LAF DEI Campaign Raises Over $2.5 Million for New Ignite Program

The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) is delighted to announce the LAF Ignite and Fuel Campaign raised more than $2.5 million to support the new LAF Ignite program and $1.4 million to support LAF’s current research, scholarship, and leadership programs. The 18-month campaign concluded June 30, 2023, with investment from 146 Founding Donors who seeded, stretched, matched, and made this campaign a success. Their leadership enabled LAF to develop and launch LAF Ignite and secure funds to support the program as it grows in future years.

“We are incredibly grateful to the many individuals and organizations whose thought leadership and investment supports LAF and the talented students of LAF Ignite,” said LAF CEO Barbara Deutsch. “While the genesis of this program has been in development since 2015, it was a monumental moment in November 2021 when the Board unanimously voted to move forward with the program and campaign to support it, as we all recognized this as the start of something transformational.”

LAF Ignite ultimately was launched in September of 2022 to support BIPOC landscape architecture students overcome barriers to stay in school, graduate, and enter practice. The multi-year program provides participants with an annual $10,000 scholarship, annual paid summer internship, and access to three types of mentorships throughout their academic experience. The first cohort of Ignite students began working one-on-one with mentors in July and recently completed summer internships at firms and organizations across the country.

The LAF Ignite and Fuel Campaign represents a concerted effort by LAF and the many individuals, firms, organizations, and partners who have invested in it to make the discipline of landscape architecture more representative of the communities in which landscape architects work. The Ignite program builds on nearly 60 years of LAF efforts – through scholarships, research, and leadership – to provide knowledge, experiences, and resources that enable landscape architects to use their unique skills to change the world. 

“It’s critical that we support future landscape architects during this pivotal time in their academic and professional journey,” said North Carolina State University Faculty Scholar and Professor Kofi Boone, LAF Immediate Past President. “Research shows this support is needed. I’m proud to do our part to accelerate the pace and scale at which the discipline seeks to increase diversity within our ranks and create more equitable communities.”

LAF would like to thank and recognize the following current and former DEI Committee members for their work on this important program: Alexa Bush – VP, Austin Allen, Diane Jones Allen, Sierra Bainbridge, Rachel Booher, Kofi Boone, Mark Carlos, Valerie Carter, Keiko Tsuruta Cramer, Elen Deming, Kona Gray, Deb Guenther, Kendra Hyson, Clarence Lacy, Richard Roark, Roana Tirado, and Ernie Wong.

LAF also would like to thank our generous donors for their leadership and significant commitments to the LAF Ignite and Fuel Campaign.

LAF Ignite donors

Gifts of $125,000+

Robert Chipman

Gifts of $100,000-$124,999

Landscape Forms
Sasaki Associates
SmithGroup

Gifts of $75,000-$99,999

Jacobs
Bill and Kathy Main
Landscape Structures
OLIN
SWA Group
Beth Wehrle

Gifts of $50,000-$74,999

Anova
Biohabitats
Jeanne Lalli
Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Office of James Burnett
Sherry & Brian Ramsay
Reed Hilderbrand
TBG Partners

Gifts of $25,000–$49,999

Jim Burnett
Burton Studio
Glen Dake
Design Workshop
EDSA
Kyle Fiddelke
GGN
Michael Grove
Hoerr Schaudt
James Corner Field Operations
Mithun
MKSK
MVVA
Signe Nielsen
RIOS
Stephanie Rolley
WORKSHOP: Ken Smith Landscape Architect

Gifts of $10,000-$24,999

Sierra Bainbridge
Kofi Boone
Po Chen
Civitas
Coen+Partners
Keiko Tsurata Cramer
DesignJones
Barbara Deutsch
Dix.Hite Partners, Inc.
ETM Associates
Fluidity Design Consultants
Future Green Studio
Gary Hilderbrand
Hood Design Studio
Lionheart Places
Emily McCoy
MIG
MNLA
Moody Graham
Tom Mroz
PWP Landscape Architecture
RELM Studio
Roberto Rovira
Rundell Ernstberger Associates
SCAPE
Trinity Simons Wagner
Margie Simmons

Gifts less than $10,000

Austin and Diane Jones Allen
Atlas Lab
Cheryl Barton
Michael Batts
Rachel Booher
Valorie Born
Keith Bowers + Cristel Cothran
Bradley Site Design
Pippa Brashear
Alexa Bush
Cadence
Danielle Carbonneau
Dennis Carmichael
Cara Chard
Richard Centolella
Connie Chung
Ryan Clifton
Andrea Cochran
Crowley Cottrell
Chip Crawford
Cara Crichlow
Curtis + Rogers
John Donnelly
Bob Dugan
Alma Du Solier
Jennifer Engelke
Dorothy Faris

Fuel Donors 

Gifts of $250,000+

Landscape Forms

Gifts of $150,000+

Sasaki  Associates

Gifts of $100,000-$149,999

SmithGroup

Gifts of $50,000-$99,999

Biohabitats
Burton Studio
James Corner Field Operations
Ramsay Family
TBG

Gifts of $25,000-$49,999

Robert Chipman
Hoerr Schaudt
Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Mithun
MKSK
OLIN
Reed Hilderbrand
Beth Wehrle

Gifts of $10,000-$24,999

Po Chen
Coen+Partners
Dix.Hite
ETM Associates
Fluidity Design Consultants
Future Green Studio
Hood Design Studio
Lionheart Places
Mithun
MNLA
Moody Graham
PWP Landscape Architecture
Relm Studio
Rundell Ernstberger Associates
Laura Solano
Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners
Unknown Studio
WRT
WXY Studio

Gifts less than $10,000

Atlas Lab
Valorie Born
Bradley Site Design
Cadence
Curtis + Rogers
Dorothy Faris
Hocker Design
Hargreaves Jones
Livable Cities Studio
Jim Manskey
Mayer/Reed Inc.
Mikyoung Kim Design
Tom Mroz
Stephanie Rolley
Stoss Landscape Urbanism
Stream Landscape Architecture
Biff Sturgess
Swift Company
TEN x TEN
Wenk Associates
Monte and Jill Wilson