Richard L. Blinder Award Grant

The Richard L. Blinder Award, presented biennially by the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation, recognizes architects and professionals in historic preservation for innovative proposals that advance architectural preservation in the U.S. The award encourages originality, whether through real projects or polemical exercises. With a funding limit of $15,000, recipients must demonstrate a need for their study and a realistic dissemination plan within 24 months, contributing to the preservation community.

NOTE: Applications for the Blinder Award are accepted every other year. The next grant cycle will open in fall 2026.
The Richard L. Blinder Award will be presented biennially to an architect or other professional in a related historic preservation field for a proposal exploring architecture and preservation. The proposal may focus on a real project or it may be a polemical exercise; in either case, originality is highly valued. The proposal must advance architectural preservation in the United States. The product can be graphic, text-based or a combination of both and must be able to be shared with the architecture and preservation community.
Criteria for Evaluation
Applications are reviewed by the Fitch Trustees.
Projects will be evaluated on the following criteria and conditions of eligibility:
A demonstrated need for the proposed study and evidence of its value to advance the practice of historic preservation in the United States.The applicant has a realistic plan for the dissemination of research and/or the final work product within twenty-four (24) months of receipt of the Award. Modes of dissemination include papers; lectures; conferences; presentations; or exhibitions.The project has a clear and realistic goals, timeframe, work plan, and budgetThe project demonstrates innovative thinking, original research and creative problem solving and/or design
Funding
The award is for a sum not to exceed $15,000.

Eligibility

Grants are awarded only to individuals, not organizations or university-sponsored research projects. The applicant must be an architect or in a related field, such as historic preservation, landscape architecture, architectural conservation, urban design, environmental planning, archaeology, architectural history, the decorative arts, advocacy, and preservation law.
Applicants must be legal residents or citizens of the United States.

Ineligibility

Grants are not awarded for professional fees.