Jeane Reeves Research Grant Program

The following guidelines may be printed using this form: GNPS Jeane Reeves Research Grant

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 the 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, and supports restoration of native habitats, as well as the relocation of native plants from areas threatened by destruction. We encourage cultivation and propagation of native plants; support the commercial availability of nursery-propagated native plant material; and promote native plants as desirable alternatives to exotic plants.

The Research Grants Program

The Georgia Native Plant Society offers financial grants in support of research on native plants. The following US citizens are eligible: graduate students at Georgia universities; undergraduate students at Georgia universities working on senior thesis projects with an advisor; and qualified professionals working in Georgia on applied or basic research in botanical or horticultural areas that fulfill the mission and goals of the Georgia Native Plant Society.

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

  • Floristic surveys.
  • Surveys of local green spaces and significant natural areas.
  • Research to protect and preserve endangered or threatened species at risk within their native habitat.
  • Horticultural research of native species not found in the nursery trade
  • Research on species genotype or ecotype range and importance.
  • Restoration of native species or their habitats.
  • Research and management of pest plant species.

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. Please include the name of your academic sponsor or major professor’s e-mail address and phone number. (Two page limit.)
  4. Project description shall be concise and 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 are important and creative, and how the project will advance the knowledge of Georgia’s native plants. Include a description of the final product of the research.
  5. Project schedule (normally one-year).
  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 the budget includes unapproved items, it will be reduced by that amount.

All applications must be submitted in writing to the address below AND by electronic mail to Elaine Nash,  einash33@bellsouth.net

Mail application to:

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

Direct any questions to Elaine Nash by email or by phone at 770-922-7292.

Completed application must be received by April of the year being requested.  

 

Review Process

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

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 of the award decision by the end of June of that same year.

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 6 month intervals until the project is completed.
  • 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.
  • An abstract and short article, with images suitable for electronic publication in NativeScape,  the Society’s electronic newsletter or on it’s website, shall be submitted at the completion of the project. The article should summarize the research and what the applicant learned in language suitable for a lay publication.
  • The applicant/grantee is encouraged to lead a field trip for GNPS members to the study sites, and to speak at a membership meeting.
  • 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.
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