Rendering from Max Wong's winning research proposal to the SOM Foundation. Image © Max Wong
The SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) Foundation exemplifies what is known as a corporate foundation Awarding fewer but bigger prizes meant that more money could be shifted into direct action, Abadan explains, adding that the decision “elevated” the SOM Foundation’s work over other travel fellowships being established at the time. The award allows recipients to “delve more deeply into a subject and gives our program a public face.”