The Florida Invasive Species Council offers three grants per year. Read more about them, below.
Julia Morton Invasive Plant Research Program
Deadline: May 9, 2025
The Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) has available funding to support two (2) research grant/scholarships for students conducting studies related to invasive species management in Florida’s natural areas. Requests for funding should be no more than $2,000.
The Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) has available funding to support two (2) research grant/scholarships for students conducting studies related to invasive species management in Florida’s natural areas.
Written proposals should be no more than three (3) pages in length, including a succinct overview of the research project and its relevance to invasive species issues in Florida, detailed methods, bibliography, and budget. Requests for funding should be no more than $2,000. Focal species should be problematic or of concern in the state of Florida. Focal plant taxa should be categorized as Category I or II by FISC (https://floridainvasivespecies.org/index.cfm) or
determined to have a “high” or “moderate” invasion risk by the UF IFAS Assessment (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/). Other taxa (e.g., animals, fungi), should already be present in Florida as reported by EDDMapS (https://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/).
The applicant should provide contact information and a detailed budget and budget justification. Examples include (but are not limited to) travel funds for field work, funds for research equipment or supplies (or temporary use of specialized equipment), a stipend for applicant’s project work time not otherwise supported, travel funds for presentation of the research at the
annual FISC meeting, etc. Funds requested are to be used for the direct costs of conducting research on the proposed project and are not to be used for indirect costs incurred by the student’s university or agency.
Proposals will be evaluated and ranked on the critical management need for scientific research in the area of study and on the clarity of the submitted request.
Basic eligibility requirements:
To be eligible for funding, applicants:
• must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at an accredited institution of higher learning anywhere within the United States,
• must include a letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor as part of the application package,
• must provide the full address of your Sponsored Programs/Contracts & Grants department and the person to whom a check should be sent.
• Proposals longer than three pages in length will be returned without review.
Proposals are due by 5:00 pm, May 9, 2025. Send proposals by e-mail to: Dr. Carey R. Minteer c.minteerkillian@ufl.edu using the following naming convention:
• “LAST NAME_First name_proposal” and
• “LAST NAME_First name_recommendation”.
CISMA Grant
Deadline: June 27, 2025
This program will provide funding to Florida CISMAs to advance the Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) and the Florida Invasive Species
Partnership (FISP) missions through partnership-led efforts (e.g. public events, workshops, workdays, outreach, etc.), which focus on non-native invasive plants and their impacts on the natural areas and/or the economy of Florida.
Proposals will be accepted from all Florida CISMAs as shown:
https://www.floridainvasives.org/cismas/. Winning CISMAs must present a summary of results via poster or oral presentation at the next FISC Conference and provide a summary article or PDF file of any final product (brochure, sign, etc.). Results may also be used in the FISC quarterly newsletter.
Information about past recipients can be found here: Update on Previous FISC CISMA Grants.
Program Description
The intent of this grant program is to provide funding to Florida’s Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) who will advance the Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) and the Florida Invasive Species
Partnership (FISP) missions through partnership led efforts (e.g. public events, workshops, workdays, outreach, etc.), which focus on non-native invasive plants and their impacts on the natural areas and/or the economy of
Florida. Proposals will be accepted from all Florida CISMAs as shown:
https://www.floridainvasives.org/cismas/. The FISC CISMA Grant Committee will review all applications.
Winners for 2024-25 will be announced in April 2024 and will have 12 months to complete the project (through April 2025). Winning CISMAs must present a summary of results via poster or oral presentation at the next FISC
Conference and provide a summary article or PDF file of any final product (brochure, sign, etc.). Results may also be used in the FISC quarterly newsletter.
Evaluation Criteria
Award preference will be given to proposals that meet the following criteria:
- Involve durable supplies for in-person outreach, as listed in the table below. Applicants requesting these supplies should document the number and name of the events their CISMA has tabled at over the last two years.
2. Involve plants listed as Category I or II species on the FISC 2023 List of Invasive Plant Species, found on www.floridainvasives.org/plant-list/, or plants that have been designated as Early Detection/Rapid Response
(EDRR) priority plants by the CISMA (EDRR lists can be found on each CISMA’s webpage).
3. Each application must include a document of support from the CISMA. Examples of support include, but are not limited to: letter signed by CISMA chair; minutes of membership meeting or steering committee meeting that document the decision to support proposed project, etc.
4. Provide a brief statement as to how the proposed project advances the FISC mission: “to support management of invasive plants in Florida natural areas by providing a forum for the exchange of scientific and
technical information.”
5. Provide a brief statement as to how the proposed project advances the FISP mission: “to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of partnership approaches to preventing and controlling invasives species through increased communication, coordination and shared resources in order to protect wildlife habitat, working lands, natural communities and biodiversity in Florida.”
6. Include an evaluation process of the project that will clearly demonstrate success or failure.
7. Include a detailed timeline of grant activities.
Each CISMA can submit only one proposal per year. Grants may not be used to fund overhead costs. All necessary permits are the sole responsibility of the applicant or organization. For 2024, FISC has a total of $1,500.00 available. Requests for funding should not exceed $1,500.00 and all funds awarded are to be used within 12 months of receipt. If full funding is not available, partial funding may be awarded. For proposals involving outreach supplies, the CISMA will be responsible for procuring the items (assistance finding vendors can be provided if needed), up to the allowable amount below and will be reimbursed at cost.
For proposals that include printed material (brochure, sign, etc.), applicants must submit a rough draft for FISC CISMA Grant Committee approval and a sample of previously published work. Alternatively, applicants may submit a draft within 3 months of award notification, with funds provided after the draft is accepted by the FISC CISMA Grant Committee. The FISC CISMA Grant Committee reserves the right to review all publications resulting from this
funding, prior to printing and distribution.
| Item Description | Potential Vendors | Maximum Allowable Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | ||
| Banner and/or tablecloth with CISMA logo | Local printer | $100 each |
| Display board | Most online vendors or big box stores | $200 |
| Easel | Most online vendors or big box stores | $50 |
| Tier 2 | ||
| Pop up tent (up to 10 x 10) | Most online vendors or big box stores | $175 |
| Table | Most online vendors or big box stores | $75 |
| Small, branded giveaway items (specific items must be approved by committee before purchase) | Online suppliers | $200 |
Use the headings on the following page as a template for your grant application. Insert tables or images if appropriate. Use as much detail as possible. If your proposal includes signs, brochures or web pages, please
include at least a partial sample of previous work or a proposed mock-up. Applications that are incomplete will receive lower ranks. The length of the entire application (beginning on the next page), not including attachments,
should not exceed 5 pages. For questions concerning this application, contact Deb Stone at debitharp@ufl.edu. E-mail completed application to Deb as a *.PDF or *.DOC file.
Download grant application file
Deadline for proposal submission is 5:00pm (EST) Friday, March 29, 2024. Applications received after this time will not be considered.
Kathy Craddock Burks Education Grant
Deadline: April 25, 2025
The Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) is offering funding for two (2) education grants aimed at supporting organizations or individuals committed to educating Floridians and the broader community about invasive plants and their impact on Florida’s natural areas and economy. Eligible applicants include individuals, public or private nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions. The FISC Kathy Craddock Burks Education Grant Committee will evaluate all proposals. Grant recipients are required to submit a summary article for publication on the FISC website and, if feasible, present their findings at an upcoming FISC Conference.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Study must focus on Category I or Category II invasive plant species listed by FISC (formerly known as the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council [FLEPPC]) (see: https://www.floridainvasives.org/plant-list/).
- Incorporate an educational message that engages a broad audience.
- Raise community awareness about invasive plant identification, management, prevention, and environmental/economic impacts
- Include an active component to encourage audience participation (e.g., events or actions beyond passive materials like signs or brochures).
- Establish an evaluation process to measure project success or failure (e.g., tracking participant numbers or assessing whether the goal was achieved or not).
- Demonstrate matching funds or in-kind contributions.
- Specify partnerships, including the type and level of partner involvement.
- Provide a detailed timeline of grant activities.
- Priority will be given to first-time applicants and new projects, though repeat applications and established programs will also be considered.
Grants cannot fund food, beverages, capital expenses (e.g., machinery, herbicides), overhead costs, or large-scale herbicide application. Projects must outline proper invasive plant disposal methods, and applicants are responsible for obtaining permits. Requests for funding should be no more than $1,000 and all funds must be used within a year. Partial funding may be awarded. For printed materials, applicants must submit a draft or sample within 3 months of award notification, with funds released after committee approval. Follow the provided template headings to clearly organize your proposal with detailed, relevant information. Use tables or visuals to clarify key points. For materials like signs or brochures, include a sample to show quality. Proposals missing required sections or details will rank lower. Written proposals must not exceed five (5) pages in length, excluding attachments.