The TREE Fund has introduced the Tree and Soil Research Grant, made possible by a permanently restricted endowment to support research aligned with the interests of the landscape architecture community—particularly focusing on trees and the soils that sustain them.
Research Priorities
Funded projects should address one or more of the following areas:
- Design and specification of trees and soils in urban environments
- Propagation and nursery techniques affecting tree establishment and long-term growth
- Enhancing species diversity in urban landscapes
- Improving root and canopy structure
- Soil and drainage design/modification
- Best practices for tree planting and maintenance
- Planting space and soil management
Funding Overview
- Grant Amount: Up to $10,000
- Project Duration: 1 to 3 years
- Co-funding: At least 10% in cash or in-kind contributions (unrecovered overhead may count toward this)
Eligible Expenses
- Institutional compensation, stipends, and benefits
- Travel and transportation
- Equipment (e.g., growth chambers, vehicles)
- Materials and supplies
- Contract labor (e.g., consultants, speakers)
- Institutional overhead (up to 10%)
- Other miscellaneous costs
Ineligible Activities
This grant will not fund:
- Individual applicants (without institutional affiliation)
- Municipal tree inventories or assessments
- Tree planting programs
- Traditional forestry, timber production, agroforestry, or natural ecosystem conservation
- Product testing primarily benefiting the manufacturer
Who Can Apply
- Principal Investigators (PIs), Co-PIs, and student researchers affiliated with institutions are eligible to apply.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Proven track record of the investigative team (early-career researchers are encouraged to partner with experienced co-investigators or advisors)
- Potential impact on arboriculture and the tree care industry
- Scientific approach and rigor, including hypothesis and research design
- A clear dissemination plan for both academic and practitioner audiences
Application Requirements
- Project Summary (max 400 words)
- Describe the problem, its relevance to arboriculture and urban forestry, and the project’s goals.
- Measurable Outputs/Outcomes (max 250 words)
- List tangible deliverables (e.g., publications, outreach materials) and up to five measurable impacts on urban forest practices.
- Review of Current Knowledge (max 1,000 words)
- Outline existing research and past efforts related to the project area.
- Work Plan (max 1,500 words)
- Detail project scope, hypotheses, methodology, and analysis. Declare any proprietary elements upfront.
- Dissemination Plan (max 300 words)
- Explain how findings will be shared with both academic and practitioner communities. TREE Fund encourages broad, open access to research results while supporting scholarly publication.
- Literature Cited
- Use in-text citations in the “Author, Year” format and provide a full bibliography, listed alphabetically by the first author’s last name.
For more information, visit TREE Fund.
