The Garden Club of Cleveland's Seeding Growth Grant Application 2026

The Garden Club of Cleveland 2026 Seeding Growth Grant Application

2026 Funds Available: $46,000.00

ABOUT THE GARDEN CLUB OF CLEVELAND
Since its founding in 1912, The Garden Club of Cleveland (GCC) has been dedicated to stimulating the knowledge and love of gardening and to improving and protecting our environment through conservation and civic improvement. As a result of GCC support, civic beauty has been preserved, restored, and appreciated in the greater Cleveland community. To read about GCC's history, please visit the Club's website.

GCC’s SEEDING GROWTH GRANT
The Garden Club of Cleveland is committed to making meaningful community impact. Each year, we award Seeding Growth grants to exceptional projects, with funds raised through member donations, community sponsorships, and our annual Harvest Boutique fundraiser.

APPLYING FOR SEEDING GROWTH FUNDING
The following will serve as a guide to prepare a Seeding Growth Grant application. For more information, please contact Brooke Slater at marybrookeslater@gmail.com.

Please note for the 2026 cycle, the Garden Club of Cleveland will award a total of $46,000 in Seeding Growth funding across three project awards. Funding will be distributed as follows.

Winning Project: $34,500 / First Runner Up: $6,900 / Second Runner Up: $4,600

APPLICATION TIMELINE

January 5	Grant applications posted on GCC website.
March 14	Grant application deadline via online form.
April / May	Site visits; GCC will contact those selected for site visit.
Mid-June	GCC members vote to select Seeding Growth project grantee at Club’s Annual Meeting.
By July 1	Grantees notified and funding distributed.
By Nov 30	Grantees expected to provide a report on the impact of their grant.

COMPETITIVE PROJECTS WILL ...

Have a clear objective: include a detailed description of the project's purpose and demonstrate how it aligns with GCC’s mission.
Demonstrate community impact: present an exciting and achievable opportunity to positively impact the community.
Be mission driven: operate as part of a nonprofit organization and explain whether/how the project will be accessible to the public.
Show financial soundness: provide a sound financial plan, detailing how grant funds will be allocated.
Address maintenance and sustainability: explain what will be required for ongoing maintenance and how the project will be sustained long-term.
Clarify funding sources: indicate whether additional funding is required and, if so, whether it has been secured.
Recognize GCC support: outline a clear plan to publicly acknowledge GCC's Seeding Growth support.
Participate in site visits: be prepared for a one-hour site visit if selected by GCC’s Seeding Growth Committee, to be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays, between 9:30am - 2:30pm in the months of April and early May 2026.
Provide an update report: submit a report by November 30, 2026 that summarizes the progress and impact of the funded project.

COMPETITIVE PROJECTS WILL NOT ...

Seek funding for endowments, individual scholarships, or feasibility studies.
Apply for general operating expenses unrelated to a specific project.

The Garden Club of Cleveland Seeding Growth Grant Application 2026

Please review all of the application questions below and required documents that need to be included. For longer answers, it may be easier to copy and paste text from another document into this online form.

If you need any assistance with this online application or have any questions, please contact marybrookeslater@gmail.com.

Seeding Growth available funding for up to

three (3) projects in 2026:

Grant Winner: $34,500

First Runner Up: $6,900

Second Runner Up: $4,600

Deadline: Friday, March 14, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
1. Organization Information
Organization Name:*
Address:*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry
E-mail:*
Website:
Phone Number:*

Area CodePhone Number
Alternate/Cell Phone Number:

Area CodePhone Number
Executive Director:*
Primary Contact (if different from executive director):
Organization Type:*

501(c)3 Nonprofit OrganizationOther
Year Founded:*
Provide a brief summary of your organization's mission, nature of work, and communities served. (max. 200 words):*

0/200

2. Project Information
Project Name:*
Have you applied for Seeding Growth funding previously?*
If yes, what year was it previously submitted?
If yes, is this a continuation of your previously submitted project?
Since its founding in 1912, The Garden Club of Cleveland (GCC) has been dedicated to stimulating the knowledge and love of gardening and to improving and protecting our environment through conservation and civic improvement. To help us understand the alignment of your project with GCC's goals, please indicate the specific area(s) of our mission that your project will address. (Please select all areas that apply.

Education: stimulating the knowledge and love of gardening.Conservation: projecting and preserving our natural environment.Civic Improvement: enhancing our public spaces through beautification and thoughtful design.Other: if your project aligns with an area not listed above, please explain.Other
Describe the project in detail. (max 750 words) *

NOTE: Should include but not be limited to: what is the project's objective (and how does it align with GCC's mission); how, where, and for whom will the project make a difference; when will the project begin and end; if the project is already underway, what has been accomplished so far; how will the project be maintained and sustained?0/750
Describe how GCC would be recognized for Seeding Growth Grant support of this project (max 100 words) *

0/100
OPTIONAL: Describe the potential for GCC member involvement with this project. (max 100 words)

NOTE: Projects should NOT require GCC member involvement; but if there are opportunities for occasional volunteerism or other involvement, please note here.0/100

3. Project Funding and Financial Information
Anticipated total funding required for full project.*
Describe how Seeding Growth Grant funds will be used for the project (max. 150 words)*

0/150
A competitive project must demonstrate a clear plan for maintenance and sustainability beyond the initial Seeding Growth grant. Please provide a detailed explanation of how the project will be financially supported in the long-term, ensuring its continued impact and viability. (max 100 words)*

0/100
If applicable, list the sources and amounts of other committed and pending funds. Donations from individuals may be combined into one number.

4. Supporting Materials

Upload all applicable documents listed below. Click on the "Browse..." button to select a file from your computer. You can upload any common file format (PDF, .doc, .docx., .xls, .xlsx, etc.)
Project budget, include a brief description of each major expenditure category.*

Upload a File

Cancelof
Optionally, upload 4 to 6 high-resolution digital images of the project. Any photos or renderings should help tell the story of the project, including people involved and what the project seeks to accomplish.

Upload a File

Cancelof
Optionally, provide other supporting materials including letters of support, site maps, brochures, etc.

Upload a File

Cancelof

Should be Empty:

The Garden Club of Cleveland 2026 Seeding Growth Grant Application

1. Organization Information

2. Project Information

3. Project Funding and Financial Information

4. Supporting Materials