The Architectural Woodwork Institute Education Foundation is now accepting submissions through March 31, 2027.
The AWI Education Foundation received 40 applications for its 2026 Grant Program last year from schools to purchase equipment for their woodworking programs, a record-breaking number. It awarded $186,120 to 26 schools from across the country.
“This year, four schools committed matching funds totaling an additional $42,500 for equipment and/or technology for their school programs, bringing the total industry impact to $228,620,” said AWI CEO Doug Hague.
“The number of grant applications has been growing over the last several years from nine in 2022 to 11 in 2023, to 18 in 2024 and from 35 in 2025 to 40 in 2026,” said AWIEF chair Bruce Spitz. “The Foundation’s Grant Program awards totaled $108,086 in 2022 to an all-time high of $186,120 in 2026.”
“Since the Grant Program was launched in 2018, the foundation has awarded nearly $623,000 to schools for improvements to their woodwork programs that have helped put thousands of students on a path to rewarding careers in the industry,” Hague added.
Spitz said, “The work of the foundation is to help develop the workforce for the woodwork industry. We do this through grants to schools for start-up woodworking programs, improve safety and efficiency in existing programs and assist in bringing state-of-the-art equipment to school programs. We have helped schools at all levels from middle schools to high schools to community college and university programs.”
AWI’s largest donations come from donors at the closing event during the group’s annual convention, which this year is October 23 in Bonita Springs, FL. “Last year our donor support was unbelievable; now with a higher bar set, we look forward to achieving new goals this year,” added Hague.
