Draft Grants&Donations Introduction

GRANTS & DONATIONS

The Native Plant Society of New Mexico (NPSNM) supports organizations, communities, students and individuals throughout New Mexico and the El Paso area working on projects that further botanical education, restoration, research and conservation of native plants.  This is made possible by the Jack and Martha Carter Conservation Fund, with additional grants occasionally provided by certain of our chapters. 

Applications for grants and donations to be awarded in January, 2022 are due by December 31st, 2021. If you have applied before, please be sure to read our new guidelines and use the new application form. Funding of your project depends on how well it aligns with our mission as well as any history you may have working with us.

THE NPSNM MISSION STATEMENT

The Native Plant Society of New Mexico is a non-profit organization that strives to educate the public about native plants by promoting knowledge of plant identification, ecology, and uses; fostering plant conservation and the preservation of natural habitats; supporting botanical research; and encouraging the appropriate use of native plants to conserve water, land, and wildlife. Grants are awarded for projects that are consistent with our mission.

GRANTS

Would you like a little help getting your conservation or restoration project off the ground? Do you need matching funds for another grant or donation that requires that? Do you teach students about plant ecology, or have a botanical research study underway and need money for materials, transportation, equipment, or analysis? If your project falls in line with our mission, consider applying for a grant.  Acceptance of your proposal by the NPSNM can demonstrate the worthiness of your organization and your project to other funding groups or foundations.

In the past, grants have been limited to a maximum of $1500. However, substantive proposals that especially serve our mission and will inspire others will be considered for greater amounts (details below). We encourage you to get the most from our grants by working with volunteers if appropriate, combining efforts with other groups or landowners, or obtaining matching funds.

Examples of Past Grant Topics:

  • The removal of invasive species from public and private lands to restore native vegetation.
  • Habitat restoration at the New Mexico Wildlife Center using volunteers from Master Gardeners
  • Giving hands-on, multi-skilled experience to elementary school children as they learn about the yucca and its life cycle
  • Training and employing Pueblo youth in the recognition, collection and processing of native plant seeds in support of the National Seed Strategy
  • Overhaul and new design of the New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council's interactive website
  • Repeating a 1970s field study of bees pollinating wild sunflowers in order to document changes in bee species composition in the same areas over time
  • Enabling a local farmer to enter the new market of native plant seeds and starts that are in demand for land restoration

Proposals less likely to receive approval are those that appear to be salary support, and we do not fund overhead charges by an applicant's institution. It is up to the applicant to propose a practical and realistic project budget.

Three levels of funding have been approved by our Board for this year.

  • $1000 -- Many projects have succeeded with budgets of under $1000, and several will be awarded this year.
  • Up to $2000 will be furnished for proposals needing greater support for greater benefits to the environment, public knowledge of native plants, ecological education or botanical research.
  • Two grants of $5000 each may be awarded to projects with a significant and lasting impact. Examples: revegetation of a despoiled area, restoration of a wetland, research benefitting a threatened or endangered species of plant, or repurposing wasted water to maintain a native wildflower zone at a school or nursing home. Anything in line with our mission can qualify if it is well-conceived, attainable, and ambitious. Gardens will only be funded if there are arrangements that assure their continued maintenance into the future.

One Year Grants - Successful grant winners are required to submit a written report (template provided) due by October 31. If the project is not yet complete, it will be a status and progress report with a final report due afterward. The report should describe how the funds were used and be sent to: cartergrantapps"at"gmail.com. Subject line: Project Report

Follow-on Grants - Projects spanning more than one year can only be funded a year at a time. A new application accompanying a progress report submitted by the end of the funded year will be considered for a new round of support. Inspire us with your accomplishments and determination.

 We also appreciate your sharing your project results with our membership in some way:

  • A poster describing the project, to be displayed at the NPSNM annual conference the following summer
  • A short article (600 to 1000 words) for publication in the NPSNM quarterly newsletter during the following year. Please submit these articles to cartergrantapps"at"gmail.com. Subject line: Attention Newsletter Editor
  • A presentation about your project at a local Native Plant Society chapter meeting
  • Furnish a copy or link to a publication in a journal, periodical or website that documents results from the project funded by NPSNM. (Please acknowledge our support in any published article.)