Unity Gardens Grant

Unity Gardens operates a grassroots environmental grant program designed to support community-driven native planting initiatives within Anne Arundel County, Maryland. As a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower and educate local communities, Unity Gardens focuses on ecological restoration through the use of native plants. The program is supported in part by funding from the Anne Arundel County Forestry Division’s reforestation fund, which enables the organization to distribute grants aimed at addressing environmental challenges such as stormwater runoff, erosion, pollution, and habitat loss. The initiative emphasizes volunteer-led efforts and community partnerships as a means to create sustainable environmental change. The primary purpose of the Unity Gardens grant program is to fund projects that install native plant gardens on public or nonprofit-owned land. Eligible projects include rain gardens, pollinator habitats, erosion control plantings, and similar efforts that contribute to environmental health. Funding is strictly limited to native plant materials and essential supporting supplies, with at least eighty percent of awarded funds required to be spent directly on plant materials. Up to twenty percent of funds may be used for items that support plant viability, such as mulch, soil amendments, or tree protection. The program explicitly prohibits the use of funds for non-native species, annual plants, labor costs, contractors, hardscaping, or maintenance crews. The program offers three distinct funding tiers based on project composition. Standard grants provide up to one thousand dollars for projects primarily consisting of perennial native plants. Meadow grants offer up to two thousand dollars for projects that incorporate an approximately equal mix of native grasses and perennials. Super grants provide up to three thousand dollars for projects in which at least seventy-five percent of plantings are native trees and shrubs. These funding tiers allow applicants to align their project scope with available resources while encouraging diverse ecological outcomes. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit, community-based organizations such as homeowners associations, schools, faith-based organizations, scout groups, and civic organizations. Projects must be located within Anne Arundel County and installed on land owned by a nonprofit organization or public entity, with documented permission from the property owner. Applicants must maintain a business bank account to receive funds and must not have received funding for the same project or location within the previous twelve months. Additionally, all projects must be volunteer-driven and cannot be associated with regulatory mitigation or violation remediation efforts. The application process is conducted twice annually, with a spring cycle opening on February fifteenth and closing on April first, and a fall cycle opening on June fifteenth and closing on August first. Applicants are required to submit a complete application including a detailed planting plan, budget using the organization’s template, site photos, maintenance plan, and a letter of support from the property owner. Applications are evaluated based on eligibility compliance, completeness, community involvement, environmental impact, feasibility, financial responsibility, and long-term sustainability. Preference is given to first-time applicants and projects that allocate one hundred percent of funding toward native plants. Following award notification, selected grantees must sign a grant agreement, confirm a project start date, and obtain any necessary permits prior to implementation. Grantees are required to acknowledge Unity Gardens in promotional materials and install provided signage at the project site. Projects must be completed within the designated grant cycle, with final reports due by July fifteenth for spring awards and November fifteenth for fall awards. These reports must include financial documentation, project summaries, photographs, and a maintenance plan to ensure sustainability for at least two years. Unity Gardens maintains a recurring funding structure with two annual cycles, reinforcing its commitment to ongoing community engagement and environmental stewardship. The program prioritizes transparency, accountability, and measurable environmental benefits, ensuring that funded projects contribute meaningfully to the ecological health of Anne Arundel County while fostering local leadership and volunteerism.

Prioritize strong volunteer engagement detailed budgets using required template and clear long term maintenance plans projects with full native plant funding and first time applicants are favored