Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust


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Common Grantseeker Questions

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Listed below are answers to the most common questions received from grantseekers.

How do I apply for a grant?
Please begin the process on the Grantseekers page.

What should I do if I’m having trouble logging into the online grants portal, even though I know I have an account?
Please contact the Grants Associate at grants@smithht.org.

What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for Letters of Inquiry (LOI) was June 14, 2024, and the deadline for full proposals, if invited, was July 15, 2024.

LOIs and Proposals are only accepted through the Trust’s online grants portal. Do not mail a funding request to the Trust. For more information, please see the Grantseekers page.

Is it possible to get an extension to these deadlines?
No.

How do I obtain application guidelines?
Guidelines and requirements for funding requests are explained in the Trust’s online grants portal, at the LOI and Proposal stages. Funding requests are accepted online only.

For more information about the Trust’s grantmaking priorities, see Funding Interests.

For more information about how to apply for funding, see Grantseekers.

Once my LOI has been submitted, what happens next?
LOIs are reviewed in the order received. Staff will respond to LOIs via email. Eligible organizations whose LOIs are found to be strongly-aligned with the Trust’s funding interests will be invited to submit a full Proposal, also through the Trust’s online grants portal.

Once my proposal has been submitted, how long does it take for a decision to be reached?
Trustee decisions are made once a year, typically in November. Decision notifications and grant payments are typically sent out in early December.

What geographic areas do you fund?
The Trust makes grants to organizations conducting activities in North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand.

Can I apply for a grant if my organization has received past funding?
Yes, however, new funding requests are only considered if eligibility and reporting guidelines have been met. See Reporting for more information. Also, organizations may receive a grant no more than every other year.

Do you make grants to individuals?
No. The Trust only makes grants to tax-exempt organizations that qualify as, or are equivalent to, public charities.

What size grant should I request?
An organization should request an amount that is appropriate for their project. The maximum grant awarded by the Trust is $25,000, however, grants normally do not exceed $20,000. For more information see Recent Grants.

What are the chances of receiving a grant?
A large number of worthy organizations approach the Trust for support. The process is highly competitive. Even if a project fits within the foundation’s guidelines, it may not be funded. In 2023, approximately 31% of invited proposals were funded.

Is there a form to use for grant reports?
Please see Reporting for instructions on how to submit your report to the Trust.

If you have any questions about your reporting requirements, please contact the Director of Grants Management at dgaff@smithht.org.

How does a non-U.S. organization demonstrate that it meets the requirements to be treated as equivalent to a nonprofit organization that is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and not classified as a private foundation under Section 509(a) of the Code?
A foreign charitable organization may submit an inquiry to the Trust, as long as the organization and program meet the Trust’s guidelines. Before a grant is awarded, the Trust will engage NGOsource to work with the organization to determine whether or not the organization can be treated as equivalent to a U.S. public charity.

Why was my request denied?
The top reasons that a request is denied are:

  • The proposal was not judged to be as competitive as those that received funding.
  • The request is not strongly related to research and education in ornamental horticulture.
  • The organization did not submit all the information required in the application guidelines.
  • The organization is not up to date on reporting on previous grant(s).

Can you suggest other funding sources?
The Foundation Center maintains a comprehensive listing of U.S. foundations and their areas of interest.

I have a question that is not answered in these FAQs. What should I do?

  • If you have questions about eligibility or reporting, are unsure of the reporting status for your organization’s previous grants, or need guidance for submitting a report for a grant made in 2015 or earlier, contact the Director of Grants Management at dgaff@smithht.org.
  • If you have problems or questions regarding the online grants portal, contact the Grants Associate at grants@smithht.org.
  • For questions related to a specific project or grant, or questions about whether a potential request is aligned with the Trust's Funding Interests, please contact Nancy Kartes, Grants Director, at nkartes@smithht.org.



If the answer to your question cannot be found here or in the other sections of this website, please email grants@smithht.org or call our office at 415-332-0166.