Trees for Kids Grant Program

The Trees for Kids grant program is administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), with the primary objective of promoting environmental education and hands-on conservation efforts among children, teenagers, and young adults. The program offers funding support to plant trees on school grounds and public lands, with the goal of fostering awareness about the importance of trees and their ecological benefits. A fundamental requirement of the program is youth involvement in all aspects of the tree planting process, including mulching and initial watering, thereby embedding environmental stewardship into community practice. Applicants eligible for Trees for Kids funding include local and state governmental entities such as school districts, cities, and counties, as well as service organizations holding 501(c)(3) status. Nonprofit service organizations that lack this designation can still qualify by partnering with local governments for fund management. All projects must occur on either public or private school grounds or public lands like parks and right-of-ways; any tree planting on private property, other than school-affiliated grounds, is explicitly ineligible. Projects that do not fully comply with these restrictions or fail to submit all required materials by the deadline risk disqualification. The maximum funding amount available through this program is $2,500 per project, and funds may be used exclusively for purchasing trees and mulch. Any additional project expenses—such as tools, labor, or site preparation—must be covered by the applicant. Trees must meet American Nursery Stock Standards and must be container-grown within a size range of 5 to 10 gallons, or their root bag equivalents. Species diversity is strictly monitored: for projects planting 30 or fewer trees, no more than three of the same species are permitted; for larger projects, species must comprise no more than 10% of the total. Additionally, the project must not include more than 20% of any single genera. Applications must include both a scheduled tree planting date and a backup date for potential postponement, which must fall between September 16 and November 1. Weather conditions such as rain, wind, snow, or uncomfortably cold temperatures are valid reasons for rescheduling, but all changes must be communicated to the program coordinator. Mulch is a required component for each tree, and applicants are encouraged to source mulch locally when possible. The grant allows up to two bags of mulch per tree, though applicants should avoid cypress and weed control mulch. Upon project completion, grant recipients are responsible for submitting reimbursement documents including nursery and final invoices, a W9, and a final report, along with any event media. Reimbursement processing may take up to 60 days. A DNR-led planting demonstration is mandatory for each group participating in the planting, and multiple demonstrations may be required for larger or segmented groups. A pre-application site visit is encouraged for first-time applicants. The application deadline for fall events is 4 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025. All materials must be submitted electronically to Chip Murrow, the program coordinator, at Chip.Murrow@dnr.iowa.gov. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For further inquiries or assistance, applicants may contact Chip Murrow at (515) 822-1031.

Projects must strictly follow species diversity rules and planting timelines. Augers are prohibited. DNR demonstration is mandatory. Communicate reschedules promptly.