Best Plant Grants

The Australian Flora Foundation offers Small Grants for research projects focusing on the biology and cultivation of Australian plants. Designed for one to two-year projects, grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. Applications are open to researchers in Australia, particularly those addressing conservation and the survival of endangered species. The Foundation prioritizes scientifically sound proposals that align with management plans for rare plants, promoting greater awareness and preservation of Australia’s unique flora.

The Australian Flora Foundation Research Grants, specifically the Malcolm Reed Grants, provide funding for research projects focusing on the biology and cultivation of Australian plants. Established in 1981, these grants support significant projects over 2 to 3 years, with budgets ranging from $20,000 to $60,000, commencing in early 2026. Applicants must be eligible researchers in Australia and projects should address conservation priorities, particularly for rare and endangered species, ensuring outcomes within the grant period.

Undergraduate and graduate students conducting botany, plant ecology, or other plant-focused research within the Northern California Botanists geographic range can receive US $1,500 scholarships to support independent study, thesis, or dissertation projects. Northern California Botanists provides this funding to promote botanical conservation and plant science research that may complement plant-focused conservation and stewardship efforts.

Undergraduate and graduate students conducting independent research in botany, plant ecology, or related plant-focused fields in Shasta, Lassen, Modoc, or Siskiyou counties can apply for this scholarship from the Sacramento-Shasta Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Projects on native flora and botanical conservation in the Shasta Chapter area may be especially competitive.

Undergraduate and graduate students researching botanical conservation in North Carolina can receive up to US $1,000 for projects on native plants and their habitats. The North Carolina Native Plant Society’s Tom and Bruce Shinn Fund supports work such as floristic inventories, endangered species protection, habitat restoration, and pest plant management that advance native plant conservation.

Land conservancies, nonprofit groups, and conservation agencies in North Carolina can apply for the Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund, awarding up to US $3,000 for land purchases and related costs. Funding from North Carolina Native Plant Society supports projects that protect native plant habitats, including surveys, legal fees, and floristic inventories tied to conservation easements.

Organizations and public agencies in North Carolina can seek funding for native plant conservation, habitat restoration, and education projects. Focused on botanical conservation, North Carolina Native Plant Society invites proposals for activities like invasive species control, native and pollinator gardens, and educational materials, with grants up to Up to US $1,000 supporting plant-focused stewardship efforts.

Researchers and educators communicating Antarctic science or advancing botanical conservation in Antarctica can be nominated for the SCAR Medal for Education and Communication. Antarctica-focused plant and ecosystem projects may be eligible when they demonstrate creative, high-impact education or outreach. Nominations must come from others and highlight achievements, impact, and contributions to SCAR’s mission.

Individuals contributing to Antarctic and Southern Ocean research coordination can be nominated for recognition that may benefit plant and botanical conservation work in polar ecosystems. Grants from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research help honor outstanding international cooperation and partnerships, highlighting coordination that advances SCAR’s mission and supports inclusive, impactful scientific collaboration.

Undergraduate students at Texas colleges studying biology, ecology, botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, or related fields can apply for the Dr. Alfred Richardson Scholarship, awarding US $5,000 - US $10,000 annually. Grants from Native Plant Society of Texas help future botanists pursue academic or research careers in Texas native plant study and conservation.

Students and young professionals in botany or plant sciences focusing on botanical conservation can receive fellowship support for collections-based research at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. Missouri Botanical Garden supports plant systematics, biogeography, ecology, and conservation training, offering travel, lodging, stipends, and research resources to Latin American scientists studying Neotropical aroid genera.

Students and young professionals in botany or plant sciences from Latin America can receive fully funded research and training fellowships at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. Latin American botanical conservation and plant science practitioners can access funding through Missouri Botanical Garden to cover travel, lodging, living expenses, health insurance, and visa costs for three weeks to three months of study.

Students and researchers affiliated with Ohio colleges, schools, park districts, or 501(c)(3) conservation nonprofits can seek funding for plant, fungi, and habitat research in Ohio, with awards up to US $5,000. With a mission to preserve Ohio’s natural heritage, Ohio Department of Natural Resources supports botanical conservation and related ecological studies that inform management and protection of natural areas.

Nonprofits and South Central Chapter members in Indiana can receive US $50 - US $250 for native plant demonstration gardens, pollinator habitats, rain gardens, or similar community projects. With a mission to champion biodiversity, Indiana Native Plant Society supports botanical conservation and education-focused projects that use only Indiana-native plants within the chapter’s service counties.

Nonprofit community groups in Central Indiana can receive up to US $300 for botanical conservation and native plant projects that promote the study, use, and protection of Indiana’s native flora. Focused on native plant conservation, Indiana Native Plant Society invites community gardens, schools, churches, scout groups, and neighborhood associations to apply.

Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose primary mission is preserving the natural environment can seek project funding for collaborative conservation initiatives, including botanical and habitat work. With a mission to protect healthy lands, waters, and wildlife, the Environmental Fund of Texas provides up to US $25,000 for Tier 3 projects that restore natural areas, safeguard water resources, and engage classrooms in on-the-ground conservation.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and public schools in Texas preserving natural environments can apply for $2,501 - $12,000 to support habitat, water, and native wildlife projects with strong plant conservation components. Grants from The Environmental Fund of Texas help botanical conservation efforts, including native vegetation restoration, pocket prairies, and public engagement with nature-focused stewardship.

Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on preserving the natural environment can receive up to US $2,500 for grassroots conservation projects and native plant initiatives. The Environmental Fund of Texas provides support for efforts like on-campus native gardens, habitat restoration, and protecting water, natural areas, and at-risk native wildlife that engage local communities in environmental action.

Public, private, and charter K–12 schools in the Oklahoma City metro area can apply for Oklahoma City Zoo’s OKC Living Classroom grants, offering up to US $1,500 for on-campus monarch and pollinator gardens. Funding supports native plant-based outdoor classrooms that enhance botanical conservation and environmental education through long-term habitat projects.

Journalists and newsroom teams worldwide covering botanical conservation and tropical forest issues in regions like the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia can receive US $8,000 - US $15,000 to support in-depth reporting projects. Pulitzer Center provides funding for travel, local partners, and related reporting costs on underreported rainforest stories, including illegal wildlife trade and harmful extraction industries.

The Philip Keenan Award, presented by the American Orchid Society, honors individuals dedicated to studying or preserving native orchids in North America. This prestigious award acknowledges past accomplishments in these fields, promoting broader appreciation for orchids and supporting ongoing conservation efforts. Applicants can include students, amateurs, or professionals who demonstrate commitment and passion for orchid research and preservation, contributing to the sustainability of these beautiful plants.

Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund)

TREE Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to support scientific discovery and dissemination of new knowledge and best practices in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry.

TREE Fund’s research and education programs shape industry best practices, improve workforce safety and contribute to the long-term sustainability of our communities in the following crucial ways:

• Improving the quality of nursery grown trees and overall tree survival through the development of hardier, drought- and disease-resistant species.
• Stopping diseases and pests while reducing pesticide use with the evolution of integrated pest management programs.
• Enhancing public and workforce safety with advanced tree risk assessment techniques and greater knowledge about why and how trees fail.
• Quantifying the benefits of trees which makes it easier for governments and businesses to project their return on tree care investment.
• Revolutionizing global best practices for growing strong, healthy landscape trees.
• Connecting youth with nature to promote environmental stewardship in the next generation and inspire them to consider careers in green industries.

Lucas Tree Experts Integrated Vegetation Management Endowed Research Fund

Since 1926, John Lucas Tree Expert Co. has worked with investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, railroads, and pipeline customers throughout the United States and Canada. Innovation has always been a core value, and Lucas remains committed to innovation that makes the industry safer, greener, and more efficient. The Lucas Tree Experts Integrated Vegetation Management Endowed Research Fund is a new endowment fund of Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund created to support research in Integrated Vegetation Management in the United States and Canada.

This fund program was created in 2026 to help celebrate Lucas Tree’s 100th anniversary. Lucas Tree’s anniversary marks a century of innovation, safety, and stewardship in utility vegetation management.

Projects are expected to be completed within one to three years. No project may receive more than one award from this program.

Application Requirements can be found here.

The Bureau of Land Management's Plant Conservation and Restoration Program (PCRP) aims to enhance the native seed supply chain, crucial for restoring resilient public lands. By collaborating with various partners, PCRP seeks to improve rangeland health, restore wildlife habitats, and create job opportunities. In 2026, the focus will be on local seed collections, supporting farmers entering the native seed market, and developing innovative technologies to ensure effective restoration outcomes and ecological resilience.

New Mexico Department of Agriculture

NMDA is a producer-consumer service and regulatory department responsible for various statutes legislated since its inception. NMDA’s mandate has changed over the years in response to changes in population, the needs of agribusiness, and technological advancements. NMDA remains committed to serving its constituents by periodically reviewing statutes and fee structures, as well as offering compliance assistance and education in an effort to maintain a safe and secure food supply, promote a fair marketplace, and secure our natural resources.

Healthy Soil Program

Grants to improve soil health are the centerpiece of NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program. Every year, NMDA awards grants to implement on-the-ground projects that involve one or more of the five soil health principles. The soil health principles are stated as follows in the Healthy Soil Act, which created the program:

keeping soil covered

minimizing soil disturbance on cropland and minimizing external inputs

maximizing biodiversity

maintaining a living root

integrating animals into land management, including grazing animals, birds, beneficial insects or keystone species, such as earthworms

NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program background

NMDA created its Healthy Soil Program after the Healthy Soil Act was signed into law in 2019. The purpose of the program is “to promote and support farming and ranching systems and other forms of land management that increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability, microbiology and water retention to improve the health, yield and profitability of the soils of the state.”

Background

The San Diego River Conservancy (“Conservancy”) is a state agency, established in 2002, to work within the San Diego River watershed to implement multi-benefit projects that protect and enhance the San Diego River and its connected resources (Public Resources Code, Division 22.9). The San Diego River Conservancy Act authorizes the Conservancy to undertake projects and award grants to achieve the goals set forth in Division 22.9.

The Conservancy works along the entire length of the San Diego River, from its mouth in the City of San Diego at Ocean Beach to its headwaters in the mountains near Julian. The Conservancy’s jurisdiction also includes all of the contributing area to the San Diego River watershed including streams and tributaries, an estuary, wetlands, reservoirs, uplands, meadows and forests.

The Conservancy’s Grant Program seeks to support multi-benefit projects that advance a number of goals, including but not limited to:

• Conserving land
• Protecting resources
• Reducing flood and fire risk
• Improving water quality
• Protecting and enhancing wildlife habitats and corridors
• Completing the San Diego River Trail
• Providing public access for the enjoyment of the San Diego River Park and open space, trails, campgrounds and park facilities
• Removing invasive plant species from the watershed
• Increasing native habitat and promoting the re-establishment of native species
• Promoting cultural and tribal preservation, and historical interpretation of the San Diego River and its people

New Mexico Department of Agriculture

NMDA is a producer-consumer service and regulatory department responsible for various statutes legislated since its inception. NMDA’s mandate has changed over the years in response to changes in population, the needs of agribusiness, and technological advancements. NMDA remains committed to serving its constituents by periodically reviewing statutes and fee structures, as well as offering compliance assistance and education in an effort to maintain a safe and secure food supply, promote a fair marketplace, and secure our natural resources.

Noxious Weed Management Grant

Purpose

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) will award competitive grants to eligible applicants for projects that improve the state’s economy and environment by managing noxious weeds in New Mexico. The grants are funded through New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund to achieve the purposes of the New Mexico Noxious Weed Management Act. 

Grant funds will be awarded for the following activities, but must include activities in at least one of the first three bullets bolded below to be considered for funding:

• Surveying & Mapping
• Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR)
• Integrated Weed Management (On-the-Ground-Treatments)
• Education/Outreach
• Planning, Capacity Development, & Partnership Building

Arizona Department of Agriculture

The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) protects consumer safety, facilitates commerce, promotes equity in the Arizona marketplace, and safeguards market access both domestically and internationally through a variety of inspection, licensing, and certification programs involving plants, livestock, meat, dairy, vegetables, citrus, fruit, eggs, feed, fertilizer, seed, agricultural and non-agricultural pesticides, packaged consumer goods, retail pricing, and commercial weighing and measuring devices. AZDA protects and guards against the risks associated with the entry and spread of plant and livestock pests and diseases. AZDA protects environmental resiliency through education and training programs to assure safe pesticide use and on-farm food safety, and assists in attaining air quality standards. AZDA maintains a state lab for testing agricultural samples and a lab for ensuring the accuracy of weights and measurement tools. AZDA provides non-regulatory assistance to members of the agricultural community and administers agricultural grant programs.

Section 6 - Segment 32 Grant Program

Program Background

The Section 6 Grant Program is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 2 which is established under the authority of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, 16 U.S.C. § 1535. This program supports the development and implementation of State programs to conserve and recover threatened and endangered species under USFWS jurisdiction.

Because many listed species spend at least part of their life cycle on non-Federal lands, USFWS recognizes that conservation success depends heavily on working cooperatively with States. In Arizona, the AZDA collaborates with the USFWS to manage and allocate Section 6 funding specifically for rare plants.

Eligible projects consist of habitat restoration/enhancement, surveys and inventories, plant propagation, genetic research (population health and structure), and monitoring/demography studies.

Matching Requirement: Applicants are required to provide matching funds in the form of cash or in-kind contribution of no less than 40%.