Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust Grants (LOI)

Overview

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust supports education and research in ornamental horticulture through grants to botanical gardens, arboreta, universities, and other charitable organizations strongly-aligned with its funding interests.

The Trust welcomes Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from eligible organizations seeking funding for projects that meet its Funding Interests in research and education in ornamental horticulture. 

Funding Interests:
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

The Trust supports projects and activities in: 
    • North America
    • South America
    • Central America
    • the Caribbean
    • Australia
    • New Zealand

ASU may submit only one (1) LOI to the sponsoring organization. Apply to ASU's internal limited submission competition on InfoReady at: https://asu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1932896

Organizations may receive a grant from the Trust no more than every other year.

The maximum grant awarded by the Trust is $25,000, however, grants normally do not exceed $20,000.

The grant period during which funds should be used is the calendar year. For example, for grants awarded in November 2024, the grant period will be January 1 to December 31, 2025. It is expected that funds will be spent during this year.

Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline: Friday, June 14, 2024
Funding Organization's Full Proposal Deadline: Monday, July 15, 2024