Tree and Soil Research Fund Grant Program

The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) has established the Tree and Soil Research Grant Program to support research relevant to the landscape architecture community, with a particular focus on trees and the soils that sustain them. This program is funded through a permanently restricted endowment, ensuring long-term support for projects that address pressing issues in tree and soil management. The grant aims to foster scientific inquiry and practical advancements in urban forestry, arboriculture, and related disciplines. Projects funded under this program are expected to be completed within one to three years, with a maximum award amount of $10,000. No project may receive more than one award from this program. The grant is offered biennially, with the first cycle launched in 2021. Research priorities for the 2025 cycle include the design and specification of trees and soils in urban landscapes; propagation and nursery practices that influence tree establishment and long-term growth; strategies to improve species diversity; enhancements to tree root and canopy structures; soil and drainage design and modification; tree planting practices and space design; tree establishment and maintenance protocols; and planting soil management and upkeep. While these areas reflect current priorities, TREE Fund remains open to considering proposals that address other relevant topics of interest to the landscape architecture community, both qualitative and quantitative in nature. The fund welcomes applications from a broad range of academic and technical disciplines. However, TREE Fund does not fund certain types of projects, including grants to individuals, municipal tree surveys or assessments, tree planting programs, studies primarily related to traditional forestry, timber production, agroforestry, conservation of natural areas, or product testing intended mainly for the benefit of the manufacturer. This ensures that resources are directed toward projects that align closely with the fund’s mission and have broad potential benefit. The 2025 application cycle opens on August 1, 2025, and closes on October 1, 2025. Prospective applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by September 15, 2025. The LOI must clearly identify the Principal Investigator and Institution that will be contracted to carry out the work if funded. TREE Fund will review LOIs to determine whether the concept meets the application criteria and aligns with current research priorities. Only applicants whose LOIs are approved will be invited to submit a full proposal. All application submissions are accepted exclusively through TREE Fund’s online portal. The review process considers whether the proposed research has a reasonable possibility of success and meets the year’s priorities. Decisions on LOI acceptance are final and not open to negotiation. Grant recipients will be announced in late December 2025. Selected projects must adhere to TREE Fund’s reporting requirements, which emphasize broad dissemination of findings. Researchers are encouraged to publish results in peer-reviewed journals such as Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, and other relevant publications, and to present at professional conferences. TREE Fund requires that researchers acknowledge its support in all publications and presentations related to the funded work. The organization is committed to ensuring that the results of funded research are freely and widely available to all stakeholders who can benefit from the findings. Past awardees include Dr. Rebecca Abney of the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc., whose 2021 project investigated the use of biochar to improve community tree vault soils, enhance tree health, and reduce watershed contamination.