[Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund](https://treefund.org)

March 2027: Letter of Intent deadline (projected) | March 2027: Full application deadline (projected)

Up to $10,000 per award (minimum $5,000); typically 1-year projects.

Supports research to improve nursery tree production, focusing on root science and developing planting-ready trees for urban environments.

--- ## Description This grant supports research projects that advance nursery industry practices related to tree production, planting, and transplanting, with a particular emphasis on root science. The fund encourages studies that develop root systems and tree structures ready for urban planting, aiming to minimize the need for root-ball corrections at the time of transfer. Projects may address all stages of tree production, including propagation, liner production, and final preparation, as well as diverse root packaging and transfer methods. Additional priorities include expanding tree species diversity, overcoming propagation challenges for difficult species, and increasing industry acceptance of new cultivars through scientific research. The ultimate goal is to enhance root health, growth, and density to improve successful tree establishment in urban landscapes. --- ## Due Dates - March 2027: Letter of Intent deadline (anticipated/projected) - March 2027: Full application deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Award size: Up to $10,000 (minimum $5,000) - Typical project duration: 1 year - Institutional overhead capped at 10% - At least 10% of project funding must come from cash or in-kind sources (unrecovered institutional overhead may be used to meet this requirement) --- ## Eligibility - Open to research teams from a wide range of academic and technical disciplines (qualitative or quantitative) - Grants are awarded to institutions, not individuals - Ineligible projects include: - Grants to individuals - Municipal tree surveys/assessments - Tree planting programs - Studies focused primarily on agricultural/timber yield - Product testing for commercial benefit - Current TREE Fund trustees and their families are not eligible --- ## Application Process - Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by the projected March deadline - LOI must identify the Principal Investigator and institution - TREE Fund will review LOIs for eligibility and alignment with priorities - If approved, applicants are invited to submit a full application by the projected March deadline via the [online portal](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=treefund) - Applications must include: - Project summary and goals - Measurable outputs/outcomes - Review of current knowledge and past research - Detailed project work plan (scope, hypotheses, design, methodology, anticipated proprietary elements) - Dissemination plans for both academic and practitioner audiences - Budget, including at least 10% matching from other sources - Reviewers emphasize the investigative team's track record, project relevance to arboriculture, experimental design, and dissemination plans --- ## Additional Information - Grant agreements must be signed within one month of notification - Reporting is required; findings should be shared openly and published in relevant journals - Recipients must acknowledge TREE Fund support in publications and presentations --- ## External Links - [Program page and application instructions](https://treefund.org/researchgrants/barborinas) - [Online application portal](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=treefund) - [Sample Grant Agreement](https://treefund.org/grants/grant-recipient-resources) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [TREE Fund Contact Page](https://treefund.org/contact) | | Phone | (630) 369-8300 | | Application Portal | [TREE Fund Online Portal](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=treefund) | | Portal Support | Heath Hupke, [hhupke@treefund.org](mailto:hhupke@treefund.org) |

Jim and Annie Barborinas Fund

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