NOTE: Please read the information below and the Application Guidelines document (attached above) BEFORE applying.

All grants for the current year have been awarded and we will be welcoming applications for 2025 grants from September through November.

Applications for grants and donations are due by November 30th of the year before funding is to be granted. Grants are selected and awarded in January. If you are interested in applying this year (2024) for funding in 2025, you may continue below to see how it all works. If you have applied before, please be sure to read our guidelines again and use the current application form. Funding of your project depends on how well it aligns with our mission, what kind of knowledge or experience qualifies you (individual or organization) to accomplish what you envision, as well as any history you may have working with us.

THE NPSNM MISSION

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;
• foster plant conservation and the preservation of natural habitats;
• support botanical research; and
• encourage the appropriate use of native plants to conserve water, land, and wildlife.

Grants are awarded for projects that are consistent with at least one element of our mission.

GRANTS

Would you like some help getting your conservation or restoration project off the ground? Maybe you need matching funds for another grant or donation that requires that? Are you planning a student curriculum or activity involving plant ecology, or have a botanical research study underway and need money for materials, transportation, equipment, analysis or other services? Consider applying for a grant.  Acceptance of your proposal by the NPSNM can demonstrate the worthiness of your project to other funding groups or foundations.

Substantive proposals that especially serve our mission and will inspire others will be considered for amounts up to $5000 (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 complementary 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 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
• Recently 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 supplying native plant seed and starts that are in demand for land restoration
• We have supported the creation of "pollinator gardens" at schools and parks. However, additional gardens are to be funded only if there is assurance of the garden's continued maintenance into the future.

Nonmembers and members of NPSNM are equally eligible to receive grants.

Proposals less likely to receive approval are those that appear to be salary for the project manager, and we do not fund overhead charges by an institution. Supplies, tools, seeds, materials, equipment rental, contractor charges, lab tests, safety items, certain software, educational signage, refreshments for volunteers, and transport of students are examples of typical expenses we've approved. It is up to the applicant to propose a realistic project budget, showing how NPSNM money is to be used.

Typical levels of funding -

• Up to $1000 - Many projects have succeeded with budgets of under $1000, and several can be awarded this year.
• Up to $2000 may be granted for proposals needing greater support for greater benefits to the environment, increasing public appreciation of native plants, or conducting botanical research.
• Two grants of up to $5000 each may be awarded to projects with a significant and lasting impact. Some examples: revegetation of a despoiled area, protection of a wetland, research benefitting a threatened or endangered species of plant or type of habitat, or repurposing wasted water to maintain a native wildflower area at a school or nursing home. Anything in line with our mission can qualify if it is well-conceived, attainable, and ambitious.

One Year Grants - Successful grant winners are required to submit a written, year-end summary report (a template will be provided) due by November 1. If the project is not yet complete by then, 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 grant. Inspire us with your accomplishments and determination.

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

• A poster describing the project, to be displayed at the NPSNM annual conference the following year (inquire for dates)
  
• An article for publication in the NPSNM Newsletter during the following year. Article submission guidelines may be found here. Submit articles to newsletter [at] npsnm.org. Identify your article as fulfilling a CCF requirement.
• A presentation about your project at a local Native Plant Society chapter meeting
• Furnish us with a copy or link to a publication or website that describes the project and results from a project that we supported. (Please acknowledge our support in any published article.)

Download guidelines for applying for a grant: Application Guidelines

Please read the guidelines before applying. Then

Download the revised Grant Application for next year's grants, awarded this coming January: Grant Application Form. Completed applications are due to be sent via email by November 30. Earlier submissions are appreciated and recommended.