Norden Fund FAQs

Attendees listen to presentations by past winners at the 2014 Norden Fund information session

The Deborah J. Norden Fund awards up to $5,000 annually in travel grants to students and recent graduates in the fields of architecture, architectural history, and urban studies.

Below, find questions frequently asked by Norden Fund entrants.

For more information about the Norden Fund, see a complete list of past winners and funded projects, and look through our ongoing online feature of essays, photographs, and sketches from past grantees.

Travel Reports from The Deborah J. Norden Fund, a publication documenting the first ten years of Norden Fund grants, was published in January 2007. To order a copy of the publication, or to ask questions about application submission, call 212.753.1722 ext. 10, or email norden@archleague.org.

Norden Fund FAQs

Who is the eligible to apply?
The grant is intended for students and recent graduates. We do not have a specific age cut-off; up to about 10 years out of the last enrolled school is acceptable. Applicants must reside in, but need not be citizens of, the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.

Can we apply as a team?
Yes, you can apply as a team. If you do, please indicate a lead contact. Note: Regardless of how many team members, the maximum grant amount is $5,000.

What is the maximum number of team members?
There is no maximum.

What if one team member does not live in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico?
If that is the case the application should be just from the person who does live in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.

When do I/we need to complete any travel?
Within one year of when you receive the grant.

Does the project proposal need to involve international travel?
No, projects do not need to be based outside the U.S. Projects are not weighed on location but on merit and on the jury’s judgment of whether the applicant needs support to be able to do the project.

What do you expect the winner to deliver at the end of travel?
You must submit a report to The Architectural League on the travel carried out using grant funds. The report should describe what you accomplished through the travel and how you expect the experience to be useful to and influence your future work.

I have been accepted to this really great summer abroad program/graduate program/short course and need financial assistance. Can you help?
No. Grant funds cannot be used for tuition, and the grant will not be awarded to support participation in an organized program.