The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) has officially opened applications for the 2026–27 cohort of its prestigious LAF Fellowship for Innovation and Leadership, a groundbreaking $25,000 award aimed at empowering bold, visionary professionals in the field of landscape architecture.
Designed to elevate transformative ideas and catalyze leadership across the profession, this one-year fellowship supports projects that push the boundaries of the discipline and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.
Fellowship Overview: Innovation Meets Impact
The LAF Fellowship is not just a grant — it is a leadership development journey. Over the course of a year, six selected Fellows will dedicate the equivalent of three months of full-time work to a proposed project that aligns with the program’s mission to drive positive change and expand the influence of landscape architecture.
Through three immersive 2.5-day residencies, monthly cohort calls, and connection with LAF’s extensive network of academics, professionals, and industry partners, Fellows receive unparalleled mentorship, critical feedback, and public visibility for their work.
What Does the Fellowship Offer?
- Financial Support: A $25,000 award per Fellow to develop and implement a bold, action-oriented project.
- Professional Development: Participation in a year-long program with structured support and leadership training.
- National Exposure: Opportunities to present your work to peers, academics, and leaders in the field.
- Mentorship & Community: Engage in an intergenerational cohort including past LAF Olmsted Scholars, fostering dynamic mentorship and collaboration.
Program Goals
The fellowship nurtures participants to:
- Support Innovation – Create, test, and refine ideas that confront global challenges with environmental and social impact.
- Cultivate Leadership – Build transformational leadership skills through readings, discussions, and mentorship.
- Foster Intergenerational Mentorship – Engage with emerging professionals and established leaders for shared learning and support.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a landscape architecture professional
- Applicants must propose a bold, original project that advances the field and can drive meaningful change
- Must commit to the program’s time requirements including: ~3 months of project development time over one year and attendance at three (03) residencies and monthly conference calls.
Apply here: https://www.lafoundation.org/what-we-do/leadership/laf-fellowship
Fellowship Application Submission Timeline
The application process for the LAF Fellowship for Innovation and Leadership 2026–27 follows a structured timeline. The call for applications opens in June 2025, inviting landscape architecture professionals to submit their proposals. The deadline to submit all application materials is September 15, 2025.
Following submission, the jury review period will take place between October 2025 and January 2026. Selected candidates will be officially announced as Fellows in February 2026, and the fellowship year will commence in June 2026.
