In our mission to support informed, sustainable, and healthy initiatives in the design of built spaces, the ASID Foundation provides funding to individuals and groups.
Below is a list of grants, scholarships, and prizes. Some grants are not open every year and amounts may vary from year to year. If a grant, scholarship, or prize is open there will be a link and information about the application deadline. The link will take you to information about the requirements, dates, and jury process. If there is not a link next to a grant, scholarship, or prize, then it is not currently open for application.
You can also find links to past awardees and their projects to obtain a better understanding of the types of projects, qualifications of recipients, and level of outcomes and impact from those awardees.
ASID, its members, and donors are proud that since 2012, the ASID Foundation has awarded over $1,000,000 through our programs.
CALLING ALL RESEARCHERS!
Call for Research Grant Proposals is open until Tuesday, Aug. 15
DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL THURSDAY, AUG. 31
General schedule of when applications are being accepted.
Transform Research Grant – Bi-annual Awards up to $100,000
Provides funding to address critical gaps in industry knowledge, advancing design understanding, and transforming the practice of interior design.
Application period mid-July to mid-September
Applied Research Grants – Multiple Awards at Various Amounts
Funds research projects that result in actionable design principles, guidelines, and/or tools that designers can apply in their design projects.
Application period mid-July to mid-September
Irene Winifred Eno Grant - Award: $5,000
Provides financial assistance to individuals or groups developing an educational program or project dedicated to health, safety, and welfare.
Application period mid-February to mid-April
Poel Polsky Prize - Award: $5,000
Recognizes outstanding academic contributions to interior design through print or digital communication. Types of entries include books, whitepapers, blogs, videos, and more.
Application period mid-February to mid-April
Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award - Award: $5,000
Recognizes an interior design research project or thesis project conducted by an undergraduate or graduate student related to wellness and design.
Application period mid-February to mid-April
Legacy Scholarship for Undergraduates - Award: $4,000
Open to all students in their junior or senior year of undergraduate study enrolled in at least a three-year accredited program of interior design.
Application period mid-February to mid-April
Legacy Scholarship for Graduate Students - Award: $4,000
Open to students who are enrolled in or accepted to a graduate-level interior design program at an accredited university.
Application period mid-February to mid-April
David Barrett Memorial Scholarship - Award: $12,000
Open to students who are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate-level interior design program at an accredited university.
Application period mid-February to mid-April
Student Scholarships
The ASID Foundation manages the following scholarships which were established to expand research or to continue knowledge contributions in specific areas of design.
David Barrett Memorial Scholarship
Award: $12,000
Next Application Period: mid-February to mid-April 2025
The David Barrett Memorial Scholarship is given biennially to recognize the work of an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student who demonstrates a continuing interest and ability in utilizing classical designs (in alignment with Greek and Roman principals) and traditional materials, including furniture and fabrics.
Please be creative and innovative in how this is translated in your work. All project types will be accepted, including, but not limited to workplace, civic, residential, hospitality, and historical restoration.
Legacy Scholarship for Undergraduates Students
Award: $4,000
Next Application Period: mid-February to mid-April 2024
The Legacy Scholarship for Undergraduate Students is given annually to recognize academic accomplishment and creative achievement. This grant is open to all students in their junior or senior year of undergraduate study enrolled in at least a three-year accredited program of interior design. This grant is made possible by the generous support of the Dora Brahms Fund, Mabelle Wilhelmina Boldt Fund, Yale R. Burge Fund, Raymond Kennedy Fund, Ethel Siegelman Fund, and Alan Lucas Fund.
Application Requirements
- Design portfolio featuring 8-12 pages of work which demonstrates design solutions that positively impact occupant’s well-being.
- Portfolio statement (500 word maximum)
- Personal statement
- Transcript (an unofficial copy or alternate proof of enrollment will be accepted)
- Letter of Recommendation
- Biographical statement
- Headshot
Legacy Scholarship for Graduate Students
Award: $4,000
Next Application Period: mid-February to mid-April 2024
The Legacy Scholarship for Graduate Students is given annually to recognize the work of those students seeking to improve human outcomes and embracing and advancing the professional trend towards a more positive impact on user health and wellbeing. This grant is open to students who are enrolled in or have been accepted for admission to a graduate-level interior design program at an accredited university. This grant is made possible by the generous support of the Dora Brahms Fund, Mabelle Wilhelmina Boldt Fund, Yale R. Burge Fund, Raymond Kennedy Fund, Ethel Siegelman Fund, and Alan Lucas Fund.
Application Requirements
- Personal Essay (1000 word maximum) The ASID Foundation believes that interior design positively transforms environments in ways that improve human outcomes. As an interior designer, how will you embrace and advance the professional trend to positively impact health and well-being in your anticipated area of design practice?
- Transcript (an unofficial copy or alternate proof of enrollment will be accepted)
- Design portfolio (10 pages maximum)
- Letter of Recommendation
- Biographical statement
- Headshot
Achievement Awards
Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award
Award: $5,000
Next Application Period: mid-February to mid-April 2024
Given annually, the Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding interior design research project or thesis project conducted by an undergraduate or graduate student related to wellness, educational research, behavioral science, business practice, design process, theory, or other technical subjects.
Application Requirements
- Abstract (250 word maximum)
- Thesis, dissertation or research project
- Transcript (an unofficial copy or alternate proof of enrollment will be accepted)
- Biographical statement
- Headshot
Gary Wheeler Professional Achievement Award
Award: $5,000
Next Application Period: mid-February to mid-April 2024
The Gary Wheeler scholarship is given annually to reimburse practitioners’ expenses for passing the NCIDQ. This grant is open to interior designers and educators who have recently passed all portions of the CIDQ exam. This award is made possible by the generous support of members.
Joel Polsky Prize
Award: $5,000
Next Application Period: mid-February to mid-April 2024
Given annually, the Joel Polsky Prize recognizes outstanding academic contributions to interior design through print or digital communication related to the needs of the public, designers, and students on topics such as, educational research, behavioral science, business practice, design process, theory, or other technical subjects. Types of entries can include, but are not limited to, books, whitepapers, blogs, and videos.
Application Requirements
- Description of the publication or visual communication (250 word maximum)
- Copy of publication or visual communication
- Biographical statement
- Headshot
Research Grants
The ASID Foundation (ASIDF) Research Grant Program seeks to support research projects that result in actionable design principles, guidelines, and/or tools that designers can apply in their design projects.
Transform Grants | A – Seed/Start-Up Funds
Award amount varies: not to exceed $30,000
Next Application Period: mid-May to mid-August 2024
Transform Grant | B – Research Project
Award amount varies: not to exceed $70,000
Next Application Period: mid-May to mid-August 2024
The Transform Research Grants are made possible by the generous contribution of the Donghia Foundation. The grants are intended to provide funding to address critical gaps in industry knowledge, advance understanding, and transform the practice of interior design to improve the human experience.
Proposed research should be directly relevant, easily translatable, and of keen interest to both practicing designers and clients. Completed research projects are to be developed into an educational resource and shared with the design community.
The ASID Foundation Research Committee has noted the following scope of projects being considered for this period’s grants:
- Adaptive Environments Designed for Change and Resiliency
- Designing Humanizing Environments for Imperiled People
- Activating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Design Solutions
Applied Research Grant (Previously Impact Research Grant)
Award amount varies
Next Application Period:Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | Extended to Thursday, August 31, 2023
Research Grants are given to support research projects that result in actionable design principles, guidelines, and/or tools that designers can apply in their design projects. This grant is open to any student, educator, interior design practitioner, institution, and interior design related group. This grant is made possible by the generous support of the ASID Foundation’s General Fund.
Irene Winifred Eno Grant
Award amount varies: not to exceed $5,000
Next Application Period: mid-February to mid-April 2024
The Irene Winifred Eno Grant provides financial assistance to individuals or groups developing an educational program(s) or project that is dedicated to health, safety, and welfare. This grant will be evaluated on the strength of the project proposal, budget, promotion plan, and expected outcome.
The grant is open to students, educators, interior design practitioners, institutions, and an interior design related group.
Application Requirements
- Abstract (250 word maximum)
- Explanation of what the program/project will deliver and produce (500 word maximum)
- Explanation of how the program/project will be developed (500 word maximum)
- Explanation of how the program/project will be shared and promoted (500 word maximum)
- Proposed budget & timeline (Table format in Excel including key budget line items and cost in one sheet and key activities/milestones with target dates in one sheet)
- Primary Applicant’s Biographical Statement
- Primary Applicant’s Headshot