge, we support a wide range of practitioners (such as architects, scholars, critics, writers, artists, curators, and educators) and organizations (such as non-profit galleries, colleges and universities, publishers, and museums).

Open discourse is essential to advance study and understanding, therefore our grantmaking focuses on the public dissemination of ideas. With our support, the work of individuals and organizations reaches new audiences, from specialized to general, and creates opportunities for critical dialogue between various publics.

The Graham Foundation’s Production and Presentation Grants support individuals and organizations in the conceptualization and implementation of projects for the public realm. These may include, but are not limited to, publications, exhibitions, installations, conferences, films, new-media projects, and other public programs. We also offer Research and Development Grants to individuals.

For individuals, our priorities are to:

  • Provide opportunities to create, develop, and communicate a project about architecture and the designed environment that will contribute to their creative, intellectual, and professional growth at crucial or potentially transformative stages in their careers.
  • Support their efforts to take positions, develop new forms of expression, and engage debate.
  • Help them communicate their work in the public realm and reach new and wider audiences.
  • Support new voices by giving priority to first-time applicants.

For organizations, our priorities are to:

  • Assist with the production and presentation of significant programs about architecture and the designed environment in order to promote dialogue, raise awareness, and develop new and wider audiences.
  • Support them in their effort to take risks in programming and create opportunities for experimentation.
  • Recognize the vital role they play in providing individuals with a public forum in which to present their work.
  • Help them to realize projects that would otherwise not be possible without our support.

Overall we are most interested in opportunities which enable us to provide critical support at key points in the development of a project or career.

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
Given our priorities, we believe projects of the greatest potential should fulfill the following criteria:

  • Originality: the project demonstrates an innovative, 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

GRANT TYPES
The Graham Foundation offers two types of grants: Production and Presentation Grants to individuals and organizations and Research and Development Grants to individuals.

Production and Presentation Grants
These grants assist individuals and organizations with the production-related expenses that are necessary to take a project from conceptualization to realization and public presentation. These projects may include, but are not limited to, publications, exhibitions, installations, conferences, films, new-media projects, and other public programs. Projects must have clearly defined goals, work plans, budgets, and production and dissemination plans.

Grant amount: Production and Presentation Grants to individuals normally do not exceed $20,000; Production and Presentation Grants to organizations normally do not exceed $30,000.

Grant period: Production and Presentation Grants must be completed within two years of notification of award. Applicants should allow sufficient time to plan, implement, close out their project, and, if funded, acknowledge Graham Foundation support in all printed media.

Research and Development Grants
Though the majority of our grantmaking focuses on Production and Presentation Grants, we recognize that projects may require support at early stages of formation. Research and Development Grants assist individuals with seed money for research-related expenses such as travel, documentation, materials, supplies, and other development costs. Projects must have clearly defined goals, work plans and budgets.

Upon completion of research projects, recipients of Research and Development Grants must complete a research report and provide documentation that can be archived at the Graham Foundation and/or presented on our Web site.

A recipient of a Research and Development Grant is eligible to apply for a Production and Presentation Grant for the same project once the first grant has been satisfied, however, future funding is not guaranteed.

Grant amount: Research and Development Grants to individuals normally do not exceed $10,000.

Grant period: Research and Development Grants must be completed within one year of notification of award. Applicants should allow sufficient time to plan, implement, close out their project, and, if funded, acknowledge Graham Foundation support in all printed media.

ELIGIBILITY
Our grantmaking focuses on individuals and organizations in the United States, however, we do make a small percentage of international grants. Please note we require that final projects 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 co-author of the project. One person in the collaborative must be designated as the primary contact 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 organizations to apply for and receive funding under the aegis of the organization (e.g., a faculty member of an academic institution) should see Fiscal Sponsorship.

Grants to Organizations:

  • Organizations are eligible to apply for Production and Presentation Grants.
  • 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations are eligible for funding. Under some circumstances we will make grants to other entities when there is clear evidence that the public interest will be served, for example, in the case of a publisher or an emerging organization that does not yet have tax exempt status.
  • An organization or academic department/unit 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.
  • Organizations that require individual employees working on an independent project to apply for and receive funding under the aegis of the organization (e.g., a faculty member of an academic institution) should see Fiscal Sponsorship.

Fiscal Sponsorship
The Graham Foundation does not require fiscal sponsorship. However, in the event that an organization requires an individual employee working on an independent project to apply for and receive funding under the aegis of the organization (e.g., a faculty member of an academic institution), the organization may serve as a fiscal sponsor.

For individuals: Individuals that require fiscal sponsorship must follow all guidelines, eligibility requirements, and deadlines for Grants to Individuals. Applicants must indicate on the Inquiry Form that they have a fiscal sponsor.

For organizations: Organizations that fiscally sponsor an individual will be required to fill out a Fiscal Sponsorship Form. There is no limit to the number of individuals an organization may sponsor. Sponsored applications do not count as an organization’s one annual application. Please note that we do not pay overhead for fiscal sponsorship.

Ineligible Costs:

  • Endowment
  • General operating expenses
  • Capital projects
  • Scholarship aid or work in pursuit of an academic degree (advanced doctoral candidates are eligible to apply for the Carter Manny Award)
  • Debt or expenses incurred prior to the date of grant request

HOW TO APPLY
Stage One/Inquiry Form: Eligible candidates interested in applying for a grant from the Graham Foundation must first submit an Inquiry Form. The Inquiry Form is available on our Web site and must be submitted electronically.

Stage Two/Invitation to Submit Proposal Form: After Inquiry Forms are reviewed, applicants whose projects best match our priorities and interests are invited to submit a Proposal Form and supplementary materials. Applicants who are not invited to submit a Proposal Form are sent a decline letter at this stage. Decisions are based on:

  • Priority of the proposed project as related to our mission and interests
  • Potential impact of the project
  • Availability of Graham Foundation funds

The Proposal Form is made available on our Web site to invited applicants and must be submitted electronically. Invited proposals will be reviewed, and Graham Foundation staff may contact you with questions or to request additional information. An invitation to submit a Proposal Form does not guarantee eventual funding. Please note that we cannot accept proposals other than those invited.

Stage Three/Grant Decision: Funding recommendations are presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration. If a grant is awarded to you, you will be asked to sign a Grant Agreement that outlines the conditions of the award, such as annual reporting.

DEADLINES
Each grant cycle takes approximately five months. Individuals must apply at the fall deadline and organizations must apply at the spring deadline.

For 2008:

For Individuals (fall 2008 grant cycle)

Inquiry Form available online by: 7/15/08
Inquiry Form deadline: 9/15/08
Applicant notified to submit Proposal Form by: 10/31/08
Proposal Form deadline: 12/1/08
Grant decision by: 2/10/09

For 2009:

For Organizations (spring 2009 grant cycle)
Inquiry Form available online beginning: 1/7/09
Inquiry Form deadline: 2/25/09

INQUIRY FORM
The Inquiry Form is an online form that must be filled out and submitted online through our Web site.

Grants to Individuals: The next application deadline for grant to individuals is September 15, 2008. The Inquiry Form for this deadline is now available online.

  • To start a new Inquiry Form, you will need to create a grant application account with an email address and a password. To create an account and start a new Inquiry Form, go to Create an Account/New Form
  • You will be able to save your work on the Inquiry Form and return to it. If you have already created a grant application account and/or want to return to your work on an Inquiry Form, go to My Account

Due to system maintenance, the Inquiry Form will be unavailable on Sunday, August 3 from 8:00 AM ET to 8:00 PM ET. You will not be able to work on or submit your Inquiry Form during that time.

The Inquiry Form will request the information listed below. We suggest that you prepare your responses in another document and paste them into the Inquiry Form.

Applicant Information:
Name and contact information
Fiscal sponsor name and contact information, if applicable
Graham Foundation grant history

Project Summary:
Project title

For Production and Presentation Grants, a list of committed collaborator(s), if applicable (i.e., an entity committed to producing and/or presenting your project, such as a publisher, exhibition venue, etc.)

Project abstract (150 word maximum)

Project start and end dates

Total project budget

Request amount

List of additional funding for the project, if applicable, including funding source, amount, and status

Description of the anticipated final product(s) for which funding is sought (one sentence maximum)

Project Narrative:
Project statement that addresses the project goals, the significance of the work, and its contribution to the field (500 word maximum)

Additional Project Information:
Biographical narrative for the applicant and any key project participants (150 word maximum per biographical narrative)

Work plan and schedule of key project dates (200 word maximum)

Reference names: If you are advanced to the second stage of review, you will be asked to provide two letters of reference. In preparation for the second stage of review, list the names of two people from whom you would seek letters of support.

Attachments:
Attachments will be uploaded with your Inquiry Form. The maximum size for all attachments is 5MB.

Required Attachments
Project budget (One page maximum. File types: Excel, Word, PDF). Please note that no more than 30% of total project request may be directed to compensation of the applicant.

Curriculum vitae/resume for the applicant (Five page maximum. File types: Word, PDF)

Optional Attachments
Work samples such as writing samples and images (file types: Word, PDF, JPEG)

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