Deadline: 15-Sep-2025
The TREE Fund has introduced the Tree and Soil Research Grant, supported by a permanently restricted endowment fund. This grant is designed to promote research in areas relevant to the landscape architecture community, with a special focus on trees and the soils that support them.
The grant supports a wide range of research priorities. These include the design and specification of trees and soils in urban landscapes, nursery and propagation practices that affect tree establishment and growth, and efforts to improve species diversity. Other focus areas are tree root and canopy structure, soil and drainage design, tree planting methods, space design, and the ongoing maintenance of planting soils and trees.
Projects funded under this grant must be completed within one to three years. The maximum award available is $10,000. The budget can include compensation, travel, equipment, materials, contract labor, and overhead costs up to 10%. Applicants are also required to provide at least 10% of the total project cost through cash or in-kind contributions. Unrecovered institutional overhead may count toward this match.
Certain types of projects are ineligible for funding. These include grants to individuals, municipal tree surveys, tree planting programs, traditional forestry and conservation studies, and product testing primarily benefiting manufacturers.
Eligibility is open to principal investigators, co-investigators, and student assistants. Reviewers will prioritize applications that demonstrate a strong prior record of accomplishment, have clear relevance to the arboriculture industry, offer a sound research approach, and include a detailed dissemination plan.
The application must include a project summary of up to 400 words, describing the issue, its relevance to arboriculture and urban forestry, and the research goals. Applicants must also list tangible outputs and up to five measurable outcomes, with a 250-word limit.
A detailed literature review and overview of current knowledge must be submitted, up to 1,000 words. A 1,500-word work plan should explain hypotheses, methodology, and analysis. Any proprietary components of the research must be declared upfront. If not, TREE Fund may claim royalties from commercial outcomes.
A dissemination plan of up to 300 words is required, addressing both academic and practitioner audiences. TREE Fund aims to make research findings freely available while accommodating academic publication needs. Literature cited in the application must follow a standard citation format and be listed alphabetically by the author’s last name.
For more information, visit TREE Fund.