The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education grant program (SFE) advances Wild Ones’ mission to spread awareness of the benefits of using native plants by providing funding for native plants and native seeds for projects that engage youth (preschool to high school) directly in planning, planting and caring for native plant gardens. Please note that the grant does not fund food gardens or the purchase of non-native plants/seeds.
The 2026 grant application will open on July 14th and will close on November 15th at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. If you are new to native plants, please email us at support@wildones.org for clarification or assistance with the application.
**Please Note: The SFE grant application is a web-based form that does not allow the saving of drafts.**
Applications must be completed in one session. Applicants are strongly encouraged to compose and save their responses ahead of time in a word processor and paste their answers into the web-based form when finalized. Following this process will ensure your responses are not lost if your browser unexpectedly times out or quits during the completion of the form.
| Grant Cycle | Application Open | Award Notification | Reports Due |
| 2024 | July 14 – Nov 15, 2023 | Feb 15, 2024 | Feb 28, 2025 |
| 2025 | July 15 – Nov 15, 2024 | Feb 14, 2025 | Feb 28, 2026 |
| 2026 | July 15 – Nov 15, 2025 | Feb 16, 2026 | Feb 28. 2027 |
Applications are only available from July to November, and the form cannot be saved.
The 2025 Seeds for Education Grant Application is open from 12:00 a.m. CT on July 15th, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. CT on November 15th, 2024 for the 2025 planting season. This application is currently closed. Thank you!