Graham Foundation Grants to Organizations

The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, based in Chicago, Illinois, is a privately funded organization dedicated to fostering the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society. Through its grants to organizations, the foundation aims to support initiatives that promote experimentation, provoke dialogue, and raise awareness within the field of architecture and related disciplines. With a longstanding reputation for advancing innovative projects that might not find support elsewhere, the foundation plays a critical role in enriching the discourse and visibility of architectural practice globally. The foundation’s Grants to Organizations program specifically supports the production and presentation of projects such as exhibitions, public programs, publications, and new media formats like film, video, and web-based platforms. These grants are designed to help projects move from concept to realization, particularly when public engagement is central. To be eligible, projects must have clearly defined goals, detailed work plans, a feasible budget, and plans for both production and dissemination. The foundation particularly values work that challenges conventional boundaries, fosters dialogue, and is aligned with its mission to enhance public understanding of architecture. Funding priorities emphasize support for original, impactful programming that engages public audiences and provides a platform for underrepresented ideas and voices in the architectural field. Evaluation criteria include a project’s originality, potential impact, feasibility, and the applicant organization’s capacity to execute the project. The foundation also values programming that supports diversity in content, participants, and audiences. A critical consideration is that the proposed project outcomes must be disseminated in English, regardless of the project’s geographic origin, to ensure accessibility and broader engagement. Applicants must be nonprofit or public-serving organizations based in the United States or internationally, with a demonstrated capacity to carry out the project. While nonprofit status is a key eligibility requirement, the foundation may make grants to other entities when the public interest is clearly served. Each organization may submit only one application per cycle, although separate departments within large institutions may each apply independently. Prior grantees must fulfill all reporting and agreement requirements before reapplying. Ineligible expenses include endowments, indirect or general operating costs, capital improvements, scholarship aid, debt repayment, and K–12-specific programming. The application process is conducted through an open, single-stage online submission. For the 2026 cycle, the application portal opens on January 15, 2026, and all proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. Central Time on February 25, 2026. Funding decisions are reviewed by the foundation’s Board of Trustees, with grant notifications expected by June 30, 2026. Projects may begin no earlier than September 15, 2026, and must be completed within two years of the start date. Grantees are required to sign a grant agreement outlining terms, including final reporting, and may also be required to submit progress reports during the funding period. Production and Presentation grants offered under this program may not exceed $30,000, though many awards are made at lower levels. For publication-related projects, unless the applying organization is a publisher, there must be a confirmed publication agreement in place at the time of application. Overall, the Graham Foundation’s Grants to Organizations program is structured to support visionary projects that might not be realized without its funding, ensuring that ambitious architectural ideas can reach a wider public.

Emphasize innovation, feasibility, and diversity in your proposal, as these are key evaluation criteria.