Deadline: 14-Jun-2025
The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust is inviting applications to support education and research in ornamental horticulture through grants to botanical gardens, arboreta, universities, and other charitable organizations strongly-aligned with its funding interests.
Ornamental horticulture concerns the culture, care, and use of plants to create beautiful spaces designed for human aesthetic enjoyment. While these efforts also may support general community engagement, healthy ecosystems, and wildlife habitats, the ornamental elements and attributes are those most relevant to the Trust. Competitive proposals provide evidence of alignment with the Trust’s interest in ornamental horticulture.
Funding Information
- The maximum grant awarded by the Trust is $25,000, however, grants normally do not exceed $20,000. Grants may be approved for full or partial funding of the requested amount.
- The grant period during which funds should be used is the calendar year. For example, for grants awarded in November 2025, the grant period will be January 1 to December 31, 2026. It is expected that funds will be spent during this year.
- The Trust awards grants for project support only. Requests for general operating support are no longer accepted. The Trust does not fund endowments or capital campaigns, nor make grants to individuals.
Eligible Activities
- The Trust seeks to fund projects that will further ornamental horticulture through organizations pursuing the following activities:
- Research
- The advancement of research in ornamental horticulture and the publication of the results of such research.
- Examples include:
- trial/evaluation gardens for horticultural
- potential of selected plants in a region
- discerning appropriate cultural techniques and best horticultural practices for a specific group of plants
- laboratory freezer for DNA samples
- Public Gardens
- Assisting in the creation, development, preservation, and maintenance of gardens accessible to the public for educational purposes related to ornamental horticulture.
- Examples include:
- new or revised home demonstration gardens or beds
- resurfacing garden trails for all-weather accessibility or ADA compliance
- damage remediation following a natural disaster
- Ornamental Plants
- Promotion of the environmentally responsible introduction, cultivation, and distribution of plants which have ornamental horticultural value.
- Examples include:
- testing potential new ornamentals for invasiveness
- promotion and demonstration of the use of local native ornamentals in local or home landscaping
- collections management software for ornamentals
- Publications
- Assisting in the publication of books or other works relating to ornamental horticulture.
- Examples include:
- guide to appropriate ornamentals for local and regional landscaping
- guide to best practices for controlling diseases and pests in ornamentals
- online publication of horticultural inventory for public access
- Education
- Informal and/or formal educational activities that further ornamental horticulture.
- Examples include:
- classes and workshops on developing and maintaining home gardens
- garden signage that notes cultural requirements, water- or fire-wise properties, or aesthetic attributes of plants
- horticultural internships
- construction or remodeling of educational facilities
- Research
Eligible Countries/Regions
- The Trust supports projects that directly further research or education in ornamental horticulture in North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand. Grantee organizations must also be based in one of these locations.
For more information, visit Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.