The Healthy Futures Fund: Expanding Access to Material Health Education

Materials shape the air we breathe, the spaces we inhabit, and the systems we build. When people understand what’s in the products around them, they can make informed choices that help protect their health and the health of their communities. For architects, designers, builders, and planners, this responsibility only grows because their decisions influence what entire neighborhoods, schools, and families live with every day.

For more than a decade, we’ve worked to democratize this knowledge through open-access research, free tools, public programming, and global partnerships. But as a nonprofit, we also know the realities: creating and sustaining high-quality education requires resources. Tuition supports our research and operations, yet it can become a barrier for many who want and need this knowledge.

We’re taking an important step toward removing that barrier.

The Healthy Futures Fund is a new initiative created to broaden access to material health education. This fund supports students and emerging designers especially those who might otherwise be left out due to cost.

The vision is simple: Everyone deserves the knowledge to design healthier environments. Everyone should have the opportunity to understand what materials are made of, how they impact human and ecological health, and how better choices can support climate resilience and social justice.

By supporting the Healthy Futures Fund, donors help:

• Reduce financial barriers to our certification programs and online courses
• Expand scholarships starting with existing Parsons students and grads to support their education
• Equip emerging leaders with the tools to advocate for healthier materials in their communities
• Strengthen an educational ecosystem that prioritizes people and planet

This initiative is an investment in the future of the built environment, one where healthier, climate-aligned, and justice-centered design is not the exception, but the standard.

When more people understand material health, more people can challenge harmful systems, demand transparency, and make design decisions that protect human well-being. Equitable access to this knowledge is essential for building a future where healthier materials are not a privilege, but a shared expectation.

We believe that architects and designers should have the opportunity to gain this expertise, regardless of their financial circumstances.

You can contribute directly using our online giving portal. To designate your gift for the Healthy Futures Fund, simply type “Healthy Futures Fund” in the “This gift is in honor or memory of” field.

Every contribution, no matter the size, expands access for learners who want to design healthier communities but face financial barriers.

Healthy Materials Lab has always been guided by a commitment to equity and education. The Healthy Futures Fund carries that mission forward. It ensures that the next generation of designers and changemakers can learn, question, innovate, and build a healthier future for all of us.

Your support helps us continue this work and helps open doors for those who need it most.

Together, we can democratize material health education.