Georgia Native Plant Society

Jeane Reeves Research Grant Program


2008 Guidelines for Applicants

The Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) is a non-profit educational and conservation organization whose purpose is to promote the stewardship of Georgia's native plants and their habitats through education, conservation and involvement of individuals and organizations. We educate the public about the beauty, diversity and environmental importance of the native flora of Georgia through lectures, symposia, workshops, field trips, sponsorship of research projects, publications, and other activities.

The Society encourages the preservation and protection of naturally occurring plant communities on public and private lands, supports restoration of native habitats and the relocation of natives from areas threatened by destruction. We encourage cultivation and propagation of native plants, desirable alternatives to exotic plants.

The Research Grants Program

The Georgia Native Plant Society is offering financial grants for the purpose of supporting research on native plants. These grants will be awarded to United States citizens attending Georgia Universities who are graduate students, qualified undergraduate students working on senior thesis projects with an advisor, or qualified professionals working in Georgia to support basic or applied research in botanical or horticultural areas that fulfill the mission and/or objectives of the Georgia Native Plant Society.

Eligible Projects

Projects eligible for funding may include but are not limited to:

How to Apply for a Grant

We have no standardized application form. Your proposal should contain the following information:

1. Name, address, phone number and e-mail address and date submitted.

2. A statement explaining your specific interest in native plants.

3. Academic status with a letter of recommendation from a sponsor, such as an academic supervisor or major professor or, if applicable, your professional status including your background and a brief work profile. (Two page limit)

4. Project description shall be concise (no more than three pages). Describe the purpose, objectives, hypotheses where appropriate, data collection and analysis methodology, and a brief review of relevant literature. Highlight aspects of the work that you believe are important and creative and how the project will advance the knowledge of Georgia's native plants and vegetation.

5. Project schedule must be submitted (normally one-year). Include a description of the final product of the research.

6. Budget: Summarize intended use of funds. Show how additional funds or support, if expected or received, fits into the overall budget. GNPS encourages applicants to seek additional funding because GNPS is unable to provide full funding for most proposed projects. Grant funds may be used only for expendable supplies, travel, equipment rental, laboratory services, printing costs or other like items. We will not approve grants for purchase of cameras, computers, software, machinery, clothes, meals, or salaries. Grant amounts range from $100 - $1,000, with an average award of $500.00. Strong justification is required for budget requests exceeding $500.00.

If budget includes unapproved items, budget will be reduced by that amount.

Completed application must be received by April 30, 2008 to be considered. All applications must be submitted in writing and by electronic mail.

Mail application to:

Elaine Nash
Grants Committee
Georgia Native Plant Society
3390 Highway 20 SE
Conyers, GA 30013-2866

Direct any questions to Elaine Nash at 770-922-7292.
E-mail: einash33@bellsouth.net

Only those applications that follow the above guidelines will be reviewed.

Review

The proposal should be brief and concise. The reviewers are volunteers who are plant enthusiasts, not academics. Members of the Grants Committee will review proposals using these criteria: completeness, technical quality, consistency with GNPS goals, intended use of funds, and likelihood of successful completion. The Grants Committee brings its recommendations for awarding grants to the GNPS Board of Directors at the June Board meeting. We will notify applicants by June 30, 2008.

Obligation of Grant Recipients:

· Acknowledge the Georgia Native Plant Society in any reports, publications, or other products resulting from the work we support.

· Submit a final report to the Grants Committee at the completion of the project.

· If the project is not completed within one year, a progress report shall be submitted at quarterly intervals until project is completed.

· A final report may be published in NativeSCAPE or the applicant may be asked to submit a short article on what was learned from the research suitable for a non-technical publication. Or the applicant may be requested to give an oral report at a society meeting, in a delivery style appropriate for a symposium or professional meeting.

· The applicant/grantee is encouraged to lead a field trip for GNPS members to the study site(s), also. A final report is due at the completion of the project.

· Submit any relevant rare plant or plant community data to the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA), Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, or the U.S. Forest Service. Include the latter two only if work is conducted on TNC preserves or in national forests. The Georgia Native Plant Society should also receive a copy of this information.

· Accounting. A summarized budget is a required part of the application. An itemized account of expenditures is required at the end of the grant period.

· All paperwork must be received via mail and via electronic mail.

Completed application shall be received by April 30, 2008.

Applicants will be notified by June 30, 2008.

© Georgia Native Plant Society - 1994 - 2008   All Rights Reserved
Last update: May 01, 2008