Research Grants Program

Deadline: October 15, 2025

Research Grant Program Objectives 

The LACF Research Grants Program funds a wide range of research and communications projects, including practical applied design research in topics such as ecology, climate change adaptation, social justice, reconciliation and decolonization and public education and awareness, amongst other topics. This program focuses on funding projects with national relevance in the discipline of Landscape Architecture. 

Projects funded in the past are outlined here

Philosophical Framework     

Landscape architecture as a profession strives to balance human use and enjoyment of land with the conservation and health of the environment. The primary goal of the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF) is to support the fundamental ideals expressed through the profession of landscape architecture.

These ideals include but are not limited to:

  • conserving and managing environmental resources;
  • promoting sustainable development;
  • accommodating the needs of humans in the environment; and
  • enhancing and improving aesthetic quality in the landscape;
  • promoting justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Grant Focus: Design, Speculate, Postulate, Question, Research, Theorize. Explore

Grant applicants should push beyond the boundaries of everyday practice. The LACF Research Grants are open to submissions exploring new design theories, speculations about new landscape interventions, questioning the current norms of practice, and arguing for new areas of research and professional development, as well as submissions seeking to expand the traditional areas of landscape research.

Proposed research or projects outcomes may be presented in a variety of media or communication methods.  In all instances, the successful proponents are encouraged to promote the wide dissemination of their project results in the larger public realm as well as within the profession. 

LACF recognizes that the sums awarded by the Foundation may be “seed money” to instigate further project topic investigation.

Timeline (for 2026 Program)

October 15, 2025 ...........Grant application deadline

December 2025 .......... Announcement of recipients and release of 50% of funds

December 2026 .......... Final product submitted and final funds released.

Application Categories & Applicant Eligibility

The Research Grant Program Application can be submitted under the following two categories, with eligibilities for each specific category noted below: 

Professional Category:

  • individual researchers, practitioners and academics
  • groups or teams of researchers, practitioners and academics
  • Ph.D. candidates

Student Category:

The individual researcher or, in the case of a group or team application, the primary applicant, must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

LACF welcomes applications recognizing underrepresented groups, including women, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, people of colour, people who identify as LGBTQ or people with disabilities.

Ineligibility  

Application Ineligibility

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted, as well as the following specific ineligibilities related to applicants and projects. 

Applicant Ineligibility 

Members of the LACF Board of Directors, the LACF Grants Committee and LACF Grants Jury and their immediate relatives are not eligible for grants.  

Project Ineligibility

The following project requests are ineligible for support:

  • Capital or personnel expenses not directly related to project
  • Travel not related to the project
  • Sponsorships
  • Indirect costs of research

Funding

Professional Category:

  • Grants up to $12,500 per project are available to explore or question topics as outlined above under Research Grant Objectives.

Student Category:

  • Grants up to $5,000 per project are available to explore or question topics as outlined above under Research Grant Objectives

Large or on-going projects may be projects may be funded subsequent years, but application must be made annually.

Each year, LACF Grant funding is available from the LACF Research Grant Fund, as well as specialty topic grant funds; applications to the Research Grant Fund will be considered for funding, depending on eligibility, in whole or part, or in combination, from the following funds: 

Special Project Grants funding is also available from the LACF for projects that are outside the scope of the Research Grants Program. Find out more about the Special Project Grants funding.

Adjudication 

Assessment Criteria

Members of the Research Grants National Jury will evaluate the submissions based on the following criteria:

  • Team: The prime applicant and study team demonstrates ability required to execute the project successfully.
  • Topic/Relevance: The project topic is clearly defined, original and pushes beyond the limits of everyday practice, reflecting the values of the profession including the core principles of the Canadian Landscape Charter, and advances justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and/or reconciliation with Indigenous people.
  • Approach & Methods: Project outcomes are clearly defined and the overall strategy proposed to achieve the project aims is logically supported. The detailed plan clearly proposes research techniques and methods for information collection and likely useful outcomes that will feed into the communication plan.
  • Schedule: The schedule must outline the major milestones of the project, and be consistent with LACF funding program requirements. The feasibility of the project schedule will be considered.
  • Budget: The Budget provides a clear breakdown of the project costs, hourly labour rates and other anticipated funding sources. A detailed budget is not required for student applications, but will be considered favourably if considered and provided.
  • Communication Plan:  A communication plan is provided to effectively and suitably communicate research results both within and, as appropriate, beyond the professional community.  A plan for appropriate and visible recognition of LACF grant is given.
  • Letters of Support: Application to provide applicable content and messaging of letters of support from arms-length and authoritative sources endorse the project; written commitment from funding partners.
  • LACF Profile Enhancement: The project and the application clearly articulate method of LACF recognition.
  • Application Quality: Application is complete, succinct, well-organized, and clearly stated.

LACF will appoint a volunteer jury of practitioners to review and adjudicate applications. The decisions of LACF are final and LACF reserves the right not to make any grant awards.

Property Rights

All documents submitted are the property of the LACF and will not be returned. The LACF assumes no responsibility towards participants for the loss, disappearance, or destruction of documents in their application, or for documents submitted late.

Promotion and Communication of Projects 

As a condition of the award, all recipients are strongly encouraged to publish, present or appropriately communicate the results of their work to CSLA members, the public and other audiences. 

Grant recipients, upon completion of the project must:

  1. Allow LACF to use the end-product for purposes of promotion and visibility of LACF and to distribute results of funded projects upon requests from others.  
  2. Provide a summary of the final project upon suitable for posting to the website.
  3. Suitably acknowledge LACF as project sponsors.

Application Platform 

Once you have read these guidelines, click the button below to access the application platform. Create an account or log in, click 'Apply' at the top of the page and select the program or award. 

Contact awards@csla-aapc.ca if you have any questions.

Apply here