Grant Opportunities

Selected Tree Planting Grants

Established in 1989, Trees Forever has earned national recognition for its exceptional grant programs, supporting tree planting, community forestry, water quality projects, and visionary transportation improvements in eligible regions. With 8 grants available, recipients have the opportunity to receive awards of up to $5,000, fostering a greener and more sustainable future for our communities

Check Treesforever for more details.

TreePlanters Grants are awarded to people, groups, or organizations in the Chicago region that can bring together and coordinate their neighbors to plant 10-40 trees in predetermined locations in their neighborhood.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Plantings occur in the spring (April-May) and fall (September-early November) of each year. Please apply here.

Check Open Lands website for more information.

Funding for projects to improve forest health resulting from emerald ash borer damage or prevention is available for local units of government in Illinois, including municipalities, townships, county governments, tribal governments, forest preserves, conservation districts, and park districts. Funding is provided by the Urban and Community Forestry program of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Grant awards are available for a minimum of $3,000 and a maximum of $30,000. For all communities, a 1:1 match is required.

Deadline: Monday, November 13, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

For more information, visit chicagorti.org

Selected Native Garden and Pollinator Grants

Youth Garden Grant

Any organization in the United States or US Territories planning a new or improving an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply.

In early 2024, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

Deadline: Friday, December 15, 2023

For more information click here!

Prairie Garden Grants Program
Gardening and other conservation groups, parks, schools, and other entities in Missouri and surrounding states are invited to submit proposals to MPF’s Prairie Garden Grants Program.

Deadline is January 15, 2024

Apply Here

The Central Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society offers grant funds of up to $1000 to individuals or groups for support of projects that promote the conservation of Illinois native plants and natural communities in the central Illinois region. Examples of past projects include demonstration prairies, tree reforestation, invasive plant removal, butterfly gardens, rain gardens, and educational events.

Applications are accepted and reviewed on an on-going basis.

The Lawns to Legumes pilot program offers a combination of workshops, coaching, planting guides and cost-share funding (individual support grants) for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential Minnesotan lawns. The program also includes demonstration neighborhoods, which are pollinator programs run by local governments and nonprofit organizations with support from BWSR, and a public education campaign to raise awareness about creating pollinator habitats.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Apply here.

Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Action Grant for Illinois schools to use native Illinois plants in their wildlife habitat area. Projects must emphasize student/youth involvement with planning, development, and maintenance and increase the educational and wildlife habitat values of the site. Teachers, nature-center personnel, and adults who are youth-group leaders (grades prekindergarten through 12) in Illinois may apply.

Application Deadline: November 30, 2023

Click here for more information

TD Green Space Grants support green infrastructure development, tree planting, forestry stewardship, and community green space expansion as a way to advance environmental and economic benefits toward a low-carbon economy.

Application submissions have closed, please check back for details on their 2024 application deadline.

ComEd Green Region Grant

Recognizing that open space in our communities is crucial to the quality of our lives, ComEd and Openlands have committed to supporting non-profit organizations, schools, school districts, housing authorities, townships, counties, park districts, conservation districts, forest preserve districts, and municipalities-including municipal entities such as water reclamation districts- in northern Illinois with their ongoing efforts to protect or improve public spaces for the benefit of all. ComEd designed the ComEd Green Region Grant in partnership with Openlands to assist local communities in Illinois and NW Indiana in these efforts by providing funding for some expenses towards these goals.

Application submissions have closed, please check back for details on their 2024 application deadline.

The Wildflower Association of Michigan (WAM) awards grants annually to fund projects that range from creating an outdoor classroom to enhancing an existing site with native plants.

Application Deadline: December 1st of each year

Click here for more information.

2023 Biodiversity Conservation Grant: Enhancing Pollinator Habitats

Nationwide habitat enhancement projects should directly support the creation, restoration, remediation, improvement, and/or protection of habitats for important pollinator species such as butterflies, bees, bats, and more. Additionally, projects should incorporate community outreach and engagement activities designed to educate and empower the public to help enhance pollinator habitats.

Application submissions have closed, please check back for details on their 2024 application deadline.

The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program (SFE) is named for Wild Ones lifetime Honorary Directory Lorrie Otto, the founding inspiration for Wild Ones, Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, Ltd. SFE program provides meaningful learning opportunities that connect youth to nature and the Wild Ones mission. For more than 20 years, this vital Wild Ones donor-funded program has provided grants ranging from $100 to $500 for native plant gardens and landscaping projects throughout the United States.

The funds are designated for acquiring native plants and seeds for outdoor learning areas that engage youth (preschool to high school) directly in planning, planting and caring for native plant gardens. Examples include pollinator gardens, rain gardens to improve water quality, tallgrass prairies, native plant monarch waystations featuring citizen science activities and sensory and natural playgrounds.

Application submissions have closed, please check back for details on their 2024 application deadline.

This nationwide grant is offered annually in an effort to increase habitat and awareness of what is required to support butterflies and their life cycle.

Applications are accepted from January 2 to February 28, 2024

Click here for more information.

2023 Garden for Nature Grant Program

Calling local non-profits and organizations! We are excited to announce our Garden for Nature Grant Program. This grant is for those who would like to improve the environment and engage the public through a native plant garden in the Chicago region.
If you are part of a local non-profit that wishes to connect young people and nature, there is no better way (in our humble opinion) than to plant a native garden that grows with them and their curiosity.

Application submission has closed, please check back for details on their 2024 application deadline.

Full List of Midwestern Native Plant and Horticultural Grants

Grant Opportunities

Selected Tree Planting Grants

Selected Native Garden and Pollinator Grants

Youth Garden Grant

Full List of Midwestern Native Plant and Horticultural Grants

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Michigan:

Wisconsin:

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Iowa:

Missouri:

Minnesota:

Kentucky:

Midwest/Nationwide:

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