Examples of Successful Grant Funding

Learn how arboreta have utilized grant funding to advance their goals and meet requirements for ArbNet accreditation.

Learn about three successful grant applications from public gardens in the American Public Garden Association’s presentation Successful IMLS Grants: A Tale of Three Gardens.

Community Science Grants

Earthwatch—Support for Field-Based Research Projects: Grant funding to support scientific field projects that actively involve citizen-scientist participants in ecological restoration, global conservation priorities, and forestry

Collections and Horticulture Grants

American Public Gardens Association and U.S. Forest Service Tree Gene Conservation Partnership: Funding to support collecting seed from U.S. threatened tree species to then hold in living collections 

National Trust for Historic Preservation: Provides funding for preservation projects 

Scientific Exploration Society—Judith Heath Explorer Award for Botany and Research: Applicant carries out an expedition that focuses on the scientific study of plants 

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust: The trust supports education and research in ornamental horticulture, and grants are typically made to botanical gardens, arboreta, and universities

Conservation Grants

Botanic Gardens Conservation International/ArbNet Partnership Programme: Funding opportunity to support the development of international collaborations between gardens/arboreta to advance tree conservation efforts

Botanic Gardens Conservation International Global Botanic Garden Fund: A new fund aimed at driving plant conservation in botanic gardens

Ernest Kleinworth Charitable Trust: Grants to support charities working in the area of environmental conservation in the UK

European Outdoor Conservation Association—Funding for Conservation Projects: Supports field-based projects that protect a threatened species or habitat 

Foundation Segré—Wildlife Conservation: Supports projects that focus on the conservation of a threatened species or habitat, and the restoration of ecosystems 

Lawrence Foundation: Makes grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations for projects in the environment and other themes. No restriction on the geographical area where grant activities can take place. 

Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas: Promotes environmental causes throughout the Americas by supporting projects in biodiversity conservation, environmental education, etc.

Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund: Grants in support of endangered and critically endangered species

National Geographic Society—Species Recovery: Supports projects that support conservation actions for halting biodiversity decline 

Pacific Development and Conservation Trust—Community Projects in the Pacific Islands: Grants for conservation, cultural heritage, development, and goodwill

Patagonia International Grants: Supports organizations involved in environmental protection 

Peoples Trust for Endangered Species—Conservation Insight Grants: Grants for researchers/conservationists worldwide that help preserve endangered species, either through research or applied field work 

Rainforest Action Network: Makes small grants to protect forests, promote local self-sufficiency, and strengthen the rights and livelihoods of forest communities 

Rainforest Trust—Rapid Protected-Area Feasibility Awards: Funding for local conservation NGOs in the tropics, intended for the evaluation of potential sites for new protected areas 

Rufford Foundation—Grants for Nature Conservation: Funds nature conservation projects across the developing world  

The Prince Bernhard Nature Fund: Supports small, local initiatives worldwide towards the conservation of endangered species (flora and fauna)

Waterloo Foundation—Environment Fund: Supports projects to manage and conserve tropical rainforests 

Weeden Foundation—Conservation in Chile and Russia: Funds biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems that are of ecological importance. Weeden’s international priorities are the Patagonia region of Chile and the Altai Republic of Russia.

World Land Trust—Land Purchase for Conservation: Provides funding for the acquisition of land that has conservation importance and funds additional activities related to protection, habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring, etc. 

World Wildlife Fund in India: Grants for conservation research

Grants by Region

Africa

Friends of Sierra Leone: Supports non-governmental organizations providing services that benefit the people of Sierra Leone

Izele—Small Grants for Biodiversity Conservation: Grants offered for Eswatini, Mozambique, or South Africa based organizations contributing to the conservation of biodiversity 

World Wildlife Fund—Reforestation Grants: Grants are made to local organizations that focus on connecting corridors, improving degraded lands, expanding forest cover, etc. 

Asia

The Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation: Provides grants for field demonstration projects which showcase best practices in forest rehabilitation and management in member countries 

BIOPAMA—Rapid Response Grants: Provides grants to increase the resilience of protected areas facing the risks of COVID-19

Nagao Natural Environment Foundation: Support for young scientists from Asia-Pacific 

Patagonia International Grants: Supports organizations involved in environmental protection 

Rainforest Trust—Rapid Protected-Area Feasibility Awards: Funding for local conservation NGOs in the tropics, intended for the evaluation of potential sites for new protected areas 

Trust for Mutual Understanding: Grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. for environmental projects in collaboration with partners in Europe, the Baltic States, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Russia

World Wildlife Fund in India: Grants for conservation research

World Wildlife Fund—Reforestation Grants: Grants are made to local organizations that focus on connecting corridors, improving degraded lands, expanding forest cover, etc. 

Australia

Patagonia International Grants: Supports organizations involved in environmental protection 

Canada

International Conservation Fund of Canada—Partnerships in Tropical Conservation: Works to conserve nature in tropics, inviting proposals for conservation projects 

Patagonia International Grants: Supports organizations involved in environmental protection 

Europe

Ernest Kleinworth Charitable Trust: Grants to support charities working in the area of environmental conservation in the UK

Patagonia International Grants: Supports organizations involved in environmental protection 

Trust for Mutual Understanding: Grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. for environmental projects in collaboration with partners in Europe, the Baltic States, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Russia

Weeden Foundation—Conservation in Chile and Russia: Funds biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems that are of ecological importance. Weeden’s international priorities are the Patagonia region of Chile and the Altai Republic of Russia.

Latin America

Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas: Promotes environmental causes throughout the Americas by supporting projects in biodiversity conservation, environmental education, etc.

Patagonia International Grants: Supports organizations involved in environmental protection 

Weeden Foundation—Conservation in Chile and Russia: Funds biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems that are of ecological importance. Weeden’s international priorities are the Patagonia region of Chile and the Altai Republic of Russia.

World Wildlife Fund—Reforestation Grants: Grants are made to local organizations that focus on connecting corridors, improving degraded lands, expanding forest cover, etc. 

Oceania

Pacific Development and Conservation Trust—Community Projects in the Pacific Islands: Grants for conservation, cultural heritage, development, and goodwill

United States

Arbor Day Foundation Reforestation: Forest restoration projects

Grants.gov: Learning center to find and apply for federal grants

Institute of Museum and Library Services Grants: Several grants are offered 

Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas: Promotes environmental causes throughout the Americas by supporting projects in biodiversity conservation, environmental education, etc.

National Environmental Education Foundation: Fund organizations to help engage their local communities in improving the environment

National Recreation and Park Association: Grants and partners to fund local park programs that promote conservation, health and wellness, and social equity

National Science Foundation: Index search of various NSF programs offering funding opportunities

National Trust for Historic Preservation (Eligibility: USA): Provides funding for preservation projects

The Home Depot Community Impact Grants Program: Registered nonprofits can receive up to $5,000 to improve their communities 

Trust for Mutual Understanding: Grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. for environmental projects in collaboration with partners in Europe, the Baltic States, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Russia

Partnership Grants

American Public Gardens Association and U.S. Forest Service Tree Gene Conservation Partnership: Funding to support collecting seed from U.S. threatened tree species to then hold in living collections 

Botanic Gardens Conservation International/ArbNet Partnership Programme: Funding opportunity to support the development of international collaborations between gardens/arboreta to advance tree conservation efforts

International Conservation Fund of Canada—Partnerships in Tropical Conservation: Works to conserve nature in tropics, inviting proposals for conservation projects 

Trust for Mutual Understanding: Grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. for environmental projects in collaboration with partners in Europe, the Baltic States, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Russia

World Land Trust—Land Purchase for Conservation: Provides funding for the acquisition of land that has conservation importance and funds additional activities related to protection, habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring, etc. 

Tree Planting and Tree Care Grants

Arbor Day Foundation Reforestation: Forest restoration projects

Green Earth Appeal: Provides funding for tree planting projects across the developing world

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation: Grant program where the harvest serves the community. Recipients are schools, parks, community gardens, and similar nonprofits.

Tree Fund Grants: Several different funding opportunities are available through this fund that support scientific discovery and the dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture (the science of cultivating and managing trees in a landscape) and urban forestry

Miscellaneous Grants

British Ecological Society Research Grants: Supports scientific ecological research where there are limited sources of funding 

Google Ad Grants for Nonprofit Organizations: Provides $10,000 USD of in-kind advertising every month from AdWords, an online advertising solution from Google

International Oak Society: Oak conservation and research grants

Magnolia Society International: Research funding program to promote research to expand the knowledge base of the members of the genus Magnolia

Tips to Apply for a Grant

Grant funding is competitive. Many agencies provide tips on completing applications. Be sure to read those when applying. The general tips below will help you write a successful grant. 

General Tips

• Read the entire grant application guide and follow instructions carefully. 
• Application requirements vary across programs and industries, so look closely at the notice of funding opportunity for each specific grant program to ensure that you are addressing all the requirements and criteria for the grant program in question. 
• Pay close attention to the scoring criteria and address each of those criteria to the best of your ability.
• Be sure to include any additional forms or attachments that are required. 
• Pay attention to deadlines—these are usually inflexible, and if you submit your application past the deadline date, it will not be considered.
• When writing your proposal, be clear and concise, establish your major points, and avoid unnecessary complexity. These points are the primary items on which the application will be evaluated. 
• If provided, use the samples and checklists included in the application. 
• Separate fact from opinion.

Sections of a Grant Application

Grant applications are typically composed of several sections, as outlined below. Know what information you need to include for each section.

Project Introduction

This section is similar to an abstract. The Project Introduction is often written after most, if not all, of the proposal is completed. 

The Project Introduction should clearly explain what you are using funds for, and should be written in a way so that any reader can understand quickly and clearly what the project will deliver.

Project Justification

In this section, define and explain the problem that your project will attempt to address.

Some questions to answer:

• Why is it critical to address the problem now?
• What plans, studies, and data are available to identify or quantify the need?
• How will the defined population be impacted or different when the project is completed?
• What documented proof/evidence is available to support the need for your project?
• Who will your project serve?
• Are there any special circumstances to consider about your defined area/population?
• What are your organization’s needs?

Project Objectives 

The objectives of your project should mirror what you are using the grant funds for in your project. 

Note, there is a difference between goals and objectives. Goals are not measurable, whereas objectives are measurable. Objectives are performance-related, so make sure your project objectives are realistic. The objectives will become the criteria by which your project is evaluated if you are selected for funding. 

Project Timeline or Schedule

The Project Timeline or Schedule should be detailed and clear enough that it can give the reviewer a general understanding of what the project involves.

In this section, you should discuss:

• How the project will be managed by your organization
• How project services will be delivered
• Who will be in charge

Be sure to include: 

• The planned start date
• Activity
• Responsible party
• Completion date
• Milestones
• Deliverables and products

You should only cover those steps and tasks that will be supported by grant funding. 

Project Budget

• Costs and project elements must be well-defined. Explain what costs are associated with each element and what portion of the costs will be covered by each of the funding sources.
• Check the application directions or ask the grant coordinator to determine how the budget should be organized (usually in columnar form according to general accounting principles).
• Include all costs associated with capital and non-capital expenditures, and all assumed in-kind services, volunteer efforts, and indirect costs. 
• Only include items covered by the grant funds. Do not include a miscellaneous or contingency category.
• Don’t forget that this project will take place in the future, so budget numbers should account for inflation at the time of expenditure.
• Like the project timeline, the project budget should provide enough detail that the reviewer can gain a general understanding of what the project entails. 

Assemble a Grant Writing Team

This usually consists of:

• Senior-level management (who must support and sign grant applications)
• The project manager (who is the primary source of project-related information)
• A grant writer
• An editor (otherwise unaffiliated with the project so that they can provide an independent assessment of how well the application presents the required information) 
• Finance expert(s) (to help develop a good budget)

Contact ArbNet

For questions, or to contribute a resource, please contact ArbNet staff at arbnet@mortonarb.org.