The Smith Fund

…set to open in February of 2026

Background:

The Smith Fund was established in 1963 by Alexander H. and Helen V. Smith to support the publication of a series known as Special Publications of the Michigan Botanical Club, Inc., and to support The Michigan Botanist, over and above that which is regularly furnished by the MBS.

In September of 2025 the board of the Michigan Botanical Society modified the original mission to extend the scope of the Smith Fund beyond solely supporting the publication of documents. The new mission includes a broader range of activities – such as providing printed, electronic, or other materials that align with the aims of the Michigan Botanical Society and support the cause of conservation in the State of Michigan.

The Smith Fund is administered by the Publications Committee of the Board of the Michigan Botanical Society (MBS).

Mission:

The Smith Botanical Fund supports and advances botanical research, educational publications, and related initiatives that enhance the understanding and preservation of Michigan’s native flora and ecosystems. Through grants and strategic support - including ongoing contributions to The Great Lakes Botanist and specialized services beyond the scope of the Michigan Botanical Society - we aim to strengthen the impact and reach of Michigan’s botanical community.

Grant Application Guidelines:

Funding Goals

To help fulfill the mission of the Smith Fund, grants will be made to support both research-based and community-based initiatives consistent with the Fund’s objectives. Funding will be considered for the following types of projects:

  1. Research Projects involving the study of Michigan plants, including but not limited to:

    • State or federally listed (rare, threatened, or endangered) species

    • Competition between invasive and native species

    • Floristic surveys

  2. Environmental Projects with one or more of the following features:

    • Raising public awareness of Michigan's flora

    • Preservation, reclamation, or restoration of native habitat

    • Educational Initiatives:

      1. Workshops, institutes, conferences, and exhibits

      2. Student scholarships for attendance at botanical conferences or other educational programs

Grants may be awarded as a whole or in part, based on available funding and alignment with the Fund’s mission. All projects must demonstrate educational value related to Michigan's flora.

General Overview

  • Geographic preference is given to the State of Michigan, but projects within the broader Great Lakes region may also be considered.

  • Grant applications are accepted throughout the calendar year.

  • All applications must be submitted electronically as pdfs to the current Chair of the Smith Fund.

  • Each applicant (individual or organization) may submit only one request per year.

  • Applicants should allow at least 6 weeks for review.

  • All applicants will receive written notice of acceptance or rejection. Requests for additional information may delay processing.

Guidelines for Completing Your Application

All grant applications must include the following components:

1. Cover Letter 

  • A brief (one page) description of the grant proposal

  • A statement indicating whether partial funding is acceptable

  • Complete contact information

2. Qualifications and Support

  • Evidence of the applicant’s ability to complete the project, such as:

    • CV or Resume of applicant(s)

      • Experience with relevant techniques

      • Publications or documentation of past projects

      • Copies of brochures or advertisements for relevant community events

      • Student applicants (undergraduate or graduate) must include a letter of support from a faculty advisor (one page limit).

3. Project Proposal

  • Detailed description of the proposed project

    • Maximum 2 pages including references and figures

    • Including an explanation of how the project aligns with the SF’s funding goals and project timeline (start and completion dates)

  • Detailed budget and justification (maximum 2 pages), including:

    • Other funding sources being pursued

    • Confirmed or received funding

    • Amount requested from the Smith Fund

Note: If the project is part of a larger effort (e.g., Ph.D. dissertation or multi-year project), preference will be given to proposals that clearly define a well-circumscribed portion of the work to be supported by the Smith Fund.

Funding Limitations

The Smith Fund will generally not provide funding for the following:

  1. Labor, salary, or compensation-related benefits

  2. College or University tuition

  3. Materials typically provided by the applicant’s academic institution

  4. Payment for others to complete or prepare the applicant’s research

  5. Indirect costs (e.g. Institutional overhead)

  6. Private businesses or for-profit organizations

  7. Legal fees

  8. Projects unlikely to be completed within the proposed timeline

Expectations of Grant Recipients

By accepting a grant, awardees:

  1. Agree to abide by the terms outlined in this document and the official award letter.

  2. Acknowledge the Fund's authority to withhold or recover funds if misused or unused.

  3. Must uphold the following responsibilities:

a. Maintain a current email address and notify the Smith Fund of any changes.
b. Acknowledge the Smith Fund in all associated publications, press releases, and materials. Copies of publications or products must be submitted to the Chair of the Smith Fund.
c. Submit a final written report (maximum 2 pages) within one month of project completion, detailing results and a financial accounting of the grant.
d. Submit a short article (with images, if appropriate) for possible publication in Arisaema, the newsletter of the Michigan Botanical Club. The article should:

  • Be submitted within 6 months of project completion

  • Be no longer than one page (8.5" x 11") including images

  • Describe the project, how funds were used, and how it contributed to the SF’s mission
    e. For scientific research, consider submitting an article to The Michigan Botanist, MBC's peer-reviewed journal.

Formatting Requirements

All documents (cover letter, project proposal, written report, and short article) should follow the given page limitations above, be single spaced, and use Times New Roman font with a font size of 12 pt.