Grants to Individuals

The Graham Foundation offers Grants to Individuals in support of projects that create, develop, and communicate significant ideas about architecture and the designed environment. The Foundation prioritizes work that supports creative, intellectual, and professional growth at crucial or potentially transformative moments; takes positions and engages debate around architecture and related fields; brings work into the public realm; reaches new or wider audiences; and amplifies emerging and underrecognized perspectives, with particular attention to first-time applicants. Grantmaking focuses on individuals and organizations in the United States, although the Foundation also awards grants internationally. Two grant types are available to individuals. Production and Presentation grants support projects that advance critical discourse on architecture and related fields while engaging public audiences. Supported activities can include exhibitions, installations, films, videos, new media and web-based initiatives, publications, and other public programs. These grants do not exceed $20,000 and are likely to be less, with awards generally ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Applicants must have a committed producer when the Inquiry Form is submitted. A committed producer is an entity that has agreed to produce and/or present the project, and applicants invited to the Proposal Form stage must provide written confirmation of that commitment. Research and Development grants support activities that advance a project or idea. Eligible expenses may include travel, archival research, documentation, materials, supplies, and other development costs. These grants do not exceed $10,000 and are likely to be less, with awards generally ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Applicants without a committed producer may be eligible for this grant type. Production and Presentation grants must be completed within two years of the project start date, while Research and Development grants must be completed within one year. Grant recipients must complete a grant report upon completion and acknowledge Graham Foundation support in published media. Funded projects must include meaningful public dissemination in English, although projects may also be presented in additional languages. The Foundation does not fund work undertaken in pursuit of an academic degree. Individuals may apply for only one grant per year, and previous grantees must have satisfied all prior grant requirements before applying again. Grant funds cannot be used retroactively, and activities supported by the grant must begin on or after June 15, 2027, although a larger project may already be underway. No more than 30 percent of the Graham Foundation grant request may compensate the applicant or applicants. Ineligible costs include endowment, general operating expenses such as indirect and overhead costs, faculty salary buyout, scholarships, course enrollment or residency fees, capital projects, work focused exclusively on K-12 audiences, and debt or expenses incurred before the grant funding period. Individuals are not required to have a fiscal agent. However, an individual working on an independent project who is required by an organization, such as an academic institution, to apply for and receive funding under the organization's aegis may use a fiscal agent. Such applicants remain subject to all guidelines, eligibility requirements, and deadlines for Grants to Individuals. Applicants invited to the second stage of review must indicate their intention to use a fiscal agent on the Proposal Form. The source identifies no matching or cost-share requirement. The Inquiry Form for the current Grants to Individuals cycle became available on July 17, 2026, and has a deadline of September 15, 2026. Applications are evaluated holistically according to the project's aims, context, and scale relative to the applicant's experience and resources. Reviewers consider originality, including innovative ideas, independent thinking, advanced scholarship, and new or experimental approaches; potential for impact on architectural discourse, knowledge, inquiry, awareness, subjects, participants, perspectives, or audiences; feasibility through realistic goals, timeframe, work plan, and budget; and the applicant's capacity, qualifications, knowledge, ability, and access to resources needed to carry out the project. The Graham Foundation is located at Madlener House, 4 West Burton Place, Chicago, Illinois 60610. General inquiries may be directed to info@grahamfoundation.org or 312.787.4071. Applicants should select the grant type appropriate to the project's stage and intended outcome and submit the Inquiry Form by September 15, 2026. Production and Presentation applicants must have their committed producer in place at the Inquiry Form stage, while written confirmation of that commitment is required if they advance to the Proposal Form stage. The provided material does not state an award notification date or establish an explicit recurring schedule for future application cycles.

Emphasize an original and challenging idea, critical and independent thinking, and a meaningful contribution to architecture and related fields. Demonstrate potential impact, realistic goals, timeframe, work plan, and budget, as well as the qualifications and resources needed to execute the project. Clearly address meaningful public dissemination and alignment with the Foundation's priorities.