ArbNet 5th Anniversary Capacity Building Grant

April, 2016

ArbNet was founded on Arbor Day, 2011 as an interactive community of arboreta and a global network of tree-focused professionals. ArbNet facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience and other resources to help arboreta meet their institutional goals and works to raise professional standards through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program. In celebration of its 5^th anniversary on Arbor Day 2016, ArbNet is opening a call for its 5^th Anniversary Capacity Building Grant. The purpose of the grant is to support an ArbNet accredited arboretum in advancing its professional capacity in any of the four core areas of arboretum operations:

1. Arboretum Management
2. Education and Public Engagement
3. Tree Collections
4. Tree Science and Conservation

Grant applications up to $1,000 will be considered. The funds may go to support any capacity building activities in the four core areas, but cannot be used to support endowments, overhead expenses, or indirect costs. Projects must be specifically focused on trees. Examples of supported activities include: collecting trips for germplasm of threatened or native tree species, specimen labels, designing a walking map of the arboretum, development of tree-focused educational curriculum, or contracting of specialist arborist services. One application per accredited arboretum will be accepted. Awarded funds must be spent within one year of receipt of the grant monies, and a summary report on the success and outcomes of the grant must be submitted to ArbNet within three months of either 1) the completion of the project or 2) one year from receipt of the grant monies, whichever is sooner. Grant awardees will also provide a short story for the News & Events section of the ArbNet website summarizing the goals and outcomes of the project. Applications will be reviewed by ArbNet staff and a consulting panel of experts in each of the four core areas of arboretum operations.

Important dates:

• Arbor Day (April 29^th), 2016: Call for applications officially opens
• September 1^st, 2016: Grant application deadline and deadline for applications to the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program in order to be considered for the grant
• November 1^st, 2016: Notification of Capacity Building Grant decisions and decision for arboretum accreditation applications submitted by September 30^th.
• November 15^th, 2016: Grant monies distributed
• November 15^th, 2017: Deadline for completion of the capacity building grant project and spending of award money
• February 15^th, 2018: Deadline for summary report and News & Events story to ArbNet.

Application Guidelines:

Only ArbNet accredited arboreta are eligible to apply for the 5^th Anniversary Capacity Building Grant. Arboreta may apply to become accredited at the same time that they submit the Capacity Building Grant proposal (by Sept 1^st, 2016). For more information on the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program, visit: http://www.arbnet.org/accreditation

The Capacity Building Grant proposal must be written in English and submitted electronically as a MS Word or PDF document to arbnet@mortonarb.org by 11:59PM Central Time on September 1^st, 2016. A complete proposal will contain the following elements:

1. Cover sheet containing:
   
   1. Name, address, and website (if applicable) of the ArbNet accredited arboretum
   2. Name, title, email, and phone number of the President/CEO/Director of the organization
   3. Name, title, email, and phone number of the primary contact person applying for the grant
   4. Title of the proposed project
2. Organization (max 250 words). A brief description of the arboretum, its history, background, mission, collection, programs, and facilities. This information may be used for press releases and other media content related to the grant on the ArbNet website.
3. Project (max 500 words). A brief description of the capacity building project being proposed. Projects must be specifically focused on trees. Provide a clear explanation of how the project will support the mission and advance the goals of the host arboretum and an explanation of how the project supports the goals and mission of ArbNet. Preference will be given to proposals that involve collaboration with other arboreta (accredited or unaccredited).
4. Objectives (max 250 words). Provide clear and measureable goals of the project. What are the expected tangible outputs and products of the project? How will the success of the project be quantified? How will the results of project impact the wider arboretum community? Preference will be given to proposals for which the objectives and outcomes will be applicable to the wider arboretum community, either by providing a model for other arboreta to adopt, or for creating tangible resources and products that can be shared through the ArbNet network.
5. Work plan (max 500 words). Describe the specific activities that will be undertaken to achieve the objectives of the project. Include a timeline of significant events and activities.
6. Reporting (max 200 words). Describe how the results of the project will be reported to arboretum staff, board of directors, visitors, the general public, and the ArbNet community.
7. Budget (max 250 words). Describe in detail the resources needed (staff time, training, materials, consumables, transport or travel costs, facilities, equipment, printing, events, etc.) to conduct the activities proposed. A detailed, itemized budget in US dollars is required. Preference will be given to grant proposals that show matching or in-kind funds from the host arboretum, its donors, or other funding bodies. List any other sources of funding being sought or already obtained.

Contact:  For more information on ArbNet, please visit www.arbnet.org. For questions relating to the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program or the ArbNet 5^th Anniversary Capacity Building Grant, please contact Sue Paist, ArbNet Coordinator, at arbnet@mortonarb.org or by telephone on (630)310-7013