LEF RESEARCH GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT - 2025
BACKGROUND
LAI was founded in 1930 by students of Professor Richard T. Ely at Northwestern University: About | Lambda Alpha International and Historical timeline | Lambda Alpha International It has a commitment to education for the next generation of leaders and encourages projects that expand teacher-student interest in planning and economics at all levels: high school, college, university, and institute.
LEF is a not-for-profit foundation created in 1965 to administer a grant-making investment fund on behalf of the members of LAI, the global, multidisciplinary honorary society dedicated to: Connecting professionals. Sharing knowledge. Advancing best practices.
Additional information can be found at: LEF – About | Lambda Alpha International
The Land Economics Foundation (LEF) of Lambda Alpha International (LAI) is seeking grant proposals that advance the field of land economics from qualified individuals, academic programs, non-profit organizations, and LAI chapters.
LEF continues to reach out to numerous Colleges and Universities, nationally and globally, in support of academic research in areas such as urban history, land use law, sustainable development, construction management, architectural design, planning, and market analysis.
LEF further seeks collaboration (and shared funding) with non-profit groups such as the American Real Estate Society (ARES), American Planning Association (APA), Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), Urban Land Institute (ULI), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) Ontario Association of Land Economists (AOLE), Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC), and the LAI Chapters.
TIMELINE
The LEF Board of Trustees meets twice a year to consider and approve grant applications and to review projects and research underway. Proposals are due no later than March 1st and September 1st of each year. However, proposals may be submitted on-line at any time: Application | Lambda Alpha International
Grant status notifications will be sent to the applicant at the end of May and October. Upon approval of the proposed grant, the applicant will be allowed to submit an initial invoice along with the Institution's W-9 tax form or international equivalent.
GRANTEE GUIDELINES
One of the most important criteria when submitting for a grant is an executive summary/ statement regarding how this study will contribute to the advancement of land economics, i.e. How can this study be applied beyond the limits of your study; what are the benefits, etc. We have global membership representation and the ability to reference the outcomes of your study is important.
Grantees are expected to provide final reports or “case study” results and are encouraged to seek publication in peer journals with credit cited for LEF funding and support. Articles summarizing the project or research and grantee presentation are often featured in LAI Keynotes: News | Lambda Alpha International
Grantees are also invited to present their completed projects via webinar to the LAI members – these presentations will be video recorded and posted to the LAI website.
Grant amounts typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, with preference for proposals with matching funding sources and collaborations and to those which include the participation of a local LAI Chapter: Chapters | Lambda Alpha International
Please note that a maximum of 10% of the funded amount may be applied against an institution’s overhead allocation.
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
The LEF Board encourages applicants to view previously funded research LEF-FUNDED-RESEARCH-2006-to-Spring-2025_Updated-Aug-2025.pdf as well as current issues to guide its grant submission. Innovative research on land economic topics or hypotheses which impact policy and improve lives will be encouraged.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/RESOURCES
Feel free to reach out to any LEF Board member Board & Committees | Lambda Alpha International for additional information.
A downloadable copy of this LEF Research Grant Announcement can be found at: LEF – About | Lambda Alpha International Research Priorities menu option
Grant specific application questions can be directed to: Jocelyn Frederick, VP Research for LEF ([email protected])
