Matching Grant to Help INPS Conserve Rare Native Plants
The Indiana Native Plant Society has received a three-year grant from the Sam Shine Foundation, enabling us to hire a contract position to support a variety of INPS programs.
A substantial part of the contract calls for the development of a community science rare plant monitoring program for Indiana in partnership with the Indiana Plant Conservation Alliance (INPCA) and the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center (INHDC) at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Nature Preserves (DNP). Indiana has more than 5,100 rare plant sites but, in a typical year, only about 400 sites get monitored. Many of these plant occurrences are at risk of loss because of invasive species, lack of habitat management, climate change, and a number of other threats. The inability to monitor all of these populations regularly means that populations can blink out before the risk factors can be identified and mitigated where possible.
This grant will provide volunteers an opportunity to observe select rare plants in Indiana, and will make it possible for volunteers to provide valuable information on the status of rare plant populations. This will ultimately lead to better management of rare plant sites as needed. The remainder of the grant funds will provide operational support for crucial INPS programs such as stewardship, educational initiatives, and more.
However, there is a catch.
To receive and utilize the full three year grant, INPS needs to raise $48,000, with $16,000 of that needed by June 30, 2025. Over the three years of the grant, these funds will leverage $120,000 from the Sam Shine Foundation, essentially a 2.5 match to each donation. This is a great opportunity to help the Indiana Native Plant Society protect rare plants in Indiana and more than double the impact of your gift. It is also a great way to honor a loved one by making a donation in their name or their memory.
Can you chip in $50 or more today? A $50 donation will become a $125 donation with help from the Sam Shine Foundation, while $100 will become $250. Larger amounts are similarly multiplied in impact. Please donate now by clicking the button below.
Donate to Shine Foundation Matching Grant
Why We Sought the Grant
The Indiana Native Plant Society has existed for more than 30 years as a vibrant volunteer-led organization offering robust programs and educational resources. We can point to numerous achievements advancing our cause as champions for biodiversity, nourishing the web of life, and bringing youth to nature. We have much to celebrate, but with our growth and success, we have reached a turning point.
INPS membership has grown to more than 1000 families and organizations across the state. We have depended on these member volunteers to promote the appreciation, preservation, scientific study, and use of plants native to Indiana, and to teach people about their beauty, diversity, and importance to our environment. This is our mission, and it has energized many of our members to step up and lend a hand. But we want to do more. As we look to the future, we want to invest in an organizational structure to support our growing aspirations.
The Sam Shine Foundation has recognized our need and encouraged us to apply for a matching grant that funds a three-year paid position, which we’re calling the Program Facilitator. In addition to coordinating the development of the community science rare plant monitoring program described above, this full-time contract position will support our organization by:
- Maximizing the engagement of INPS members in mission-supporting activities by recruiting and coordinating volunteers.
- Continuing the expansion and fine-tuning of our Indiana Native Plant Finder.
- Raising awareness among our members and the public of our many resources and activities, with a view to recruiting new members and encouraging the public to make use of INPS offerings.
- Providing operational support for INPS programs and regional chapters.
We invite you to participate in this Shine Foundation Matching Grant by donating generously. Your gift will enable INPS to establish the Program Facilitator position as a support structure to help us thrive as we greet the future.