The American Institute of Floral Designers Foundation, Inc. was established in 1979 as an independent, non-profit, 501c3 organization, that is an umbrella organization for numerous endowed and established funds, with a Board of Trustees to govern. The endowed funds provide scholarships to floral design students and aspiring floral designers. Education that impacts the future success of floral design is supported through grants from the AIFD Foundation. Funds established within the AIFD Foundation may honor those who have contributed to the floral industry, be a collective gathering from a state or region, or established to address a specific need within the industry. For an established fund to be endowed, the amount of the fund must reach a threshold of giving within five years from the time the fund is established. Once the threshold is reached and the fund is endowed, the interest and dividends are awarded, according to the purpose of the fund. The corpus, which is made up of the total donations, remains in perpetuity, ensuring that those honored will forever be remembered.
AIFD® Members Joined Together to Achieve these Accomplishments.
By definition, purpose is the reason something exists.
Purpose can guide life decisions, influence behavior, shape goals,
offer a sense of direction and create meaning.
May we continue to work together, with purpose, to expand possibilities.
- The purpose of our existence experienced expanded relevance offering a number of educational opportunities to both the professional floral designer and the student of floral design. Up to $25,644 was awarded in Grants and Scholarships in 2021 and up to $15,015 was designated to be held in Trust for Scholarships in 2022 from the endowed funds of the AIFD Foundation and designated funding from industry and individuals.
- Despite this unprecedented time, investments held strong. The Investment Advisory Committee continues to be a committee of strength with established policies in response to catastrophic events.
- Housed on the AIFD Foundation website, PERSPECTIVES was established to archive the work of distinguished designers and to provide a Catalogue of Virtual Learning. “Just Make it Pretty” First Place winner Rene van Rems AIFD brought PERSPECTIVE ONE. Educator Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD presented PERSPECTIVE TWO on the secondary design principle Tension.
- BloomNet funded the first Corporate Fund in the AIFD Foundation providing flo-ral design education through AIFD® Premium Registrations to attend AIFD® Symposium. This endowment will be announced to the industry later this year, with scholarships in 2022.
- The AIFD® South Central Chapter led the Frankie Shelton AIFD Fund to endowment with donations from numerous friends, with proceeds from original art contributed in support by Tony Huffman AIFD, Ralph Null AIFD and Frankie Shelton AIFD and a most generous donation from Allied Florists of Houston. The AIFD Foundation expresses appreciation to AIFD® South Central Chapter President Nicola Parker AIFD and AIFD® South Central Chapter Board for this achievement.
- The AIFD® South West Chapter “Rocked That Tree” in November bringing the Fund close to endowment. The Chapter reached their goal in June 2021 making this the sixth AIFD® Region to endow an AIFD® Chapter Fund. The AIFD Foundation expresses appreciation to each donor and congratulates President Susan Bean AIFD and AIFD® South West Chapter on a job well done!
- The idea of project related fundraising brought design contests center stage to provide new opportunities for creative expression and fund development. Charlie Groppetti AIFD introduced “Just Make It Pretty” to benefit the Matt Wood AIFD Fund. Recently, opportunities to add to the Phil Rulloda AIFD Scholarship Fund with Neotropica and Tropical Nouveau entries, in support of PHILosophy, was led by AIFD Foundation Ambassador Ken Senter AIFD.
- The Marie Ackerman AIFD Fund was established with an initial contribution from the AIFD® South Central Chapter in recognition of their former Chapter President. A former AIFD Foundation Trustee, Marie was instrumental at a time when fundraising efforts leaped forward and strengthened the AIFD Foundation with the campaign “March to a Million.” Her lifelong commitment to education will forever be recognized with the endowment of this fund.
- Arkansas Florists Association established a named fund to honor Bill Plummer AIFD. He served as Secretary-Treasurer from 1966 until December 2020, expanding the duties of this office far beyond the definition. He dedicated his life to those who spend their days celebrating life’s moments through the art of floral design.
- AIFD® Southern Chapter launched “Phoenix Rising”, A Virtual Floral Art Exhibition staged July 18–24, 2021, in celebration of a life well lived and to endow the Da-vid Shover AIFD Fund. We look forward to this event with great anticipation!
- The AIFD Foundation has long provided opportunities to add to “A Lifetime of Learning.” The AIFD Foundation Catastrophic Fund established “A Cornerstone of Care” to assist those experiencing property damage due to catastrophic events. Providing hope for those in need, FTD contributed $10,000 in 2020–2021 to this fund, making this the largest single donation received by this fund. We are most grateful to FTD for their continued support.
AIFD Foundation Mission Statement
“To provide financial support for educational purposes, scholarships, projects and programs that facilitate the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of floral design and related fields.”
