What SOM Foundation does

The SOM Foundation is a Chicago-based private nonprofit foundation founded in 1979 that supports emerging architects, landscape architects, interior architects, urban designers, and engineers pursuing interdisciplinary research on the built environment. Its awards programming, established in 1981, currently comprises seven annual programs spanning the United States, Europe, and China: the Research Prize, European Research Prize, Robert L. Wesley Award, Structural Engineering Fellowship ($20,000), China Fellowship ($15,000), Researcher-in-Residence ($5,000 stipend in partnership with MAK Center for Art and Architecture), and the Gordon Bunshaft Award for high school students. The foundation organizes annual application cycles opening at specified times (September for the Research Prize, European Research Prize, and Robert L. Wesley Award; January for the Structural Engineering Fellowship and China Fellowship; February for Researcher-in-Residence), with recipients selected through juried review.

The foundation has supported more than 375 fellows since 1981, including 115 fellows during the 2019-2026 tenure of Executive Director Iker Gil, who has announced his departure in August 2026. Operating with a lean team of 1-10 employees, the foundation maintains a digital archive of past fellows' research and hosts the annual William F. Baker International Research and Design Forum to disseminate findings. The 2025-2026 annual theme is 'Exploring the Potential of Mobility Corridors,' with awarded projects ranging from the Sixth Street Viaduct as next-generation infrastructure to coastal mobilities across the Adriatic and the Grand Canal's human-water relationships.

The foundation's revenue model is that of a nonprofit grant-maker, with funding appearing to derive from the SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) endowment and disbursed as monetary awards rather than through product or service sales. It is governed by a Board of Directors and operates independently from the architecture firm despite the brand association, with institutional partnerships spanning MAK Center, University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, Black Spectacles, Central Saint Martins (UAL), and international collaborators such as Material Cultures, Forestry England, Global Mamas, and Ecolibri.

Name

SOM Foundation

Legal name

SOM Foundation

Website

https://somfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The SOM Foundation is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 1979 that administers seven annual award programs supporting students and faculty in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, and engineering across the United States, Europe, and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Design Research Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Architecture research fellowships
• Design grants program
• Urban design awards
• Structural engineering fellowship
• Interdisciplinary built environment research

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grant Awards: SOM Foundation operates as a nonprofit grant-making organization. The foundation provides monetary awards to students and faculty in architecture and design fields. Funding appears to come from the SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) foundation endowment, with awards disbursed to fellows for research travel and projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The SOM Foundation is a nonprofit grant-making body that runs seven annual awards and fellowship programs supporting students and faculty in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, and engineering. It disburses monetary awards ($5,000 to $20,000 per award), supports residencies and travel research, and convenes public forums. Programs span the United States, Europe, and China.

Product overview

The SOM Foundation operates a portfolio of seven annual awards and fellowship programs supporting students and faculty in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, and engineering. The core offerings include the Research Prize, European Research Prize, Robert L. Wesley Award, Structural Engineering Fellowship, China Fellowship, Researcher-in-Residence (in partnership with MAK Center), and Gordon Bunshaft Award. These programs are organized around annual research topics, with 2025-2026 focused on 'Exploring the Potential of Mobility Corridors.' The Foundation also hosts the William F. Baker International Research and Design Forum and maintains a digital archive of supported research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Prize Annual award supporting US-based students and faculty in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, and engineering to undertake interdisciplinary research on the built environment. Applications open in September.
• European Research Prize Annual award for European-based students and faculty in architecture and design to conduct research on the built environment within the year's theme. Applications open in September.
• Robert L. Wesley Award Annual award supporting underrepresented students in architecture and design fields with financial support and mentorship. Applications open in September.
• Structural Engineering Fellowship $20,000 annual fellowship for graduate students in structural engineering to conduct independent travel and research on the built environment. Applications open in January.
• China Fellowship $15,000 annual fellowship for students in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, or urban design at universities in China to conduct independent travel and research. Applications open in January.
• Researcher-in-Residence Joint residency program with the MAK Center for Art and Architecture providing $5,000 stipend and a 5-6 week summer residency in Los Angeles for architects, artists, and researchers conducting original research on the built environment.
• Gordon Bunshaft Award Award supporting high school students interested in architecture, named after SOM architect Gordon Bunshaft, including collaboration with Lafayette International High School.
• William F. Baker International Research and Design Forum Annual public forum convened by the SOM Foundation bringing together fellows, researchers, and design professionals to share research findings and deepen the impact of the fellowships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 375+ emerging design professionals supported since 1981
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MAK Center for Art and ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Joint residency program initiated in 2024 providing $5,000 fellowship and 4-6 week summer residency at R.M. Schindler's Mackey Apartments in Los Angeles. The partnership enables original research on pressing issues related to the built environment, with each residency culminating in a public talk or program.
• University at Buffalo School of Architecture and PlanningmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year collaboration with academic institution for awards and public programming related to architecture and design research.
• Black SpectaclesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership for joint initiatives related to architecture education and professional development.
• Material CulturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Material Cultures on the 2021 European Research Prize project 'Constructive Land' examining regenerative land management and British woodlands. Material Cultures led the MArch Unit 3 program at Central Saint Martins that developed the Clearfell House experimental timber structure.
• Global Mamas (Ghana)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with circular textile enterprise for the 2021 Research Prize 'Soil Sisters' project. Global Mamas provided access to manufacturing hub and local industries in Ghana for material development research.
• Ecolibri (Guatemala)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with organization working with Indigenous communities in Lake Atitlán area for the 'Soil Sisters' project on sustainable farming and material production from agricultural waste.
• Forestry EnglandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on 'Constructive Land' project providing access to Dalby Forest for installation of Clearfell House forest classroom and research on woodland management.
• Central Saint Martins (UAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with University of the Arts London's MArch Unit 3 program for the 'Constructive Land' research project on regenerative land management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts: Chicago-based grantmaking foundation supporting innovative architectural and design research, exhibitions, and publications. Most direct comparable: corporate-foundation-adjacent architecture grantmaker with similar mission, applicant base, and award sizes.
• Van Alen Institute: New York-based nonprofit that funds and convenes design research, fellowships, and public programs on the built environment. Directly comparable in mission (architecture/design research grantmaking) and program structure (fellowships and project-based awards).
• Architecture League of New York: Long-running NYC design organization operating annual juried competitions, prizes, and exhibitions for emerging architects and designers. Comparable as a peer institution in early-career design recognition, with overlapping applicant pool in US architecture schools.
• American Academy in Rome: Residency and fellowship institution awarding Rome Prize fellowships in architecture, design, and other disciplines. Comparable as a peer fellowship-granting institution for architects and designers, with similar stipend-plus-residency program structure.
• MacDowell: Long-established US artist and designer residency and fellowship program in New Hampshire. Comparable in program model (stipend + residency), applicant base (architects, designers, artists), and mission of supporting rigorous independent creative work.

Broad incumbents

• Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture: Independent UK architecture school with global research, exhibitions, and fellowship programming. Comparable as a UK/European partner in design research, with which SOM Foundation has partnered (Central Saint Martins is UAL, AA is independent but adjacent).
• American Institute of Architects (AIA) Foundation: Philanthropic arm of the AIA, the largest US architecture professional body. Comparable as a broad incumbent in architecture philanthropy, with overlapping audience of architecture students and faculty, though portfolio is wider and includes scholarships, disaster relief, and advocacy.
• National Building Museum: Washington DC-based institution advancing the quality of the built environment through exhibitions, education, and awards. Comparable as a peer convening organization in the design research space with overlapping programming on housing, infrastructure, and urbanism.
• Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum: Smithsonian-affiliated US design museum with a national design awards program and fellowships. Comparable as a peer institution convening design professionals, with overlapping mission of recognizing and supporting design research and emerging practitioners.

Emerging players

• Design Trust for Public Space: NYC nonprofit commissioning design research and residencies on the public realm. Comparable as a peer grantmaking organization in design research, with overlap on public interest themes such as housing, climate, and mobility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/som-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SOM Foundation