The Charlie O’Neill Grant was established in 1993 to honor the late Charlie O’Neill, OC-CNPS President from 1990-1992 and a highly inspirational member of the chapter.

Grant Description

The grant is awarded annually to graduate and undergraduate students planning to conduct field research related to biology, ecology, floristics, taxonomy or ethnobotany of native plants. Preference will be given to proposals including study of species, plant communities, etc. occurring within Orange County.

Awards range from $500 to $1000+ (up to $3,000 total annually) based on the number of suitable applicants and the relative quality and merit of their proposals. Grant awards are presented as a lump sum award and may cover items such as supplies, equipment, and travel costs not covered by other sources of funding and include a one-year membership with CNPS.  

By accepting funding, grant recipients agree to provide a one paragraph synopsis of their work to be posted on the OC-CNPS website prior to the distribution of funds, and a copy of the final project results, in the form of a report, thesis, dissertation, presentation or newsletter article. Any publication should include acknowledgement of Orange County CNPS. The grant recipient may be invited to present their work at an Orange County local chapter meeting.

Application Format

Applicants should submit a cover letter and proposal to oneillgrant@occnps.org for review. The proposal should be 3-5 pages in length and include the following sections:

1. 1. Abstract (or Project Summary)
   2. Introduction
   3. Goals and Objectives
   4. Methods
   5. Budget (total requested and otherwise funded cost estimate)

Review Process and Selection Criteria

Applications must be submitted by the 2nd Monday of January to be considered for funding. 

Proposals will be reviewed by committee and applicants will be notified as to whether they have been selected for funding by the 2nd Friday of February. 

Selection will be based on each proposal’s completeness, technical quality, scientific merit, and overall contribution to our understanding of local flora. All proposals considered for funding must directly support or be consistent with the mission of CNPS which is to ”protect California’s native plants and their natural habitats, today and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy.” Preference will be given to proposals with direct relevance to Orange County. If the review committee concludes that no proposal meets selection criteria, then the grant award may be suspended until the following year.

2023 AWARDS

2022 AWARDS

2021 AWARDS

2020 AWARD

Kevin Alison

“In–vitro Cultivation: Fighting Poaching and Extinction of Vulnerable Dudleya Taxa”.  Kevin Alison is a Master of Conservation and Restoration Science (MCRS) candidate at U.C. Irvine.

2019 AWARDS

Greg Vose

“Plant age and precipitation alter water transport traits in Artemisia californica.”  Greg is a graduate student at the University of California, Irvine.

Runner Up – Keir Morse

2018 AWARDS

Five O’Neill / Scholarship / Traveller Grants to the CNPS 2018 February Conservation Conference.

2017 AWARDS

Asseneth Berbeo

“Floristic studies in the San Jose Hills of Los Angeles County.” Asseneth Berbeo is a student at Cal Poly Pomona.  

Nilsha Khurana

Research on “Artemisia californica gene expression to reduced precipitation.”

2016 AWARD

Shannon Lynch

“Fusarium infections in native trees of Orange County”. Shannon is a graduate student from UC Santa Cruz.

[Thanks to the review committee: Bob Allen, Jutta Burger, Celia Kutcher, Fred Roberts, and Ron Vanderhoff.]

2015 AWARDS

Nicholas (Nick) John Jensen

Erika M. Gardner

2010 AWARD

Jessica Peak

“Molecular study of Calochortus subsect. Weediani”. Graduate student at San Francisco State University.

2009 AWARD

Rebecca Hernandez

CA State University, Fullerton

2008 AWARD

Genevieve K Walden

“Phacelia Phylogenetics”

Grant Description

• • Acorn Grant Application (Downloadable PDF)

Review Process

1. 1. CNPS-OC Native Plants Suggested for School Gardens (PDF)
   2. CNPS-OC Helpful Tips for Installing California Native Plants (PDF)
   3. Calscape.org (CNPS website)

GRANTS AWARDED

Grant Description

The Horticultural Grant is awarded to a person, group, or non-profit organization in Orange County, California, to install, enhance, or maintain California native plants in an urban garden or public landscape, especially in a demonstration or educational manner.

The goal of this grant is to support public projects that provide opportunities for the community at-large to be educated and inspired by California native plant landscapes.

Examples of appropriate grant submissions might include: new and existing public native plant gardens, experimental native plant gardens, rehabilitating a public garden to include native plants, interpretive signage for a native plant garden, horticultural native plant growing costs, instructive materials for native plant gardening, and support for native plant or native seed giveaways at outreach events.

Each year Up to $500 may be awarded to offset the cost of materials and supplies. Applications may be submitted at any time, but are contingent upon available OCCNPS funds. 

By accepting funding, grant recipients agree to have their project featured in OCCNPS communications. We also ask that OCCNPS be included in future communications regarding the garden or project.

Application Format

Applicants should submit a proposal to grants@occnps.org for review. The proposal should be 2 – 4 pages in length and include the following:

1. 1. Name, address, and contact information.
   2. Project Summary including size of the project and, if applicable, a drawing or plot plan of the area you plan to install.
   3. Location of the garden or project.
   4. The goals and objectives of the project.
   5. The educational benefits or public outreach expected from the project.
   6. The long-term maintenance plan for the garden (if applicable).
   7. The estimated budget including total requested funds and other cost estimates.
   8. Funding plan for the project.
   9. Timeline for the project.
   10. Inventory of California native plants to be installed (if applicable).
   11. The name, place, and date of the Outreach Event (if applicable).

Review Process and Selection Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by the Horticulture Grant Committee, then submitted to the board of OCCNPS for consideration.

Please allow up to 60 days for our response to the application. We may also choose to visit the site (if applicable) as part of the review.

The native revegetation effort, native plant demonstration, or native garden educational criteria should be consistent with the mission of CNPS which is to,

“protect California’s native plants and their natural habitats, today and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy.”

Within that Mission is the Orange County Chapter’s Gardending Objective to,

Grant Description

The Traveler’s Grant is intended to help pay expenses for a deserving student or other interested person to attend a conference, workshop or seminar on California native plant-related topics. Topics include conservation, botany, horticulture, ethnobotany, invasive plants, etc.

Awards of up to $500 are awarded annually and are intended to offset some of the costs of attending these events. Grant awards are presented as a lump sum award and may help cover items such as travel costs, registration fees, and supplies necessary for attending a conference related to native plants.

Examples of conferences/symposiums related to California native plants include: CNPS Conservation Conference, California Invasive Plant Council Annual Conference, Southern California Botanists Annual Symposium, and Society of Ethnobiology Symposium, etc.

Applications may be submitted at any time, but are contingent upon available OCCNPS funds.

By accepting funding, grant recipients agree to provide:

• • Proof of event registration. 
  • A one to two paragraph synopsis of their experience for the OCCNPS eNewsletter.

Application Format

Applicants should submit a proposal to grants@occnps.org for review. The proposal should be one- to two-pages long and include the following:

1. Name of conference you hope to attend.
2. Location and dates of conference.
3. Goals and objective for attending the conference.
4. Estimated cost for attending the conference.
5. Explanation of financial need.

Review Process and Selection Criteria

Applications may be submitted at any time, but should be submitted three to four months before the conference begins and well in advance of the registration deadline. The committee will review the application and will notify the applicant as to whether they have been selected for funding within 60 days of receiving the proposal.

Selection will be based on the completeness of the application, the merit of the conference, financial need, and the applicant’s goals for attending the conference.

All applications considered for funding must be consistent with the mission of CNPS which is,

“protect California’s native plants and their natural habitats, today and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy.”

Traveler’s Grant Awards

 2022 October CNPS CONFERENCE in San Jose:  Monique Ruelaz, Gabriel Verduzco, Jonathan Frank