Top tips for applying for a grant from The Seedling Bank
By Jennifer McMillan 10 February 2025
Do you have a planting project you need support with? Make a lasting impact by planting native trees and creating wildlife habitat with support from The Seedling Bank.
The Seedling Bank is Planet Ark’s nature restoration grants initiative. It is an evolution of the work we do through National Tree Day, which has seen Australians plant over 28 million trees, shrubs and grasses since 1996.
The Seedling Bank is our way of giving back to the thousands of volunteers who roll up their sleeves each year to host community tree planting events. Planet Ark supports projects happening throughout the year, not just on Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day.
How to apply for funding
All schools and community groups can apply for funding at the same time as registering a planting event on the National Tree Day website. When applications are open, you’ll see an extra section at the bottom of the event registration page, which you’ll need to fill in to apply for funding.
Tips for a successful application
Your application will be assessed against key categories: value for money, collaboration, community engagement and environmental outcomes. We prioritise projects with the greatest environmental and social benefits that align with National Tree Day's mission to connect people with nature and promote the regeneration of ecosystems.
Value for money
When applying, estimate how much funding and how many seedlings you need. Applications must be for a minimum of 25 seedlings and the recommended budget is $7 per seedling, but you can justify a higher amount. We have a limited pool of funding, applications with a high seedling cost will have lower chances of success. If you’re not sure, contact your local nursery to get a quote.
Community engagement
We love supporting collaborative National Tree Day projects that bring communities together. Let us know how many volunteers you're expecting and how you'll be working with other groups in your community. Also, tell us how your project will benefit your local community or school community.
Successful schools and community groups have engaged their entire community or worked with local councils and environment groups. They have run plantings with many volunteers and encouraged the community to restore public spaces.
We are passionate about the social element of environmental projects. Tell us how you plan to inspire your community to get involved and connect with nature.
Environmental outcomes
Environmental benefits are prioritised when we assess projects. We require native plants to be planted, with a focus on larger regeneration projects. However, even smaller plantings can have a great impact if they provide habitat for native pollinators or contribute to a larger network of habitat.
Provide details about the habitat you’re restoring and the species that will benefit, including any threatened species. Ongoing monitoring to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project is also encouraged.
Looking for inspiration? Have a read of some of last year’s beneficiaries in the Tree Talk report. To apply, log in to the Coordinator Hub at treeday.planetark.org and follow the steps to register an event.
Jen worked as a vet nurse while studying environmental science and completing her master's degree in Journalism. She loves bushwalking, storytelling, caring for baby animals, Australian birds and river red gums. Jen works on the National Tree Day campaign and Planet Ark's Seedling Bank.
