Utah Native Plant Society


Grant-in-Aid Program


Purpose

The Utah Native Plant Society provides grants-in-aid of up to a maximum $2,000 (increased starting with the 2021 deadline) as a contribution toward projects that further the mission and goals of the society (see however below re: our current areas of focus). These projects may involve research or education or both. UNPS funding should be considered as seed or matching money to be used in combination with funding from other sources, rather than as a primary source of support.

The purpose of this program is normally not to fund the purchase of tangible items such as equipment, personal property or plants/seeds but rather to provide funding for activities that increase, for example, knowledge or educates the public. This program is not available to fund the purchases of native plants whether for restoration, reclamation, school/heritage gardens or similar projects. For projects primarily concerned with native plantings of some kind, please instead contact our horticultural committee chairperson as we may be able to provide expertise and small donations of either plants or, occasionally, money (e.g. $250 or less) towards those projects.

Grants will also generally not be awarded for travel costs and/or time relative to the attendance of meetings nor for overhead amounts.

Submission Procedure

Starting in funding year 2015, UNPS will be considering grant-in-applications only at one time each year. Some new rules and protocols are in the process of being developed.

For the past several years we have focused on projects that directly concern Utah rare and endangered plants, and educational projects that try to engage students in activities that increase native plant awareness. If you have a project that falls into one of these categories and that fits clearly into one of these two areas, please e-mail us a synopsis only of what you have in mind.

Proposal requirements:
  • Introductory section containing a succinct purpose/objective of the project
  • Narrative description of the project not more than 2-3 pages in length indicating how goals/objectives will be accomplished and when
  • If not included in the narrative description, a description of who will be involved both directly or indirectly with the project including participation of any other agencies or organizations as well as anyone who may be supervising the project as well as any/all subcontractors
  • A budget section (typically not more than one page in length) outlining any and all funds that will be spent on the project including how the requested grant funds would be spent if possible. This should include a breakdown of how the funds will be used by activity, category or item with an indication of exactly when the funds will be spent.
  • If not explicitly clear in the budget section, a statement within the proposal specifically indicating the dollar amount of the grant request
  • A publication section (paragraph) indicating exactly how the results of the project will be published if applicable. In aliition, UNPS expects some sort of final report when the project is complete and requests that grantees at a minimum write a newsletter article relating to the project to be submitted to the Sego Lily editor.
  • A biographical sketch page (one page maximum)
  • A transmittal letter containing a date, clearly identifying that a grant proposal is attached and which includes the name, affiliated company or organization if any, mailing address, phone number and E-mail address of the grantee

To avoid delay or rejection of your proposal, please make sure it meets these requirements!

Applications should preferably be submitted via e-mail to either grants@unps.org or unps@unps.org. Attachments should preferably be in PDF format (but other file types such as docx, doc, ods, txt and others are acceptable). Please make sure you receive a confirmation from us that we have received your application.

Hard copy proposals can also be submitted to:

Utah Native Plant Society
Attn: Grant-in Aid Program
P.O. Box 520041
Salt Lake City UT 84152-0041

(if submitting a hard copy application that is less than one month from the deadline, please also send a confirming e-mail)

Questions?

Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have at grants@unps.org or unps@unps.org. If we have questions about your submission, communications will be initiated from the "grants" e-mail address as will communications involving award amounts.

Evaluation criteria

These criteria are used in evaluating research and other proposals:

    Does the proposal support or promote the purposes of the Uath Native Plant Society?
    The proposal improves our knowledge and understanding of the distribution, life history and conservation of native plant species.
    The proposal improves our knowledge of the cultivation and other apppropriate uses of native plant species.
    The proposal educates the public about native plant species.
    The proposal supports local chapter activities that promote the purposes of the Utah Native Plant Society.
    Is the application technically and logistically capable of accomplishing the project goal?
    Applicant is, or is affiliated with, an organization or agency with special expertise and/or responsibility for native plant species.
    Applicant has demonstrated experience in conducting the type of work proposed.
    Applicant has demonstrated that adequate logistical support is available to accomplish the work proposed.
    Are the methods and budget sound and appropriate to the project goal?
    The methods are necessary and sufficient for accomplishing the project goal.
    The budget and staff are necessary and sufficient for accomplishing the project goal.
    Funding sources and matching support
    The proposal should disclose all related funding sources
    What type of matching support is available (in-kind, cash, combination)
    Matching support is what percent of project budget?
    Travel and supply expenses should not exceed 50% of the overall grant request
    Additional issues/considerations
    Availability of UNPS funds and budget for the current year
    How/when payments will be made
    Termination for default or convenience
    Whether project has or has not already commenced
    Insurance/liability
    Overhead
    Will any subcontractors be involved?
    Publications and theses
    Photographs
    Reports -drafts and final
    Report of completion to UNPS and publication in Sego Lily and/or via a presentation to members
    Designated UNPS board member contact for project

Recently awarded grants:

  • 2023 grant awards
    • Shannon Lencioni - using phytochemical diversity to assess browsing on Arizona willow (Salix arizonica) ($2,000)
    • Ava Brinkley - investigating species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships in Astragalus subsection newberryani ($2,000)
    • Mary O'Brien/Thomas Meinzen - La Sal Mountains endemic Senecio fremontii var. inexpectatus dependence on pollinators and exposure to mountain goats are having an effect on their population ($2,000)
  • 2022 grant awards
    • Rachel Renne - investigating shrub-grass interactions in the big sagebrush ecosystems across the Western U.S. ($1,985)
    • William Gray, Mitchell Power and Joshua Krahuler - to support laboratory costs for isotope analysis of tree samples ($2,100)
    • Alexandria Cartwright - to support creation of signage for planter boxes in Helper, Utah ($496)
    • Wetland Rangers and Draper City Parks and Recreation through Rick Anton (Draper City Trails and Open Space Foreman) - to complete an educational sign project for the Mehraban Wetlands Park in2 Draper ($350)
  • 2021 grant awards
    • Aljexi N. Olson - study relating to the role that soil plays in the endemism of Pediomelum pariense ($2000)
    • Sallie Tucker - The Effects of Biological Soil Crusts on Root-associated Fungi Infection Rates of Vascular Plants Across Southwestern Deserts ($1900)
  • 2020 grant awards
    • Christopher McDaniel - Floral microbiome assembly and function in the face of phenological change ($1000)
    • Ashley N. Eagan - The Population History, Conservation Genetics, and Ecological Niche Modeling of Pediomelum pariense, a Rare Plant Endemic to Utah (Leguminosae)
  • 2019 grant awards - two grants
    • Jennifer Ackerfield - phylogenomic relationships of Cirsium ownbeyi and C. rydbergii
    • Israel Borokini - Investigation of nuclear genome size variation and karyotypic diversity in Ivesia in western North American deserts
  • 2018 grant awards - three grant awards
    • Teresa Saunders - Aliciella subsection Subnuda (Polemoniaceae) phylogenetics: $400 (travel expenses)
    • Alyson DeNittis - Hand pollination reproductive success for Arctomecon humilis at Shinob Kibe: $400 (travel expenses)
    • Katherine Kucera - Characterizing changes in genetic diversity in the production of multisource seed lots in Penstemon pachyphyllus: $450 (supplies/analysis costs)
  • 2017 grant awards - three grant awards
    • Matt Wang - genetic diversity study relating to Sclerocactus wrightiae: $1000
    • Randall Violett (SUU) - biology education project: $200
    • Jana Leinbach (USFS) - ongoing introduction project on public lands involving Phacelia argillacea: $1000
    • More details on the above grants can be found in the Winter 2018 Sego Lily newsletter (see the article entitled "UNPS Grant-in-Aid Update for the 2017 funding cycle" on p.14-15)
  • 2016 grant award
    • Emily A Holt, Assistant Professor of Biology at Utah Valley University, for a proposal relating to the genetic variation in the lichen Xanthomendoza fulva and whether it corresponds with the genetic variability of its substrate Quercus gambelii.
  • 2015 grant award
    • Magdalena Eshleman - Local adaptation of six widespread forb species for habitat restoration: $1000
      (Predicting the Importance of Seed Source When Restoring Plants with Differing Life History Traits)
  • 2014 grant awards
    • Jeffrey Rose - Evolutionary biology of Polemonium: $500.00
    • Robby McMinn - Cirsium ownbeyi study: $500.00
    • Wayne Whaley - Lomatium grayi and varieties study: $600.00
  • Examples of other awards
    • 2012 - John Mull and Vince Tepedino - pollination biology of Arctomecon humilis: $1000
    • 2007 - Michael Yardley - native plant videos involving elementary school children in Enterprise, Utah
    • 2006 - Ashley Egan - Conservation genetics of the Paria Breadroot (Pediomelum pariense), a rare Utah endemic - see pages 5 and 6 in the Jul/Aug 2006 Sego Lily newsletter: $1000
    • 2004 - Nathan Phillips - Life cycle study of three Allium species native to Utah: $1000
    • 2002 - Tamara Naumann - natural resource internship at Dinosaur National Monument
    • 2001 and 2002 - Tom Clark/Capitol Reef (CARE) - regional inventory of rare plants in south central Utah: $1000 each year
    • 1991 and prior - Kimball Harper and Deanna Nelson - alkaloidal relationships in the genus Arctomecon and herbivory in A. humilis and site characteristics and habitat requirements of A. humilis
    • 1987 - Deanna Nelson and Kimball Harper - Demography of the Endangered Dwarf Bearclaw Poppy: two-year grant (see abstract in the May 1989 Sego Lily)

Project reports from completed grants: