South Central Chapter Small Grants

Indiana Native Plant Society
South Central Chapter
Grants Program

Request for Proposals
2024

Would a demonstration garden project help your local school? Maybe you have an idea for a pollinator area, a rain garden, or a garden of edible native plants in a park near you? Think outside the box and consider applying for a grant!

The South Central Chapter of INPS will provide small grants for qualified projects that further the mission of the organization. The Chapter will consider requests for grants that range from $50 to $250. Partial funding may be offered at the discretion of the Chapter.

Who may apply?

Any current South Central Chapter member (individual or group of individuals) or a non-profit organization with principles that complement those of INPS may submit a grant request.

What can grants be used for?

Grants may be used for a range of activities that are in line with the mission of the Indiana Native Plant Society (see https://indiananativeplants.org/about-us/). The Chapter encourages creative endeavors that are beneficial to the community, whether they be one-time events or efforts that span months. Grants may not be used for private homes.

Proposals will need to outline the desired outcome and describe who will benefit. In addition, since one of the key roles of INPS is to inform the public about native plants, the project should include an educational component (signage, tours, article, presentation, video, etc.).

Where must the grant funds be used?

The grants must be used to benefit a community within the boundaries of the South Central chapter. The Chapter encourages activities in areas of the South Central region outside of the Morgan/Monroe/Brown County core. [Chapter map:  https://indiananativeplants.org/chapters/]

When do I need to apply?

To help applicants throughout the year, the Chapter will receive proposals three times a year. Deadlines are October 31, February 28, and June 30. Applicants will be notified of results within a month of the due date.

How do I apply?

Grant seekers will need to submit their application online by the deadline.

The application consists of the following:

  • The SC-INPS Grant Application form with the following attachments:
  • A one- to three-page description of the project
    1. What you want to do
    2. Who will do it, including a description of the resources and experience of the applicant
    3. What is your timeline
    4. Who will it benefit
    5. What is the educational component
    6. What will it cost (the SC-INPS grant plus other identified sources)
  • A project budget for SC-INPS grant (which may be for the entire project or a portion of a larger project)

Proposals will be evaluated on the clarity of purpose, benefit to the community, feasibility within the proposed timeline and funding levels, the value of the educational component, and the likelihood that the proposed project will be successful in meeting its goals.

Additional notes:

  • Any plants used in the project must be native to Indiana.
  • The disbursement of funds will depend on the size of the grant and the type of project. In most cases, the disbursement will be divided into two payments. One half of the requested funds will be paid upon approval of the grant and one half will be paid upon the project’s completion and receipt of final report.
  • The final report should include, if possible, digital photos suitable for publication in the Chapter newsletter, webpage, and Facebook page.