The Architects Foundation is proud to announce the launch of its Call for Applications for the 2027 Design Assistance Team program. This award-winning program brings together customized, interdisciplinary teams of volunteer professionals to work with citizens and civic leaders in participatory public processes. Each process designs community-driven strategies that respond to key priorities and local aspirations. The resulting plans are grounded in local context and reflect realistic professional analysis to build momentum for community change. Past projects have addressed a broad spectrum of community issues, including climate change, disaster recovery, affordable housing, downtown revitalization, neighborhoods, transportation and other issues.
The Design Assistance Team program has a six-decade track record of community impact that has generated billions of dollars in sustainable development and led to some of America's most celebrated places. The outcomes of this work are well recognized and produce novel approaches to community problems. Impact surveys with dozens of participant communities have reported that 98% identify "strategic focus" and "new ideas and recommendations" as key program outcomes and 89% of respondents reported the initiative's ability to build "long lasting community trust." As the International Association of Facilitators has noted, "Thanks in part to your superb efforts, we have concrete proof that group facilitation and group process methodologies yield significant, measurable results." The International Association for Public Participation applauded the program for contributing "a replicable set of values and a process that can be broadly applied to urban design and sustainable communities; and the development of a participatory culture and applied values that explicitly recognize the central place of the public in the design of the built environment."
The application deadline for the 2027 program is Friday, December 4, 2026.
For more information or to access the Call for Applications and sign up for informational webinars, please visit https://architectsfoundation.org/communitiesby-design/ Please feel free to follow up with any questions.
Direct Links for more Information:
Application Hub: https://architectsfoundation.org/communitiesby-design/
Webinar 1 (Oct 7) Sign Up: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/dat2027
Webinar 2 (Oct 21) Sign Up: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/datweb2027
Application in .pdf: https://architectsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2027-DAT-Application.pdf
Press Release: https://architectsfoundation.org/architects-foundation-opens-call-for-applications/
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@communitiesbydesign3996/videos
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Joel Mills
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