On Behalf of the ACI Foundation, Happy New Year!
The ACI Foundation experienced extraordinary change in 2025. The team has been committed to achieving its Strategic Plan goals. Below is a summary of how the ACI Foundation has funded students, research, and innovation for over three decades, thanks to donations and support from the ACI donor community. Within the last decade, donors have expanded their support, and ACI has committed to a generous donation package, which includes full operational support and a substantial increase in mission donations. The ACI Foundation has been able to award significantly more research grants, assist in implementing more innovations, and provide more support for students due to this revised structure and the launching of formal fundraising activities.
The ACI Foundation’s primary donor, ACI, now provides about 60% of the funding for the Foundation’s programs. This generous financial assistance and encouragement to grow have made it possible to enrich and enhance ACI and the concrete construction community. The ACI community—ACI individual members, corporations, ACI Chapters, and other like-minded individuals—has gifted the other 40% of mission funding. The ACI Foundation, its programs, and its impact have grown through contributions from generous donors, both large and small. Areas of growth include:
- The number of student awards for the Fellowship and Scholarship program grew from 20 to 48;
- Research support has increased from less than 100,000 to 500,000 USD annually;
- Attendance at the annual Concrete Innovation Forum has doubled; and
- The number of community donors has tripled, averaging 500,000 USD raised annually.
A cornerstone of the ACI Foundation is the Fellowship and Scholarship program, which supports the next generation of leaders. Past student awardees include Ken Hover, ACI Honorary Member and Past President; Michael Tholen, ACI Senior Managing Director of Technical Operations; Anthony DeCarlo Jr., FACI, and past member of the ACI Board of Direction; Tyler Ley, FACI; Lisa Feldman, FACI; and Christopher Motter—all top researchers in the concrete field. Nearly 70% of Fellowship recipients continue to become active ACI members, and over 90% of awardees have remained in the concrete industry.
The ACI Foundation recently transformed its approach to funding and supporting research and innovation within the concrete industry. This new format aims to:
- Be more proactive and strategic in identifying, prioritizing, and funding critical research and innovation initiatives that help solve industry challenges;
- Increase the potential for collaboration and partnership with ACI committees and industry stakeholders;
- Provide balanced support for both defined and undefined research; and
- Ensure broader industry engagement to identify critical industry needs.
For more information, visit www.acifoundation.org/research/solicitations.aspx.
Thank you to all ACI Foundation dedicated donors, council and committee volunteers, ACI Foundation staff, and the Board of Trustees for the growth achieved in 2025. Here’s to an amazing 2026!
Ann Masek, Executive Director
Call to Action
In 2025, the ACI Foundation worked on:
- Gaining more support for students;
- Raising mission funds;
- Aligning the ACI Foundation councils’ activities to support ACI;
- Changing its approach to identifying, prioritizing, and delivering research and innovation projects; and
- Becoming more visible, gaining partners, and increasing collaboration.
The Foundation hopes to continue this work in 2026 to advance the concrete industry, which would not be possible without donor support.
As a reader of Concrete International, you know that ACI is a technical and educational society dedicated to improving the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of concrete structures. The Institute is one of the world’s largest resources for consensus-based concrete knowledge. As a member of ACI, your annual dues provide access to ACI University webinars and on-demand courses, the Institute’s 200+ practices (including all ACI guides and reports), and symposium volumes, as well as a community of other members enthusiastic about applying their expertise to enable the best use of concrete.
The ACI Foundation’s mission and objectives complement ACI’s, and through its network of donors and volunteers, the Foundation supports ACI by providing/awarding student scholarships, implementing innovation, and funding research. Donations make it possible to achieve these broad outcomes and amplify the work ACI does—all toward building the future of the concrete industry.
Visit www.acifoundation.org to learn more about in-progress research, the ACI Foundation’s new approach to funding research and innovation, and the list of student awards and student awardees.
ACI Foundation Welcomes New Volunteers
The ACI Foundation announced the addition of several new volunteers to its councils and committees. These professionals bring a wealth of experience and commitment to advancing the concrete industry. Their contributions will be vital in guiding the Foundation’s strategic initiatives and programs.
- Jared Brewe, S. K. Ghosh Associates LLC, will serve as Vice Chair of the Concrete Research Council (CRC). The CRC is dedicated to identifying and selecting innovative research projects that address the concrete industry’s most pressing needs, ultimately advancing concrete technology and practice.
- Glenn Schaefer, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), will serve as Vice Chair of the Concrete Innovation Council (CIC). This council accelerates the adoption of new technologies within the concrete industry by connecting innovators with resources and opportunities.
- The Scholarship Council has gained two new members, Savannah Slaton, Baker Construction, and John Myers, Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). The Scholarship Council fosters the next generation of industry leaders by awarding academic scholarships and fellowships to deserving students.
- Lastly, the Development Committee welcomes Sharon Wood, ACI Honorary Member and Past President, and Gustavo Parra-Montesinos, University of Wisconsin–Madison. The Development Committee helps secure the necessary resources to fund the Foundation’s research, scholarships, and innovation initiatives.
The ACI Foundation extends its gratitude to these leaders for their willingness to serve. Their expertise and dedication are essential to the Foundation’s mission to make the world a better place through concrete.
Visit www.acifoundation.org/committees to learn more about the ACI Foundation’s committees and volunteers.