Model and Mission
Our mission is to research, build, and advocate for architecture that promotes justice and human dignity.
MASS (Model of Architecture Serving Society) Design Group was founded on the understanding that architecture’s influence reaches beyond individual buildings. We believe that architecture has a critical role to play in supporting communities to confront history, shape new narratives, collectively heal and project new possibilities for the future.
Catalyst Fund
Unrestricted philanthropic income allows us to deploy design expertise wherever it’s needed most.
Access to architecture has been restricted only to those who can afford it, producing disparities in our built environment that perpetuate social and ecological injustices globally. We established the Catalyst Fund to increase access to architecture that prioritizes justice, improves planetary and human health, and advances beauty and dignity in our world. The Catalyst Fund is a base of unrestricted philanthropic capital we invest to effectively “catalyze” a project’s path to completion.
Catalyst allocations function as seed funding for the creative capital, project management, engagement strategy, and direct design services that are necessary to help kick off transformative ideas. Since establishing the Fund in 2015, we have donated over $8MM in Catalyst grants to lower the barrier to access design services. These grants—on average $45,000 per project—produce work that has helped to unlock $80MM in additional investment from private developers and foundations. Catalyst Fund allocations are determined through an internal proposal process that is reviewed by our 15 Principals and Senior Directors, as well as our Board of Directors.
