Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust Grant

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust Grant supports education and research in ornamental horticulture, funding projects that enhance public gardens, promote ornamental plants, and support related educational initiatives. Grants typically range up to $20,000, with a maximum of $25,000, focusing on project support rather than general operating expenses. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) public charities and similar entities worldwide, while the Trust does not fund individuals or capital campaigns.

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust supports education and research in ornamental horticulture through grants to botanical gardens, arboreta, universities, and other charitable organizations strongly-aligned with its funding interests
Funding Interests
The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust supports education and research in ornamental horticulture, primarily in North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand. The Trust seeks to fund projects that will further ornamental horticulture through organizations pursuing the following activities:
Research: The advancement of research in ornamental horticulture and the publication of the results of such research. Examples include:
trial/evaluation gardens for horticultural potential of selected plants in a regiondiscerning appropriate cultural techniques and best horticultural practices for a specific group of plantslaboratory freezer for DNA samples
Public Gardens: Assisting in the creation, development, preservation, and maintenance of gardens accessible to the public for educational purposes. Examples include:
new or revised home demonstration gardens or bedsresurfacing garden trails for all-weather accessibility or ADA compliancedamage remediation following a natural disaster
Ornamental Plants: Promotion of the environmentally responsible introduction, cultivation, and distribution of plants which have ornamental horticultural value. Examples include:
testing potential new ornamentals for invasivenesspromotion and demonstration of the use of local native ornamentals in local or home landscapingcollections management software for ornamentals
Publications: Assisting in the publication of books or other works relating to ornamental horticulture. Examples include:
guide to appropriate ornamentals for local and regional landscapingguide to best practices for controlling diseases and pests in ornamentalsonline publication of horticultural inventory for public access
Education: Informal and/or formal educational activities that further ornamental horticulture. Examples include:
classes and workshops on developing and maintaining home gardensgarden signage that notes cultural requirements, water- or fire-wise properties, or aesthetic attributes of plantshorticultural internshipsconstruction or remodeling of educational facilities
Size, Duration, and Types of Grants
The maximum grant awarded by the Trust is $25,000, however, grants normally do not exceed $20,000. Grants may be approved for full or partial funding of the requested amount.
The grant period during which funds should be used is the calendar year. For example, for grants awarded in November 2025, the grant period will be January 1 to December 31, 2026. It is expected that funds will be spent during this year.
The Trust awards grants for project support only. Requests for general operating support are no longer accepted. The Trust does not fund endowments or capital campaigns, nor make grants to individuals.

Eligibility

The Trust makes grants to organizations that are recognized as 501(c)(3) public charities by the United States Internal Revenue Service, and to non-U.S. organizations that can demonstrate that they would meet the requirements for such status.

Ineligibility

The Trust does not fund endowments or capital campaignsThe Trust does not make grants to individuals.Requests for general operating support are no longer accepted.