Lowcountry Chapter Grant Program – Now accepting applications!

Now accepting applications

The Lowcountry Chapter of the South Carolina Native Plant Society (SCNPS) is excited to offer our Fall 2026 Grants Program. Part of our mission is to promote native plants through planting, outreach, education, research, and the removal of invasive species. Our Lowcountry Chapter Grants Program gives us the ability to support local projects that align with this mission. If your organization, community group, or school is interested in working with native plants in any capacity, we invite you to apply for one of our grants. 

Projects must be directed at protecting, restoring, and/or educating the public or students about native plants or plant communities in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Eligible projects must be located in one of the following counties: Bamberg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, Jasper, or Orangeburg. The maximum grant award is $1,000.

Additional requirements, including application details and the deadline for submission, can be found on our website.

PROJECT IDEAS: Interested in applying and want ideas for projects? Over the last several years, our chapter has supported a variety of projects related to native plants. Below are some suggested areas of focus for our grants:

●       Installing (or adding to) a native plant garden or medicinal garden

●       Removing exotic and invasive species from a garden, park, or community space

●       Green infrastructure projects like rain gardens, bioswales, pond buffers, and living shorelines

●       Research projects related to native plants or native plant communities

●       Native plant projects related to resilience, including restoration of habitats, addressing saltwater intrusion, and reforestation

●       Signage, curricula, and other educational materials related to educating the public and/or students about native plants

●       Meetings, workshops, and other training programs that educate audiences about native plants 

This is not a complete list; if you have ideas for projects not related to the above focus areas, we’d love to hear about them. Our grants website includes contact information for our Grants Coordinator – feel free to reach out!

RECENTLY-FUNDED GRANTS: Here are images of a few projects we’ve funded in the last year: 

PhD project studying food security and environmental literacy through community gardens in McClellanville, SC. Credit: Crystal Anderson.

Butterfly garden installation at Ashley River Park in Summerville, SC. Credit: Sarah Reed.

Botanical surveys of barrier islands along the South Carolina Coast. Credit: Austin Peeler

Find more information and apply to our Fall 2026 grants program here!

SCNPS Statewide Symposium 2026

REGISTER NOW for the September 18-20 Symposium!  Registration deadline is August 31.

The Lowcountry Chapter will be hosting the annual statewide symposium of the SC Native Plant Society in Charleston, SC on the beautiful campus of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources at Fort Johnson! The statewide symposium brings together SCNPS members from across the state and chapters from the mountains to the sea providing an opportunity to meet, learn, and connect with your fellow members. And 2026 is the 30th Anniversary of the SCNPS, so we have lots of reasons to celebrate!

Located on James Island and overlooking the Charleston Harbor, the SCDNR Fort Johnson campus provides the perfect backdrop and home base for a fun-filled weekend of on-site presentations, workshops, and outdoor outings, as well as the site of our Saturday evening dinner and social event that you won’t want to miss.

Participants will also have the chance to venture out on Saturday afternoon and Sunday on expert-led field trips throughout the Lowcountry. Field trips will range from visiting a wide array of native ecosystems to tours of native plant gardens and projects that highlight some of the innovative, community-centered work happening in the Lowcountry related to native plants, habitat restoration, and resilience.

Plan on arriving Friday evening in time for our casual welcome party in downtown Charleston for light bites, drinks, and some surprise fun and games!

See more information about the 2026 symposium, with full agenda, registration, and accommodations, at https://scnps.org/symposiums/symposium-2026/

The symposium is open to SCNPS members (from any chapter) only. If you are not already a member, please join us today!

Reach out to us with questions at lowcountry.president@scnps.org