Minnesota Architectural Foundation

The purpose of the Minnesota Architectural Foundation (MAF) is to provide advocacy and capital for the advancement of architecture in Minnesota.  Through a variety of sources the Foundation funds outstanding programs such as the Thomas F. Ellerbe Scholarship, the Rapson Traveling/Study Fellowship, the Wigington Minority Scholarship, and the Beverly Hauschild-Baron Leadership Fund.

Your financial support allows the MAF to continue to fund these outstanding programs. Help us support current and future practitioners in the advancement of the profession and make Minnesota architecture the best in the country.  Please make your contribution online or by downloading the Contribution Form (pdf) and returning it with your contribution to AIA Minnesota. Thank you for your support!Ralph Rapson Traveling Fellowship Competition The 2010 Ralph Rapson Traveling Fellowship Competition is on! This year’s competition will take begin at 12:00 noon on Thursday, March 4 and conclude at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 9. The Ralph Rapson Traveling Study Fellowship awards Minnesota graduates/practitioners $10,000 to advance their education in architecture through foreign/domestic travel. Find out more information.

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MAF's Successful Efforts at the 2009 AIA Minnesota Convention

A report from Jay Isenberg, AIA, MAF Board Member:

On behalf of the Minnesota Architectural Foundation I want to thank all those who participated in this year's silent auction that took place in the Exhibit Hall during November's annual AIA Minnesota Convention. Congratulations to those that took home their items of interest and special thanks to those businesses and individuals that donated these items.
This year's display included numerous books by and about Minnesota architects and architecture, select "green" products, dinners at various Twin Cities restaurants and the ever popular drawings and sketches by our talented members. The action was fierce toward the end as interested bidders hovered over their objects of desire, ready should another late entrant threaten their position. Particularly intense was the last minute duel over Ralph Rapson's beautiful watercolor print of Brunelleschi's Duomo in Florence where two bidders went toe to toe until finally one of our own exhibitor's prevailed.

All in all, this year's tally was a very respectable $3,500 from the silent auction, $1,500 in other gifts and one pledge to the newly created Minnesota Architectural Foundation's Legacy Society at the Keystone level of $2,500 ($500/year for 5 years). Legacy Society members and firms will be recognized in multiple ways by the Foundation and AIA MN in the years ahead as their significant financial commitment will strengthen the core mission of the Foundation that can be described as "Building our Future, Making a Difference".

All proceeds from the auction and all other contributions made during the Convention go toward supporting the four scholarships the Foundation sponsors which advance architecture in Minnesota by advocating through these scholarships diversity, discovery, excellence and leadership.

2009 Minnesota Architectural Foundation Contributors
(As of January 2010)

Thanks to the following organizations and individuals:
AIA Minneapolis, Akiba Architects, Albertsson Hansen Architects, Gregory C. Anderson, AIA, William Armstrong, AIA, Ali Awad, AIA, Alicia Belton, AIA, Frederick Bentz, FAIA, Bentz/Thompson/Rietow Architects, Inc., Saeid Berenjian, Scott Berry, AIA, William Beyer, FAIA, BKV Group, Inc., Janis Blumentals, AIA, Vicky Boddie, AIA, Charles Brown, AIA, Jon Buggy, AIA, BWBR Architects, Jean Caple, Carlsen & Frank Archtects, Daniel Duffy, AIA, Emily Eisenmenger, Ellerbe Becket, Basil Filonowich, FAIA, Tom Fisher, Assoc. AIA, J. Michael Florell, AIA Elizabeth Forslund, AIA, Jeff Frush, AIA, Sally Grans-Korsh, FAIA, John Hamilton, AIA, Bette Hammel, Gar Hargens, AIA, Beverly Hauschild-Baron, Hon. AIA, Peter Hilger, AIA, Greg Hollenkamp, AIA, Vicki Hooper, AIA, John Howell, AIA, Jay Isenberg, AIA, Julie Snow Architects, Michael Kennedy, AIA, Herb Ketcham, FAIA, Chuck Koosmann, AIA Matthew Kreilich, AIA Brian Larson, AIA, Ted Lentz, AIA, Ben Lindau, AIA, Chip Lindeke, AIA, David Linner, AIA, Nicholas J. Lowry, Ellen Luken, AIA, Gary Mahaffey, FAIA, Mahler & Associates Architecture, Inc., William Marray, Steve McNeill, AIA, Charles Melcher, Newland Architecture, Inc., David Norback, AIA, Theresa Olsen, AIA, Paul Meyer Architects, Inc., Ralph Rapson & Associates, Inc., David Rasche, Rehkamp Larson Architects, Jerome Ritter, AIA, Donald Rowe, AIA, RSP Architects, RSP Architects, Inc., Nick Ruehl, AIA, Jeffrey Scherer, FAIA, Barbara Senness, Mary Shaffer, AIA, Paul Simons, Rachael Spires, Assoc. AIA, Kenneth R. Stebbins, AIA, Stefan Helgeson Associates, R. R. S. Stewart, TEA2 Architects, Inc., The Ostberg Architects, The Weidt Group, Oliver Turan, Urban Works Architecture, Thomas Van Housen, FAIA, Karen Vanney, Peter Vesterholt, AIA, VJAA, W. L. Hall Company, Brian Wass, AIA, Art Weeks, AIA, Doug Westby, AIA

Two Minnesota Architectural Foundation Scholarships Awarded Matching Grants from AIA National (June 17, 2009)

The Thomas F. Ellerbe and Clarence Wigington Minority Scholarship sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation have recently received a matching grant of $3,150 from the AIA National Component. The AIA National Component supports local and state Components or their affiliated foundations in their efforts to provide and develop scholarship programs. This joint award between AIA National, AIA MN and the Minnesota Architectural Foundation will distribute four scholarships totaling $17,150.

2010 Board of Directors

Jay Isenberg, AIA, President
Barbara Senness, President-Elect
Alicia Belton, AIA, Past President
Vicki Hooper, AIA, Secretary
Bill Beyer, FAIA, Treasurer
David Dimond, AIA
Gregory G. Hollenkamp, AIA
Brian R. Larson, AIA
Linda Ostberg, AIA
Toby Rapson, AIA
Doug Westby, AIA
Beverly Hauschild-Baron, Hon. AIA, Executive Director

History
The Minnesota Architectural Foundation originated in 1970 as the "MSA Foundation for Environmental Research" with a purpose of studying potential computer applications in architecture. In 1979, following receipt of a bequest from William Berget, the name was changed to "MSAIA Architectural Foundation," incorporated for "charitable, scientific & educational purposes relating to the encouragement & improvement of the architectural environment." Today the "Minnesota Architectural Foundation" supports its mission of "Providing Advocacy and Capital for the Advancement of Architecture in Minnesota," through the activities of its General Fund and four goal-specific funds.

Thomas F. Ellerbe Scholarship
The Thomas F. Ellerbe Scholarship was endowed in 1981 by the Ellerbe firm in honor of Thomas F. Ellerbe, FAIA. This fund annually awards two or more $1,000 to $2,500 scholarships to exemplary University of Minnesota architectural and engineering students in the final year of their Master's program.

Ralph Rapson Travel/Study Fellowship
First awarded in 1989, the Ralph Rapson Fellowship honors Ralph Rapson, FAIA. On the basis of a weekend juried design competition, this partially-endowed Fellowship awards young Minnesota architectural graduates or practitioners $10,000 to $12,000 to advance their education in architecture through foreign or domestic travel-study. Donations and fund-raisers continue building this fund, initiated with a 1984 fund-raiser.

Clarence Wigington Scholarship
Created in 1992 as the Minority Architectural Scholarship, this fund was renamed to recognize the extraordinary professional and civic accomplishments of the first African-American municipal architect in the United States and the first licensed African-American architect in Minnesota. This scholarship provides tuition scholarships to minority students who wish to pursue a professional education in architecture at the University of Minnesota, and who hold promise for succeeding in an architectural career. Funding is provided through annual raffles at the AIA Minnesota Annual Convention and donations.

Hauschild-Baron Leadership Fund
The Beverly E. Hauschild-Baron Leadership Fund was established in 2001 to recognize Beverly Hauschild-Baron's 25 years of service to AIA Minnesota. Its purpose is to help develop ongoing leadership for AIA Minnesota by providing financial support for AIA Minnesota members and AIA Minnesota staff pursuing Leadership Training. Funding is provided through designated donations and other private support.

The General Fund
The General Fund derives its income from AIA Minnesota and Chapter contributions, individual contributions and bequests. This Fund covers overhead and supports miscellaneous projects, publications and exhibits that align with the Foundation's mission.