Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program

Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wild Ones
Amount: US $100 - US $500
Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Summary

The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program, funded by Wild Ones, supports projects that foster an appreciation for nature through native plants and natural landscapes. Since 1977, it has empowered schools and nature centers to create educational gardens that engage students and volunteers. Eligible projects include pollinator and rain gardens, tallgrass prairies, and sensory playgrounds, all designed to enhance ecological understanding. Funding is specifically for the purchase of native plants and seeds, promoting sustainable community involvement.

Overview

Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education (SFE) Fund Since 1977, Wild Ones members have been working with schools and nature centers to grow natural landscapes at these centers of learning. Annual grants from the Wild Ones Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education (SFE) Fund are one way we foster such projects. Lorrie Otto, the inspirational leader for Wild Ones, is widely acknowledged as the heart of the natural landscape movement. Eligible Projects Project goals should focus on developing an appreciation for nature using native plants and natural landscapes. Projects must emphasize involvement by students and volunteers in all phases of development and must increase the site's educational value. Creativity in design is encouraged and must show complete and thoughtful planning. Use of, and teaching about, native plants and the native plant community is mandatory, and native plants selected must be appropriate to the local ecoregion and site conditions (soil, water, sunlight). The USDA Plant Database helps to verify if particular native species have been recorded for your county. Examples of appropriate projects include: pollinator gardens,rain gardens to improve water quality,tallgrass prairies,native plant monarch waystations featuring citizen science activitiessensory and natural playgrounds.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Entities that may apply for funding are U.S. schools, nature centers, and other non-profit places of learning from preschool through high school, including houses of worship. SFE projects must have a designated and sustainable site and have developed the project at a local level with community volunteer support. Proposed projects must be learner-based, hands-on, and incorporate ecological concepts. The Project Coordinator needs to be both knowledgeable and directly involved in project implementation.Funding must be used for purchasing appropriate native plants and seeds.

Ineligibility

Please note, at this time, SFE grants do not fund vegetable gardens.