The Douglas J. Schwartz Living Foundation Greenhouse Grant Program

Greenhouse Grants from the Douglas J. Schwartz Living Foundation provide SunPorch Greenhouses to facilities that use horticulture as a treatment modality. The generosity and support of the Foundation enables organizations to continue their good works through winter months and to serve many more individuals than would otherwise have been possible. Grant-receiving organizations work with older adults, families at risk, abused children, those with head injuries and other physical and mental disabilities, and other populations.

Complete instructions for applying for a Greenhouse Grant, as well as downloadable applications, are below. Grant applications are due March 31, and the grant winners are announced on July 1.

Program Description
Eligibility Requirements
Award Criteria
Support Materials
Greenhouse Grants Application
SunPorch Catalog and Price List
Greenhouse Grants Checklist

Program Description
Awards of SunPorch Lean-To Greenhouses and basic accessories are made annually to deserving horticultural therapy programs in established agencies, schools, hospitals, or other institutions. At least one greenhouse grant is awarded completely free-of-charge; additional grants are awarded with a 50% match requirement. The purpose of this program is to encourage the expansion of horticultural therapy programming and services to greater numbers of participants through the use of a year-round greenhouse growing environment.

Eligibility Requirements
In order to qualify as a Greenhouse Grant recipient, applicant organizations must:

1. Document the proposed use of the greenhouse within the context of an established or proposed horticultural therapy program.
2. Document current or proposed programming in horticultural therapy with special populations (e.g. older adults, children, persons with physical and/or developmental disabilities, persons with mental illness, etc.).
3. Demonstrate a financial programmatic need for the greenhouse; document how funds will be made available for installation, operation, and maintenance, and, if applying for a 50% match greenhouse, document the availability of matching funds.
4. Verify the planning and availability of labor necessary to assemble and install a "ready-to-assemble" greenhouse structure no later than October 15, to be ready for operation for the winter growing season; grantees not meeting this requirement will be subject to forfeiture of award and the subsequent return of the unassembled unit.

Award Criteria
Awards will be made based on point totals (100-point scale) reflecting:

1. Merit of the applicant's existing and/or proposed horticultural therapy program.
2. Justification of financial need.
3. Qualifications of program supervisor (10 points will be awarded to applicants who are individual or institutional members of the AHTA; non-members are encouraged to submit both membership and grant applications together).
4. Ability to effectively install, equip, and operate the greenhouse (a letter of support from the program administrator or supervisor indicating anticipated sources of funds for installation, operation, and maintenance must accompany the application).
5. Ability of applicant to effectively respond to questions on application.

Support Materials
Applicants are encouraged to submit the following additional materials in support of their applications (support materials not to exceed 25 pages in length):

1. Photographs of the proposed site and the structure to which the greenhouse will be attached (four maximum; no videos, please).
2. Other photographs, lesson plans, or press clippings that provide additional background on the host facility and the existing or proposed horticultural therapy program (15 pages maximum).
3. Details regarding the proposed greenhouse component of the horticultural therapy program, including anticipated activity schedules, crops to be grown, class/session outlines, and other supportive materials (10 pages maximum).

Greenhouse Grants Application
If you meet the eligibility requirements and would like to apply, download the application (in MS Word) below. You may also contact AHTA to request an application; call 859-514-9177 or e-mail the office.

NOTE: A PDF of the AHTA Greenhouse Price List Issue of the SunPorch Structures is also available to download (see below). This is a 2.5 MB file and may take a minute or two to download. You will need this in order to fill out the grant application. We can mail you one, if you prefer; call 859-514-9177 or e-mail the office.

DOWNLOAD HERE:

2008 Douglas J. Schwartz Living Foundation Greenhouse Grant Program DESCRIPTION

2008 Douglas J. Schwartz Living Foundation Greenhouse Grant Program APPLICATION

2008 Price List - AHTA SunPorch Greenhouse Issue - PDF