Monarch Garden Grants

The Monarch Garden Grants program, initiated by the Native Plant Society of Texas, aims to support the creation of Monarch habitats across Texas by providing small grants to schools and nature centers. These grants focus on developing demonstration gardens and Waystations using native plants essential for Monarch conservation. With funding from various sources, including individual donations and partnerships, this initiative seeks to educate the public about the importance of Monarchs and their native plant habitats.

Background
Texas provides critical habitat on the main migration pathway to and from the Monarchs’ winter home in Mexico. The availability of milkweed and nectar plants has dropped sharply in Texas. Milkweeds act as host plants for Monarch caterpillars to eat and are essential to the Monarchs’ breeding success. Nectar plants are needed by adult butterflies to supply the energy to fly and lay eggs. Both are required for Monarchs to reproduce and migrate successfully.
Modern farming practices, pesticides, drought patterns, and the mowing and manicuring of roadsides, parks and open areas have all had a negative impact on the native plants Monarchs use and on the number of Monarchs surviving for the southbound journey to Mexico.
The Native Plant Society of Texas and Monarch Watch created the “Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas” (BBMT) program in a joint effort to educate members and the public about Monarch biology and conservation, to encourage propagation and distribution of native milkweeds that support Monarch reproduction, and to restore Monarch habitats throughout Texas.
Our annual BBMT grant program makes grants available to schools, nature centers and other organizations, to create additional Monarch habitat using native Texas plants.
A Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas (BBMT) fund has been established to collect donations that fund the BBMT grant program and make other education and conservation efforts of the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas committee possible.
The Native Plant Society of Texas awards small grants to nature centers, schools, educational groups and others to help fund development of Monarch demonstration gardens or Monarch Waystations using native plants on public sites in Texas. The purpose of this program is to educate members, applicants, and the public about Monarch conservation and native plants, and to encourage restoration of Monarch habitats throughout the Texas migration flyway.
Amount and Source of Funds
Grants are funded by Native Plant Society of Texas, Monarch Watch and by individual and corporate donations to the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas (BBMT) program. In 2024, additional funds through a cooperative agreement with Monarch Joint Venture and the US Forest Service will be used to underwrite some of the garden grants. The Native Plant Society of Texas is grateful for the help and cooperation of Monarch Joint Venture in providing these funds.
The total amount to be budgeted for this program varies from year to year. The number of grants awarded and the maximum size of grants may change with each grant cycle and depend on available funds. The grant application each year will state the current cap on grant amounts.
Approved Types of Expenditures
Funds must only be spent on native milkweeds and native nectar plants. Applications will be accepted for both new gardens and improvement and maintenance of established Monarch Waystations or Monarch demonstration gardens. Plants can be replaced or milkweeds can be added.

Eligibility

Most schools and garden clubs will qualify for a grant.

Native Plant Society members, chapters and volunteers may recruit and aid other organizations, schools and individuals to write a grant. Our intent is to provide outreach and education to our communities so we don’t want to award grants to our own chapters.

Ineligibility

Groups are not required to spend their own funds to match the amount of the grant.Funds cannot be spent on signage, hardscape features, barriers, soil, amendments or any other non-plant items.