Beginning in 2025, Van Evera Bailey Fellows will now receive $50,000 for their pursuits in advancing the design and building profession, a 100% increase in funding for one of AFO’s long-running programs, the Van Evera Bailey Fellowship.

In 2001, AFO established a partnership with the Van Evera Bailey Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation in awarding $20,000 to an individual or group encouraging greater contributions to their profession and community. The Fellowship was increased in 2012 to $25,000. In over two decades, we have bolstered 24 Fellowship awards to make impact in our communities in a variety of ways, from establishing the Portland Winter Lights Festival (Jeff Schnabel, 2015 Fellow) to researching gender inequity within the architecture profession (Jennifer Wright, AIA, 2019 Fellow).

As part of our work to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of our programs, we took a closer look at the Fellowship to determine who might be excluded from applying. We also evaluated the economic and societal changes since 2001, including inflation, tax implications, and work-life balance. As a result, we have again partnered with the Van Evera Bailey Fund and the Oregon Community Foundation to double the Fellowship funding. 

This increase should allow for more impact when it comes to growing costs of materials, labor, living, and more. Additionally, this increase ensures that the funding awarded is more impactful for individuals across economic backgrounds and lived experiences without requiring additional applicant privilege, aligning with our goals to be a JEDI-informed organization.