AWAF Mid-Career Fellowship 2026

NOTE:

The deadline is Sunday March 1, 2026.

The Association for Women in Architecture Foundation, Inc. (AWAF) is a tax-exempt charitable 501(c)(3) organization based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to fostering educational and professional leadership opportunities for women in architecture and related fields. Each year the AWAF celebrates some of the brightest emerging design talents by awarding scholarships to support these exceptional women in their continuing education. As AWAF begins our 29th year and AWA, our mother organization celebrates its Centennial, we are pleased to announce that with increased giving from our donors we have additional fellowship awards opportunities for 2026.

There will be up to two (2) awards in varying amounts up to $5,000. Winners also receive a one-year membership with our sister organization, AWA+D.

Awardees must agree to have their project information included on the AWAF website, and to present their process and work at the Annual AWAF Awards Event the following year. Additionally, awardees must be aware that the AWAF reserves the right to reproduce and disseminate fellowship content for the purposes of advertising its Mid-Career Fellowship program, including use on the website and social platforms. Winners grant AWAF permission to use their project materials and headshots for promotional purposes.

Fellowship award funds are not tax-exempt, and must be recorded and submitted through a Form-1099-MISC, provided by the AWAF in the tax year following the receipt of the funds.

Fellowship Award Winners will be recognized at a planned event in June of 2026.

To apply, please see below for eligibility and submittal requirements.

Please contact us with any questions or comments. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Diana Perez, Awards Committee Co-chair

Email: [email protected]

FELLOWSHIP ELIGIBILITY:

The AWAF offers a Mid-Career Fellowship to professional women who have been practicing in the field of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, urban planning, or the allied arts for a MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS. Applicant must be a CALIFORNIA RESIDENT.

The Fellowship shall be used to fund work of professional consequence in the field such as: a research article for a professional journal, arranging a public lecture or presentation of information related to the work, or organizing a public panel discussion of a current subject of public interest. Research may be analytical or physical in nature, and applicants may suggest an alternate option.

Fellowship awardees shall complete the proposed project within one year, and shall prepare a culminating presentation in conjunction with the Annual AWAF Awards Event.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD:

Winners will be required to share their project and likeness on the AWAF website and invited to exhibit their work at the 2026 AWA+D Symposium and AWAF Awards event, typically held in late spring within the greater Los Angeles area. Award checks will be delivered through USPS mail.

An awards jury, consisting of state-wide professionals, will review all applications through a combination of a point-scale system for completeness and merit-based quality of the proposal.

Application materials will be weighted into consideration during the review process as follows:

- AWAF Mid-Career Fellowship Application Form – 5%

- Fellowship Statement – 30%

- Resume – 5%

- Portfolio – 30%

- Project Budget – 20%

- Letters of Recommendation – 10%

Priority will be given to projects with a local or regional focus within the state of California (as defined by the applicant’s proposal).

Following the selection committee’s review of submitted application materials, a shortlist of candidates will be invited to participate in an interview as part of the final selection process. Interviews will be held via web conference in early to mid-April. The Awards Committee will review all applications for completeness first and then for quality of work. Incomplete applications cannot be considered and will not be evaluated.