BGCI’s Global Botanic Garden Fund aims to drive plant conservation, especially in smaller gardens. The Global Botanic Garden Fund is open to BGCI Member Institutions only. Preference will be given to small botanic gardens in developing countries and biodiversity hotspots. Botanic Gardens that are not members may apply, but a membership fee must be paid prior to the application deadline.

The Global Botanic Garden Fund aims to disburse 15-20 grants per year, but in 2020 up to 72 will be available! Each grant will be a minimum of USD 1,000 and maximum of USD 2,500. Applicants are able to apply for more than one grant, but these must be submitted individually. Call for applications for 2020 Grants through BGCI’s Global Botanic Garden Fund are open from 22 May 2020 – 14 August 2020 (the call for applications has been extended by three weeks due to impacts on our members by covid-19).

Scope of Possible Grant Activities

The Global Botanic Garden Fund supports projects that work to achieve the targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), including the following activities:

• Plant conservation practice, i.e. ex situ and in situ conservation of rare and threatened species;
• Plant conservation policy and education;
• Development of infrastructures;
• Training to support plant conservation activities;
• Development of international partnerships for the exchange of knowledge, skills and resources within the botanic garden community;
• Sustainability practices; and
• Efforts to achieve BGCI Accreditation.

Additional Grant Activities in 2020

• The following additional activities will be supported in 2020:
• Efforts to increase sustainability activities / actions within the garden;
• Efforts to encourage sustainable behaviour by visitors; and
• Support to cover the impact of COVID-19 by funding essential activities and needs, including plant care, staff time and consumables (BGCI Grade E or F members only).

BGCI/ArbNet Partnership Programme Grants

The BGCI/ArbNet Partnership Programme is an international partnership building initiative that aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills and resources within the botanic garden and arboretum community. Grant applications requesting BGCI/ArbNet Partnership Programme funding must satisfy the following conditions:

• Focus on tree conservation;
• Priority will be given to projects that target biodiversity hotspots and/or capacity building in developing countries;
• Involve an international partnership between two institutions; and
• At least one of the two partners is an ArbNet accredited arboretum.

BGCI/Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (MLA) Grants

The mission of the grant fund will be to support worldwide conservation through botanical gardens. The purpose of the MLA grants will be to aid botanical gardens or arboreta around the world that are having difficulty in carrying out their mission. The grants may be used for any part of the gardens’ work, operations, conservation, education or research.

Four MLA Grants are available for $1,000 each.

Grants Available by Activity / Programme