The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Greensboro, NC EIN: 56-2014212

The North Carolina Native Plant Society (NCNPS) is a Form 990 public charity based in Greensboro, North Carolina. It supports native-plant conservation through grants for research, community projects, and land conservation, as well as scholarships and educational activities.

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc at a glance

In short: The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc gave $35K across 21 grants in 2026 (avg $2K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2026)
$34,928
+52.7% vs 2025
Grants made (2026)
21
+31.3% vs 2025
Average grant
$1,663
+16.3% vs 2025
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$609,702
+12.8% vs 2025
Primary geography
North Carolina (91% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2026 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated October 2026.

How to apply to The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc

How to Apply

The Society directs applicants to use the online application form for Alice Zawadzki grants. Shinn applicants should follow the application requirements, including submitting an itemized budget and detailed research plan. The Society’s 2025 filing narrative says applicants for its financial assistance submit eligibility and purpose documentation, recipients sign an agreement outlining terms and expected use of funds, and the organization follows up to monitor use; in some cases, recipients must provide receipts or other documentation.

Review Cycle
Shinn Fund: the Society’s grants page and FAQ list March 1; a separate program listing gives January 1, 2027. Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund: June 1 annually. B.W. Wells Stewardship Fund: September 1 annually. The Cullowhee Native Plant Conference scholarship deadline is listed as occurring in spring.
Deadline
Shinn Fund: the Society’s grants page and FAQ list March 1; a separate program listing gives January 1, 2027.
Next open deadline
June 1, 2027 (Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund Grant)
Contact

Mailing address: P O Box 5907, Greensboro, NC 27435
Phone: (336) 854-0109

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2026

Tryon Garden Club: $3KTryon Garden Club$3KRotary Club Asheville: $3KRotary Club Asheville$3KTown of Laurel Park: $3KTown of Laurel Park$3KEcoforesters: $3KEcoforesters$3KRiverlink: $3KRiverlink$3KSarah Krementznc State: $3KSarah Krementznc State$3KGreen Valley Park: $2KGreen Valley Park$2KDaniel Boone Native Gardens: $2KDaniel Boone Native Gardens$2KKenilworth Residents: $2KKenilworth Residents$2KKidsenses Inc: $1KKidsenses Inc$1K

The largest 2026 recipient was Tryon Garden Club ($3K). Together the top 10 received $26K.

Grant Size Distribution

37 grants across all recorded years

37<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 37 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Society’s grant programs identify North Carolina as their geographic scope, and its funding page focuses on conserving native plants in North Carolina. In 2026, 91% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina; the remaining 9% is shown with no state identified.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

AshevilleBooneDurhamHendersonvilleBlowing RockCaryCashiersCharlotteConnelly SpringsFranklinGreensboroHighlandsHolly SpringsHudsonLenoirMarshallMatthewsMorehead CityMorgantonNashville

How The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc gives

  • 0% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K$40K0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 0 grants2024 16 grants2025 21 grants2026

From 2025 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $23K (2025) to $35K (2026). In 2026 it made 21 grants totaling $35K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Tryon Garden Club Tryon, NC—$3,000
Rotary Club Asheville Asheville, NC—$3,000
Town of Laurel Park Hendersonville, NC—$3,000
Ecoforesters Asheville, NC—$3,000
Riverlink Asheville, NC—$3,000
Sarah Krementznc State —$3,000
Green Valley Park Boone, NC—$2,450
Daniel Boone Native Gardens Boone, NC—$2,428
Kenilworth Residents Asheville, NC—$2,000
Kidsenses Inc Rutherfordton, NC—$1,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2026$609,702$119,447$105,381$34,92821$11,506
2025$540,432$121,338$76,286$22,87416$11,234
2024$461,421$137,031$60,948———
2023$345,914$86,835$53,081———
2022$315,051$62,106$47,180———
2021$310,049$115,165$31,363———
2020$226,127$54,378$38,002———

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

NCNPS states its mission is “to promote the enjoyment and conservation of North Carolina’s native plants and their habitats through education, protection, cultivation, and advocacy.” Its funding opportunities include student research on native plants and invasives affecting local flora; community or school gardens, invasive removal, restoration, and educational materials; and land conservation, including purchases, boundary surveys, legal fees, and floristic surveys. It also offers scholarships to attend the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference.

The 2026 recipients include organizations with varied missions. Tryon Garden Club says it works to foster awareness and appreciation of the natural world and conserve and maintain the area around Pearson’s Falls. EcoForesters describes its work as restoring and conserving Appalachian forests through education and stewardship. RiverLink says it promotes the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed. Green Valley Park describes its purpose as providing recreational and competitive swimming and tennis opportunities and social activities for club members and guests. Brevard Academy describes its purpose as operating a North Carolina public charter school.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2026, NCNPS reported 21 grants totaling $34,928. Grant amounts ranged from $141 to $3,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed awards were $3,000 each to Tryon Garden Club, Rotary Club Asheville, Town of Laurel Park, EcoForesters, RiverLink, and Sarah KrementzNC State. Other listed awards included $2,450 to Green Valley Park, $2,428 to Daniel Boone Native Gardens, and $2,000 to Kenilworth Residents.

The Society describes four funding opportunities. The Tom and Bruce Shinn Fund supports student research; the B.W. Wells Stewardship Fund supports community and school projects; the Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund supports conservation-related land purchases and associated work; and the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference scholarship supports attendance by students, teachers, and young professionals. The Alice Zawadzki Fund page says it typically awards two to three grants of up to $3,000 each per year to land conservancies, nonprofit groups, and agencies involved in conserving native-plant habitat.

For Shinn applications, the Society’s FAQ calls for an itemized budget with justification and says proposals should detail the research plan, potentially including experimental design, timelines, and field collections or observations. The FAQ says late applications are not accepted. A separate program listing gives a January 1, 2027 deadline for the Shinn Fund, while the Society’s grants page and FAQ state March 1 as the deadline. The grants page lists September 1 for the B.W. Wells Fund and June 1 for the Alice Zawadzki Fund; those 2026 dates have passed. Shinn applications may be submitted again in subsequent years, according to the FAQ.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2026 filing lists Jean Woods as president, Barbara Tuset as vice president, Terry Loeb as secretary, and Jeanette Gerould as treasurer. Board members at large are Cassandra Hallman, Brett Hopkins, Dean Di Lillo, Kelly Gage, and Angela Johnson.

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc is led by Jean Woods, President since 2026 (on filings since 2021); none of the 9 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.

Officers on the 2026 filing

  • Jean Woods

    President

    Tech Coordinator → Vice President, 2024

    Vice President → President, 2026

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Barbara Tuset

    Vice President

    Director → Board at Large, 2025

    Board at Large → Vice President, 2026

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • Kelly Gage

    Board at Large

    Director → Board at Large, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • Terry Loeb

    Secretary

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • Cassandra Hallman

    Board at Large

    On filings since 2025

    No compensation reported

  • Angela Johnson

    Board at Large

    New on the 2026 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Brett Hopkins

    Board at Large

    New on the 2026 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Dean Di Lillo

    Board at Large

    New on the 2026 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Jeanette Gerould

    Treasurer

    New on the 2026 filing

    No compensation reported

Former officers (35)
  • Former: Diane Laslie (2020–2025) — Treasurer
  • Former: Ken Bridle (2022–2025) — President
  • Former: Margot Ringenburg (2022–2025) — Board at Large
  • Former: Jennifer Perrey (2025) — Board at Large
  • Former: Alison Northrup (2024) — Director
  • Former: Bettina Darveaux (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Paula Lapoint (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Theresa Morr (2020–2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Amy Mackintosh (2021–2023) — Margaret Rei
  • Former: Anne Gometz (2021–2023) — Historian
  • Former: Annkatrin Rose (2021–2023) — Blue Ridge C
  • Former: Charley Winterbauer (2021–2023) — Southest Coa
  • Former: Debra Murray (2021–2023) — Chair-Grants
  • Former: Jackie Trickel (2021–2023) — Chair-Educat
  • Former: Krystyna Ochota (2021–2023) — Southest Coa
  • Former: Lisa Lofland Gould (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Liz Wahls (2021–2023) — Corresponden
  • Former: Lynda Waldrep (2021–2023) — Triad Communications
  • Former: Margaret Partridge (2021–2023) — Margaret Rei
  • Former: Pat Holder (2021–2023) — Chair-Habita
  • Former: Roxanne Newton (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Terry Britton (2021–2023) — Webmaster
  • Former: Tom Harville (2021–2023) — Chair-Awards
  • Former: Andrea Thunem (2022–2023) — Newsletter E
  • Former: Anna Meadows Helvie (2022–2023) — Central Coas
  • Former: Carol Peoples (2022–2023) — Central Coas
  • Former: Craig Maxwell (2022–2023) — S Piedmont C
  • Former: Laura Domingo (2022–2023) — S Piedmont C
  • Former: Vicki Fuhrmann (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Beth Davis (2021) — S Piedmont C
  • Former: Lisa Tompkins (2021) — S Piedmont C
  • Former: Carol Fox (2020) — Director
  • Former: Katie Davis (2020) — Director
  • Former: Lauri Lawson (2020) — Director
  • Former: Steve Kroeger (2020) — President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc

How much does The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc give each year?

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc gave $35K across 21 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $23K across 16 grants.

What is The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc's typical grant size?

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc's median grant in 2026 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,663, across 21 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.

Where does The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc give grants?

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (5 grants) and Boone, NC (2 grants).

Who are The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc's largest grantees?

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Tryon Garden Club ($3,000), Rotary Club Asheville ($3,000) and Town of Laurel Park ($3,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.

How large is The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc?

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc reported $610K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $119K.

What does The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc fund?

NCNPS states its mission is “to promote the enjoyment and conservation of North Carolina’s native plants and their habitats through education, protection, cultivation, and advocacy.” See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc?

The Society directs applicants to use the online application form for Alice Zawadzki grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc's EIN?

The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2014212. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The North Carolina Native Plant Society Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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