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. 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 second Friday of February to be considered for funding.  *For 2026, the final application submittal date is Friday, February 13.*

Proposals will be reviewed by committee and applicants will be notified as to whether they have been selected for funding before the end of March.

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.

 

2026 AWARDS
Ava Joseph (CalBG)
– $1000 for “Montane and Alpine Diversification in a Mega-Genus: A Systematic and Biogeographical Study of Western North American Astragalus”
Marjorie Rhodes (CSU Dominguez Hills)
 – $1000 for “Characterizing impacts of hybridization in dominant obligate seeders of southern maritime chaparral”
Marife Auccapoma (CalBG)
– $500 for “Diversification and Endemism in Zeltnera (Gentianaceae): Phylogenomic and Morphological Perspectives on a Cryptic Pan-American Lineage”
Joaquin Lopez (UC Irvine)
– $500 for “Diversification and Endemism in Zeltnera (Gentianaceae): Phylogenomic and Morphological Perspectives on a Cryptic Pan-American Lineage”
 

 

2025 AWARDS
Mia Manfredi ($1,000) CalBG/Claremont Graduate University
An integrative study examining the disjunct distribution of Salvia funerea M.E. Jones (Death Valley Sage, Lamiaceae)
Charles Boissavy ($1,000) CalBG/Claremont Graduate University
Phylogeny, Taxonomy, Trait Evolution, and Biogeography of the Latifolia clade of Eriogonum
Mahima Dixit ($500) CalBG/Claremont Graduate University
Phylogeny, Phytochemistry, and Taxonomy of Eriogonum subgenus Ganysma with a Focus on the E. deflexum Complex (Polygonaceae)
Chloe Novak ($500) CalBG/Claremont Graduate
A Flora of the Amargosa River Headwaters, Nye County, Nevada

 

2024 AWARDS
Matthew Yamamoto ($1,000) CalBG/Claremont Graduate University
A Flora of the McGee Creek Watershed, Mono County, California
Jen Schlauch ($1,000) University of California, Irvine
Native Bee Communities Across Scales: Pollinator Networks and Microbiomes in California’s Coastal Wetlands
Mahima Dixit ($500) CalBG/Claremont Graduate University
Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Eriogonum deflexum Complex (Polygonaceae)
Tyler Bendigo & Andrew Mestas ($250/$250) CSU Fullerton
Giving Up on Gametes: Developing in vitro Culture Techniques for Inducing Apogamy to Study Ploidy in Southern California Native Ferns

 

2023 AWARDS

Laurel Sebastian ($1,000)
Tracking ecosystem function tradeoffs and synergies: Carbon sequestration across three grassland restoration designs
Rachel Tageant ($1,000)
A Floristic Inventory of the Owens River Headwater Area, Mono County, California
Allison Autry ($250)
Understanding the Unusual Disjunction of a Rare Southern Californian Orchid: An Assessment of Malaxis monophyllos var. brachypoda in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California
Peri Pipkin ($250)
A tale of two Chloropyrons: Conservation and management implications for the rare (CNPS 1B.2) Chloropyron tecopense (Orobanchaceae) in California and Nevada
Laurel Thomas ($250)
Investigating Local Adaptation and Plasticity of Heteromeles arbutifolia using a Common Garden Approach
Selena Vengco ($250)
Population Genetics and the Maintenance of Flower Color Polymorphisms in a Non-Model System of Erythranthe discolor (Phrymaceae)

 

2022 AWARDS

Mari Cookson
“Genomic investigation of the systematics and diversification in North American dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium ssp.)”  Mari is pursuing a master’s degree in molecular biolodgy at Cal State Fullerton.
Award $700
Xinyu Li
“Assessing plant pollinator interactions within a wildfire context.”  Xinyu is a PhD candidate in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at UC Irvine. 
Award $1,100
Elizabeth Herman
“Assessing beach wrack ecology at Crystal Cove State Park”.  Elizabeth is pursuing a master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration Science at UC Irvine.
Award $1,200

 

2021 AWARDS

Daniel Donovan 
“Vascular Flora of the Pleasants Peak Area of the Santa Ana Mountains, California.”  Daniel is a graduate student at California State University, Long Beach, studying in Dr. Amanda Fisher’s Lab.
Award $1000
 
Keir Morse
“Systematics and conservation of the genus Malacothamnus (Malvaceae).”  Keir is a PhD candidate at California Botanic Garden / Claremont Graduate University where he is working on the systematics of the genus Malacothamnus (the bushmallows).
Award $500

 

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

This year’s award funding was used to send deserving local students to the CNPS Conservation Conference in San Jose. See Traveler’s Grants.

 

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

“Flora of the Tehachapi Mountains / Tejon Ranch.” Nick is pursuing a Ph.D at Claremont Graduate University – Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

Erika M. Gardner

“A Vascular Flora of the Kiavah Wilderness in the Scodie Mountains, Southern Sierra Nevada, Kern County.”  Erika is a Master’s of Science student at Claremont Graduate University – Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

 

2010 AWARD

Jessica Peak

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

 

2009 AWARD

Rebecca Hernandez

“Macroscopic biodiversity of biological soil crusts in California sage scrub along a climatic gradient.” California State University, Fullerton

 

2008 AWARD

Genevieve K Walden

“Phacelia Phylogenetics.” San Francisco State University

 

2005 AWARD

Jimmie L. Payton

“Folk Knowledge and Native Plant Gardens.”  California State University, Fullerton

2001 AWARDS

Laurie Clark

Investigation into the pollination and invasive capabilities of Artichoke Thistle. Laurie is working toward her M.S. in Biology at California State University, Fullerton

Peter Scherr

Comprehensive analysis of temporal loss in Orange County riparian areas. Peter is a student in environmental studies at California State University, Fullerton.

Keith Vogelsang

Factors that allow for exotic invasion of Orange County’s coastal sage scrub and grasslands.  Keith is a Ph.D candidate at UC Irvine.

Grant Description

The Acorn Grant is awarded to Orange County public schools with students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The grant is designed to help fund school gardens that feature California native plants.
Awards range from $150 to $1,000 based on the size of the garden. OCCNPS has designated a total of $3,000 to donate annually for the Acorn Grant.
By accepting funding, grant recipients agree to have their native plant school garden featured in OC California Native Plant Society communications.

 

Application Format

Applicants should complete the native school garden application below, provide photographs, and a plot plan for the proposed garden. Submit your proposal to acorngrant@occnps.org.

Review Process

Proposals will be reviewed by the Acorn 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 wish to visit the site as part of the review.
California native plant school gardens 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 Gardening Objective to,
“build nature gardens in every neighborhood“.

 

Resources for Native Plant Gardens

Helpful resources for creating a California native plant school garden include,
    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

2025     Sycamore Magnet Academy
2025    Davis Elementary
2025    Early Education High School
2024    Harbour View Elementary
2024    Community Roots Academy, Laguna Niguel
2024    Orange High School
2023    Sycamore Magnet Academy, Tustin
2023    Tesoro High School
2022    Tustin Memorial Academy
2022    Santiago Stem Magnet School PTA
2021    Trabuco Hills High School
2021    Linda Vista Elementary
2020    Palisades Elementary
2019    Buena Park Junior High School
2018    Currie Middle School
2018    Sage Hill School
2017    Buena Park Junior High School
2015    Sierra Vista Elementary PTA
2014    Tustin Memorial Academy
2014    Pendleton Elementary
2012    Imperial Middle School
2012    Red Hill Elementary
2011    Huntington Beach High School
2011    Geisler Elementary
2009    Pendleton Elementary
2008    Santiago High School Environment Club
2007    Vista Verde School
2006    Journey School
2006    Carden Academy, Mission Viejo
2005    El Modena High School 
2004    Finley Elementary School
2004    Pendleton Elementary School
2003    Community Day Middle School
2001     Top of the World School, Laguna Beach
2001     Valencia Elementary School
2001     Clegg Elementary School

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

2026 February CNPS CONFERENCE in Riverside: Karen Graham, Jeannie Lee, and Emyle Rogers

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

2018 February CNPS CONSERVATION CONFERENCE in Los Angeles:  Marlee Antill, James Bailey, Rebecca Crow, Hailey Laskey, and Wilnelia Ricart

2005 Cal-IPC Symposium in Chico:  Bill Neill

The Celia Kutcher Conservation Award is presented to an individual, group, or organization in recognition of their commitment and efforts to conserve Orange County’s native flora and its natural habitats, restore damaged habitats, fight invasive weeds, and/or advocate for environmental protection.

Photo provided by Celia Kutcher family

Selection Process: Recipients of the Celia Kutcher Conservation Award will be selected by the Awards Committee on behalf of the board of the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (OCCNPS).

Award Presentation: The Celia Kutcher Conservation Award will be presented annually at the January OCCNPS chapter membership meeting and at such times as the Awards Committee may determine.

The award winner will be presented a framed certificate and a $1,000 monetary gift. The monetary gift will be paid to the recipient or to a conservation, environmental, or similar group of the award winner’s choice.

If awarded posthumously, the $1,000 award will be paid to a recipient selected in the sole discretion of the OCCNPS Awards Committee.

About Celia Kutcher: Celia Kutcher was an OCCNPS board member from the chapter’s founding in 1982 until her death in 2019. Celia was awarded the CNPS Fellows award in 2019—CNPS’ highest honor—for her work to improve native plant appreciation and preservation. Celia served as the Conservation Chair for OCCNPS for 23 years, attending government agency meetings, writing letters, and making public comments to preserve Orange County’s native plants and their natural habitats. Celia was also instrumental in virtually all chapter activities, especially outreach to the public and the fight against invasive plants.

In an August 19, 2009 Orange County Register article, Celia said, “I became an environmentalist in the mid-1960’s as awareness mounted that the natural world, which supports human life as we know it, is threatened by human disregard.”

Celia enjoyed working with others to advance environmental awareness in general and awareness of Orange County’s native plant heritage and resources in particular. Celia generously bequeathed $125,000 to OCCNPS.

Forever Part of the California Landscape

Photo credit: Dan Songster

2026 Awards
Joan Miller
January 2026
$1,000 donated to Calflora
Sandy DeSimone
June 2026
$1,000 donated to Audubon Starr Ranch

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. 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,

“build nature gardens in every neighborhood.”

 

GRANTS AWARDED
2023     Blue Heron Park, Newport Beach
2009     Heritage Hill Eagle Scout Project
2007     Santiago Oaks Eagle Scout Project