American Architectural Foundation

American Architectural Foundation was a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that used architecture and design as tools for education, civic engagement, and public understanding of the built environment. Its work connected architects, students, educators, and community leaders, with a strong emphasis on helping young people see how design shapes daily life and how they could participate in improving their schools and neighborhoods.

A central part of its portfolio was the national Architecture and Design Education Network, which linked teachers, design professionals, and partner organizations around K–12 learning. The foundation also ran the Accent on Architecture series for elementary students and Great Schools by Design, an initiative focused on the relationship between school design and educational outcomes. In the civic realm, it organized programs such as the Sustainable Cities Design Academy and the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, bringing design expertise into local leadership and urban problem-solving. Its audience extended from children and classroom educators to mayors and public officials.