Alaska Community Forest Council Arbor Day grants

The Alaska Community Forest Council mission is to promote the benefits of local trees and forests to improve Alaska communities. The Council has grants available to government agencies and non-profit organizations to help celebrate Arbor Day in Alaska. This year, Arbor Day will be celebrated on May 20.

Grants are intended to help meet this goal by funding projects that:

1. Generate awareness of and participation in Arbor Day (officially May 20, 2024);
2. Increase public awareness of the benefits of trees and forests and build support for planting and caring for public trees;
3. Provide a public demonstration of the benefits of trees and/or proper tree selection, planting, and care;
4. Use trees to solve community problems. Examples include: reduce or treat stormwater, create wind breaks or living snow fences, restore streams or rivers, plant fruit trees to provide healthy food, screen surfaces prone to graffiti, calm traffic, and beautify your schoolyard.

Requirements

• Applicant must be a government entity or nonprofit organization with IRS 501(C)3 status.
• Applicants may apply for a grant of from $200 to $500. Approximately $3,000 is available for grants.
• Grant funds may not be used for wages or benefits.
• If trees and shrubs are planted with grant funds, follow practices described in Plant a Tree: Alaska's Guide to Tree Selection, Planting, & Care. See link below.
  Trees must:
  • Have a three-year, budgeted maintenance plan.
  • Be of high quality, appropriate for the site, and meet the American Standard for Nursery Stock 2014. https://www.americanhort.org/page/standards
  • If you would like help writing specifications to ensure that you receive trees in excellent condition and form, please contact us.
• Donations for Arbor Day Grants were provided to the Council from the Society of American Foresters Cook Inlet and Yukon River chapters and Paul's Tree Service. Any media (print, online etc.) or public event produced in association with this grant shall recognize the support of the Alaska Community Forest Council.

Proposal

Complete an application (http://forestry.alaska.gov/community/council) Be creative and find ways to reach a large audience in your community.

Selection Criteria

1. Quality, clarity and organization of project and budget.
2. Extent to which project generates awareness of and participation in Arbor Day.
3. Extent to which project increases public awareness of the benefits of trees and forests and builds support for planting and caring for public trees.
4. Extent to which project demonstrates the benefits of trees and/or proper tree selection, planting, and care.
5. Project's benefits to the community and its ability to solve a problem or meet a need.

Application Process

Complete the two-page application (link below). Application are accepted year round and are reviewed quarterly beginning in March. The Alaska Community Forest Council and Community Forestry staff will review applications and grant awards will be announced after each of our quarterly meetings. Upon approval of the proposal, the council and grantee will sign a grant agreement.

For more information or assistance

Please call if you need help preparing your proposal. We can provide information to help you design a successful project, including Plant a Tree: Alaska's Guide to Tree Selection, Planting, and Care, online
at http://forestry.alaska.gov/Assets/pdfs/community/publications/plant a tree web.pdf

Information and publications are also available
at http://forestry.alaska.gov/community/publications.

Alex Wenninger 907-786-6309 akwenninger@alaska.edu

E-mail (preferred), mail, or deliver proposal to:
Alex Wenninger, council member, at akwenninger@alaska.edu or
Alaska Community Forest Council PO Box 241282
Anchorage, AK 99524

• 2024 Arbor Day Grant Application (Word)
• 2024 Arbor Day Grant Completion Report (Word)

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