The Architectural Education Foundation, AIA Colorado

Since the first $600 scholarship was presented in 1961, The Architectural Education Foundation, AIA Colorado, has awarded more than $800,000 in scholarships, grants and other prizes to more than 400 students, architects and teachers. The annual awards program exceeds $50,000 from income received through investments and donations.

During the past four decades, individual architects and firms have made substantial contributions to the foundation as memorials. Individuals and organizations allied with the construction industry also have made significant donations in the past. Many donors send a contribution to the fund, instead of flowers, to memorialize a lost loved one, friend or associate. The foundation continually seeks new funds in the way of endowments, donations and memorials from the design community and the AIA Colorado membership at large.

The foundation provides assistance to AIA Colorado and its members so that AIA Colorado can conduct professional education programs accessible to the membership and the design community. Requests for such grants should be submitted to The Architectural Education Foundation (see address below).

The Architectural Education Foundation, AIA Colorado was born out of the devotion of five men to the practice of architecture. On Jan. 23, 1934, Robert K. Fuller, FAIA, announced on behalf of himself and four other men, the creation of a special Trust Fund: "to advance the interest of the profession of architecture in the State of Colorado." This was the realization of ten years of commitment by Robert Fuller, FAIA; William E. Fisher, FAIA; George H. Williamson, FAIA; William Bowman, AIA; and Fred Montjoy, AIA. Their dream was "to provide an instrument whereby, someday, sufficient income would be realized to be able to award scholarships, grants, prizes, etc., to the betterment of the profession."

The first aim of the trust fund was quite modest: the assets were to be "held intact and allowed to grow" until the principal was large enough to ensure a "Good annual return therefrom." On Dec. 18, 1944, the trust fund was transferred to AIA Colorado. Robert K. Fuller was designated its permanent trustee. On Feb. 16, 1961, the fund was incorporated as a separate, tax free, non-profit corporation. Its broad purpose, as reported in the December 1961 issue of AIA Colorado's newsletter, "the Addenda," was (and remains today) "to advance education in architecture by granting scholarships, prizes and financial aid to deserving students in architecture and to teachers or architects interested in research projects directly related and of value to the architectural profession."

In 1961 the first scholarship was awarded by The Architectural Education Foundation. It had taken 27 years for the five founders' original dream to come true.