Schoolyard Tree Planting Grant Program

• Maximum grant funding per year is $10,000.
• Funding may be provided as up to $500 per tree or through trees supplied and planted by the City of Ottawa’s Forestry Services.
• No matching funding is required from the applicant.

• The project must involve tree planting on school property located within the City of Ottawa.
• Applications may be submitted by Student or Parent Councils, environmental/garden clubs, or other groups/individuals demonstrating commitment to the project in partnership with the school.
• The applicant must be able to coordinate the project and demonstrate the capacity to perform tree maintenance activities.
• The application must include a plan for ongoing care and maintenance of the trees.

Who is eligible?

• Student Councils
• Parent Councils
• Environmental or garden clubs
• Other groups or individuals committed to tree planting projects in partnership with schools

Who is not eligible

• Businesses or organizations requesting funding for projects already completed.
• Groups seeking funding for non-tree related elements such as benches, gazebos, play structures, ponds, pathways, fencing, signage, planters, site preparation, cedar hedges, shrubs, perennials, grasses, or other ground covers.
• Groups seeking funding for tree planting projects outside school properties within the City of Ottawa.
• Organizations looking to receive tree planting funding from other City of Ottawa grant programs in the same year.

Eligible expenses

• Purchase of trees
• Installation of trees

Eligible geographic areas

• School properties within the City of Ottawa.

• Completion of a site visit with a City representative as part of the grant review process.
• Demonstrated commitment to project coordination and tree maintenance activities by the applicant.
• Submission of all required documentation, including receipts and a final project report by specified deadlines.
• Priority given to groups who have not previously received funding through this program.

• Applications must be received by June 1 for consideration, with site visits required between June 1 and December 1 of the application year.
• A maximum grant of $10,000 is available per year, and grants may be provided in funds or as trees supplied and planted by the City.
• Receipts for expenditures must be submitted within three months of project completion.
• A final report with tree counts, maintenance evaluation, and photographs must be submitted by May 1 in the year following installation.