Shaping the Future of Design
AWAF is dedicated to fostering educational and professional leadership opportunities for women in architecture and related fields
The mission of AWAF – like that of our related organization, the Association for Women in Architecture + Design (AWA+D) – is to advance and support women in the allied fields of architecture and design. Established in 1997 as the primary fundraising vehicle for AWA+D, the Foundation raises funds to promote high levels of achievement by awarding Scholarships and Mid-Career Fellowships, as well as our newest endeavor, Partnerships + Innovations, which supports programs that encourage school-age girls to explore careers in the built environment.
AWAF has given over $200,000 in scholarships and fellowships since our inception, representing important educational and leadership support to women in design. Becoming a design professional is a long and challenging journey, so both individuals and corporations can play an important role in furthering the AWAF mission through donations or participation in AWAF events.
Scholarships
Each year AWAF celebrates some of our State’s brightest emerging design talents by awarding merit-based scholarships to support exceptional women students in California in their continuing education. A minimum number of three Scholarships are awarded to talented women studying architecture, interiors, environmental design and landscape architecture. These awards acknowledge excellence in student work and encourage the recipients to continue their path into their chosen field.
Mid-Career Fellowships
We have expanded our support to women within the profession through the development of a mid-career Fellowship. This is awarded to a woman who has practiced in the design fields for a minimum of five (5) years in the state of California. This individual will be interested in pursuing a project or research of her choosing. The award year culminates with a presentation at the annual AWA+D Spring Symposium.
Partnerships + Innovation Grants
The latest addition to our awards program as we pursue supporting girls and women at every stage of their design journey. The P+I stands for Partnerships and Innovations. In practice, this means we seek out other non-profits (501c3 or 501c6) that have existing awards, initiatives, or programs that target women or girls who fall outside the bounds of our scholarships or mid-career fellowships.
