https://architectsfoundation.org/co...

Private

Yes

Open

One time

Architects Foundation

esimmons@aia.org

Technical Assistance

https://architectsfoundation.secure...

• Project summary
• Problem statement, issue analysis, and project objective
• Project costs
• Proposed timeline

Evaluation Criteria • Commitment and ability to attract diverse stakeholders and broad-based community turnout; • Commitment and support for the project by political leadership, municipal staff, and key stakeholders; • Comprehensive application clearly portraying the community; • Self-evaluation and assessment of relevant issues; • Clarity of problem statement and project objective; • Ability to provide necessary logistical support; • In-kind contributions and logistical support available for the project.

Fixed

Single

• December 4, 2026

• December 18, 2026

• Planning, Resilience & Mitigation

The DAT program works at the urban/community scale. We do not provide architectural services, though we do produce conceptual sketches to illustrate potential development, connections, and public spaces in a given project area. The project areas have ranged in size from a few blocks of a main street in a small town, to a district or downtown, to a single neighborhood or an entire community. The scope and scale of a project depend upon the priorities a community has identified. The program has also worked at a regional scale involving multiple jurisdictions when appropriate. Each DAT consists of two visits. During the first visit, the project team leader and AF staff meet with local experts and representatives of community stakeholder organizations to gather information about the scope of the project and community priorities. Based on this scoping visit, the leaders then choose other national experts for the team, all of whom serve on a pro bono basis. This team of 5-7 volunteers return to the community to facilitate public workshops to develop an action plan for the future. The goal of the process is to produce a set of implementation strategies that are grounded in the reality of the local context and designed to build momentum for significant community progress. The process is designed to involve as many participants as possible, developing a shared understanding of a community’s values and aspirations for the future, and applying professional analysis and expertise in the public interest to produce a set of strategies that lead to collective action and momentum for change. The team’s final products include a presentation to the community on the final evening of the process, and a final report delivered and available online a couple of months after the event.

Yes

The Design Assistance Team is not a traditional grant program. DAT communities receive pro bono services through the program, and the Architects Foundation commits to funding up to $15,000 for each project to cover all team member expenses. In-kind donations are critical to the process, both to ensure that hard project costs are kept as minimal as possible, as well as to encourage broad community support, participation, and commitment. The program does not provide any direct funding to communities. In-kind donations can include such elements as: discounted team member lodging; donated team & community event meals/catering; advertising & publicity; donated meeting facilities & team workspaces; team & meeting supplies.