News published: 04 May 2026

We are pleased to announce that BGCI’s Global Botanic Garden Fund (GBGF) is now open for applications!

The GBGF consists of several grants designed to support plant conservation, promote sustainability initiatives, and strengthen global partnerships, with a particular emphasis on botanic gardens and arboreta in developing countries and biodiversity hotspots.

In 2025, BGCI received 175 applications for the Global Botanic Garden Fund. Through the GBGF, BGCI and partner organisations distributed 55 grants, worth $171,925 to 50 institutions, across 32 different countries.

Learn more about each grant criteria and apply via the link below:

The call for applications is open until 5pm UK time, Friday 26 June 2026.

Grants available for 2026 are:

BGCI Member Grants

This fund aims to disburse 15-20 grants per year with each grant awarding up to USD $2,500. The BGCI Member Grants can help an institution to improve or support one or more of the vital areas across the botanic garden as defined by BGCI’s Botanic Garden Accreditation.

BGCI/ArbNet Partnership Programme Grants

Two grants of up to USD $5,000 are available to support collaborations between the arboretum and the botanic garden community that facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills and resources. Projects through the Partnership programme must focus on tree conservation, involve a partnership between two institutions, and one of the partners must be an ArbNet Accredited Arboretum. Funding for the BGCI/ArbNet Partnership Programme is graciously provided by BGCI’s Patron Member, The Morton Arboretum.

BGCI/Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Grants

This fund supports botanical gardens or arboreta around the world that are having difficulty in carrying out their mission. Grants between USD $750-$1,500 are available for any part of the garden’s work; operations, conservation, education or research. The grants are graciously provided by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

BGCI/Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve Grants

These grants are only available for institutions based in the Caribbean and Central American region, as defined by the Caribbean and Central American Botanic Gardens Network (please note Mexico is included). Grants of up to USD $4,500 are available to help institutions to improve or support one or more of the vital areas across the botanic garden as defined by BGCI’s Botanic Garden Accreditation as well as to carry out the implementation of the Plant Conservation Strategy for the Caribbean Region. The grants are graciously provided by The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve (LLNPP).

Global Seed Conservation Grants

The main purpose of these grants is to allow botanic gardens/arboreta to create new collections of threatened species, increase seed banking capacity and safeguard these collections by duplicating seeds in the Baekdudaegan Global Seed Vault (BGSV). Grants are up to USD $4,000 and are made possible through a cooperative agreement between the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute and BGCI.

Resources

Last year BGCI delivered a webinar providing information about the application and reporting process. You can access this here:

We also have an online course (free to BGCI Members) to help you learn about the best practices to follow when applying for GBGF grants. Check this out below.

Apply to the GBGF

Member, ArbNet, MLA, LLNPP and GSC Grants are now open for 2026.

Apply here

GBGF Course

Access our online course on the Global Botanic Garden Fund here!

Access the Course Here