The Parks and Parkways Tree Planting Grant is a funding initiative offered by the Department of Parks and Parkways in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation. This grant is designed to support nonprofit partners in Orleans Parish in their efforts to assist with citywide tree planting projects. The funding stems from a one-time allocation by the New Orleans City Council and contributes to the City's broader environmental goal of planting 40,000 new trees by 2030, thus enhancing the urban forest.
The grant aims to engage tax-exempt nonprofit organizations based in Orleans Parish, specifically those with a proven record of completing previous tree planting grants and submitting all required reporting. Successful applicants will use the awarded funds to plant trees on public property throughout the city. Grants may cover costs related to tree planting, supplies, and other planting-related expenses. However, funding may not be used for general operations, fundraising efforts, or lobbying activities.
A total of $207,000 is available for this grant round, with the average individual award amounting to approximately $20,000, though actual grant sizes may vary. Applications must be submitted through the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s online portal. Organizations without a profile must create one before applying. The portal also allows applicants to track the status of their applications across other Foundation programs. A tutorial is available from Foundant, the Foundation’s technology partner, to assist with the application process.
Applications will be reviewed by a stakeholder-led committee convened by the Foundation. The evaluation criteria emphasize strong organizational leadership and financial management, a history of successful tree planting initiatives, demonstrated capacity, a commitment to equity in high-need areas, and meaningful community involvement. Preference will be given to organizations that can demonstrate these attributes.
Key dates include the application opening on May 1, 2025, and the submission deadline of May 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Notification of awards will be provided in July 2025. If funded, grantees must use the awarded money by the end of 2026 and will be required to submit both interim and final programmatic and financial reports. Additionally, recipients must use the Department’s Tree Collector Application to log planted trees into the official inventory.
For further inquiries, applicants are encouraged to reach out via email to grants@nocsf.org.
