Native Plants Unlimited Grant Program

What goods and services are part of the grant program this year?

NPU Plants and Seeds: In 2023, NPU is offering $2,000 of NPU gift cards to be divided among selected applicants, with a maximum $200 per applicant. These gift cards must be used during the online pre-order period (February 2nd - April 1st) to purchase plants or seeds!  Our preorder plants this year range from $3.99-$6.99, with an average price of $4.68.  Discounts may also apply to your order, depending on its size.
This year, we are providing metal 3"x5" arboretum-style signs (with optional metal stake) for you to include in your plantings, that acknowledge our sponsorship of your garden. While not strictly required, we would appreciate the nod! If you received a grant or other assistance from us last year and would like to have one, please let us know!

Design Consultation: Two grant recipients will receive a one hour virtual Coaching Session with Favor Native lead designer Laura Essex. Sessions are conducted via phone or Zoom, where Laura will advise you on plant selection, new bed installation and planting, tips for success, and more to ensure success with your new beautiful and beneficial garden.   

Property Assessment of Trees & Shrubs: Two grant recipients will receive a consultation with Todd Gillian of Root and Twig, LLC.  This will include a property assessment consultation, and a summary of the site visit with recommendations. Todd will discuss your immediate needs, goals, solutions, and long-term treatment options. Todd is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist® #784

Who Can Apply?

[Last year was our first year offering grants and we had no idea what to expect. As it turned out, many organizations applied for the grants.  We want to help organizations too, but this year, we are asking that parks, municipalities, large school-funded projects, and so forth contact us via email for volume discounts rather than apply for a grant.]

Any individual, or small group, volunteering to plant native species in public places should apply! Some examples: neighborhood median or boulevard, apartment complex and HOA entries, common areas, beds, and playgrounds.  Volunteer-led projects in public areas around public buildings like libraries, schools (student/teacher led projects) city hall, small museums/historical societies, and so forth. 

Other circumstances will be considered as well, so don't be shy! Several of our customers' properties back up to major trail systems. They have worked to remove non-native plants and replace them with natives, such that all passersby could enjoy and learn. So, hit us with your ideas!

How are Recipients Selected? 

The NPU team will review all applications and select those that have the greatest chance of success. We know how it goes. Sometimes plans don’t materialize and community efforts fall through! But we want to give our donated plants the best chance to survive and be appreciated—by humans and wildlife alike—for years to come. If applicants seem equally prepared, we will favor those in locations where they can be appreciated by the most people.

Please ask for only what you're sure you need, so that we can help as many people as possible. Consider seeds in your plan as a cost effective way to stretch your dollars. Remember that any plants you receive will either reseed themselves, mature in width/ height, spread by runner, or any combination of those!

How To Apply:

Write us a short letter about your project! It doesn’t need to be an essay in MLA format. ;) We’re all just neighbors helping neighbors, after all. But we want to do what we can to make sure our donated plants will be put to good use. So, give us the low down on your experience, project, and goals. Consider addressing the following points to make sure we have all the information we need to make a decision:

1. Let us know which grant(s) you are applying for. We will forward Favor Native and Root & Twig requests to them. If your project requires it, you could theoretically request all three.
2. How much funding would you like to receive? Do you already have a budget, or matching funds? 
3. Do you already have permission and allotted space to install your planting?
4. Are you working with a group (such as friends, garden club members, or other community members), or are you flying solo?
5. Have you or any of your group members installed or taken care of native plantings in the past?
6. Are there plans in place to maintain the planting (e.g. watering/weeding in at least the first summer, mulching if appropriate, future non-native species control/weeding by relevant parties)?
7. Have you ever or are you ready to put wire fencing around individual plants or the whole bed to protect it from rabbits, deer, or wandering local dogs if necessary?

Please add anything else that you think will help us understand your project, such as photos, maps, and diagrams.

How to Submit:

E-mail your application to info@nativeplantsunlimited.com with the subject "2023 Grant Application”. Please state clearly at the beginning of the submission, which grant or grants you wish to be considered for.

Deadline For Submissions:

All applications should be submitted by March 1st, 2023. Recipients will be notified in early March. Gift cards need to be used during the preorder period which ends April 1, 2023.

 We look forward to your ideas!!