Create a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.
The Morton Arboretum’s recent grantmaking is anchored by Chicago-region urban forestry work, with the largest awards going to local governments and park districts for tree canopy, stormwater, and community forestry projects. In 2025, the foundation gave $75,000 to the City of Chicago for cooperative forestry assistance and $73,443 to Roselle Park District for urban and community forestry. Those grants sit alongside a broader pattern of support for tree planting, canopy expansion, and neighborhood-level forestry in Illinois communities. The arboretum also funds work beyond municipal planting. It awarded $72,383 to Atlanta Botanical Garden for coordinating consortia to conserve living plant collections, and $70,494 to Chicago Horticultural Society for managing genetic diversity in botanic garden collections. Other grants support oak ecosystem preservation, urban forest resilience, and conservation of living plant collections, showing a portfolio that links applied urban forestry with plant science and stewardship. This pattern fits the arboretum’s stated purpose of creating a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together. Its grantmaking reaches schools, under-resourced neighborhoods, botanic gardens, and community organizations, but the center of gravity remains regional and practical: trees, forests, and the institutions that manage them.
Urban forestry is a core theme. The Morton Arboretum gave $99,902 to Chicago Park District to expand tree canopy and reduce stormwater impacts, and it awarded $66,500 to City of Chicago Fmps for improving tree canopy in under-resourced neighborhoods. That same place-based approach appears in support for villages and park districts across Illinois. A second theme is conservation of living collections and plant genetics. In 2024, the arboretum gave $39,861 to Montgomery Botanical Center for coordinating consortia to conserve living plant collections, and in 2025 it gave $70,494 to Chicago Horticultural Society for managing genetic diversity in botanic garden collections. These grants point to work that links botanic gardens and collection management. The foundation also funds ecosystem conservation. It gave $60,000 to Lake County Forest Preserves for preserving oak ecosystems, and $33,034 to The Land Conservancy of Mchenry County for the same purpose. Alongside those grants, it supports urban and community forestry projects through its Chicago Region Trees Initiative.
$1.1M
$367.6M
$57.8M
$58.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$20K
MICHAEL M REESE
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The Morton Arboretum’s typical grant sizes cluster tightly around modest project awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,444. That distribution is consistent with a grantmaker that uses many targeted awards rather than a few very large ones. The recent record shows repeated support for the same program areas across multiple years, especially urban forestry, oak ecosystems, and living collections. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its active programs also show that it accepts unsolicited applications in several areas, including internships and fellowships, research experiences for undergraduates, and urban and community forestry grants.
The foundation gives primarily in Illinois: 78% of grants go to recipients in its HQ state, and Illinois is also the top state by grant count. Chicago is the main city in the recent record, with additional awards in Roselle, Glencoe, River Forest, Naperville, Belvidere, Beckemeyer, Rockford, Mokena, Lake Bluff, Ottawa, Deerfield, Palatine, and Bannockburn. Outside Illinois, recent grants went to Atlanta, Miami, Williston, and San Marino, all in the United States.
Its grants center on tree canopy expansion, urban and community forestry, oak ecosystem preservation, and conservation of living plant collections. The recent record also includes work on stormwater impacts, urban forest resilience, and genetic diversity in botanic garden collections.
Yes, but most grants go to Illinois recipients. In the recent grants list, recipients outside Illinois include organizations in Atlanta, Miami, Williston, and San Marino. All recorded recipient grants are in the United States.
Its grant sizes are usually modest: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,444. That suggests a pattern of targeted project support rather than very large awards.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Internships and Fellowships, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Urban and Community Forestry Grants, the CRTI Contract Growing Program, the Centennial Tree Planting Initiative, and the Tree Ambassador Program.
Recent grants go to public agencies, park districts, forest preserve districts, botanical institutions, and local organizations. Examples in the data include the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Roselle Park District, Lake County Forest Preserves, and Chicago Horticultural Society.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Morton Arboretum that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: The scraped content only states that Chicago residents and community groups may participate; no detailed eligibility criteria were provided.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE |
| ROSELLE PARK DISTRICT | ROSELLE, IL | $73,443 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY | GLENCOE, IL | $70,494 | 2025 | MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS |
| FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY | RIVER FOREST, IL | $55,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION |
| OPENLANDS | CHICAGO, IL | $51,414 | 2025 | EXPANDING TREE CANOPY TO REDUCE STORMWATER IMPACTS |
| VILLAGE OF WESTCHESTER | WESTCHESTER, IL | $40,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| HAWTHORN WOODS | HAWTHORN WOODS, IL | $40,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION |
| CITY OF NAPERVILLE | NAPERVILLE, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP PARK DISTRICT | BELVIDERE, IL | $27,933 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF BECKEMEYER | BECKEMEYER, IL | $27,331 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CITY OF WEST CHICAGO | WEST CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CITY OF ROCKFORD | ROCKFORD, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF OSWEGO | OSWEGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF GRAYSLAKE | GRAYSLAKE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF GLENDALE HEIGHTS | GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CITY OF OTTAWA | OTTAWA, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF BANNOCKBURN | BANNOCKBURN, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY | WHEATON, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION |
| VILLAGE OF PALATINE | PALATINE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION |
| VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD | DEERFIELD, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF MOKENA | MOKENA, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF LAKE BLUFF | LAKE BLUFF, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF WESTERN SPRINGS | WESTCHESTER, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CITY OF SPRINGFIELD | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $24,750 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $23,960 | 2025 | FOREST HEALTH PROGRAM |
| CITY OF BLUE ISLAND | BLUE ISLAND, IL | $22,460 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF HILLSIDE | HILLSIDE, IL | $19,784 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD | BROOKFIELD, IL | $18,500 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIBRARY AND ART GALLERY | SAN MARINO, GA | $18,324 | 2025 | MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS |
| FAITH IN PLACE | CHICAGO, IL | $16,382 | 2025 | COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE |
| CRYSTAL LAKE PARK DISTRICT | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF DEER PARK | DEER PARK, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION |
| VILLAGE OF ALSIP | ALSIP, IL | $13,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| OSWEGOLAND PARK DISTRICT | OSWEGO, IL | $13,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF TROUT VALLEY | CARY, IL | $11,738 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION |
| DEERFIELD PARK DISTRICT | DEERFIELD, IL | $11,250 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CITY OF BELVIDERE | BELVIDERE, IL | $11,162 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE | BUFFALO GROVE, IL | $11,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY | RESTON, VA | $10,928 | 2025 | DIMENSIONS US-CHINA: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH |
| PROSPECT HEIGHTS PARK DISTRICT | PROSPECT HEIGHTS, IL | $10,500 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CITY OF COLLINSVILLE | COLLINSVILLE, IL | $10,049 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF SCHILLER PARK | SCHILLER PARK, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| VILLAGE OF RIVER FOREST | RIVER FOREST, IL | $7,651 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $7,402 | 2025 | FOREST HEALTH PROGRAM |
| GLENCOE PARK DISTRICT | GLENCOE, IL | $7,250 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CITY OF MOLINE | MOLINE, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN | ATLANTA, GA | $5,650 | 2025 | MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS |
| WINNEBAGO COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT | ROCKFORD, IL | $5,042 | 2025 | URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY |
| CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT | CHICAGO, IL | $99,902 | 2024 | EXPANDING TREE CANOPY TO REDUCE STORMWATER IMPACTS |
| ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN | ATLANTA, GA | $72,383 | 2024 | COORDINATING CONSORTIA TO CONSERVE LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS |
CITY OF CHICAGO
$75,000COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE
ROSELLE PARK DISTRICT
$73,443URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS
FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY
$55,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION
VILLAGE OF WESTCHESTER
$40,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
HAWTHORN WOODS
$40,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION
CITY OF NAPERVILLE
$30,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP PARK DISTRICT
$27,933URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF BECKEMEYER
$27,331URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CITY OF WEST CHICAGO
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CITY OF ROCKFORD
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF OSWEGO
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF GRAYSLAKE
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF GLENDALE HEIGHTS
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CITY OF OTTAWA
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF BANNOCKBURN
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION
VILLAGE OF PALATINE
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION
VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF MOKENA
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF LAKE BLUFF
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF WESTERN SPRINGS
$25,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
$24,750URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
$23,960FOREST HEALTH PROGRAM
CITY OF BLUE ISLAND
$22,460URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF HILLSIDE
$19,784URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD
$18,500URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS
CRYSTAL LAKE PARK DISTRICT
$15,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF DEER PARK
$15,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION
VILLAGE OF ALSIP
$13,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
OSWEGOLAND PARK DISTRICT
$13,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF TROUT VALLEY
$11,738URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUPPORT IN CHICAGO REGION
DEERFIELD PARK DISTRICT
$11,250URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CITY OF BELVIDERE
$11,162URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE
$11,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
$10,928DIMENSIONS US-CHINA: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
PROSPECT HEIGHTS PARK DISTRICT
$10,500URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CITY OF COLLINSVILLE
$10,049URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF SCHILLER PARK
$10,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
VILLAGE OF RIVER FOREST
$7,651URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,402FOREST HEALTH PROGRAM
GLENCOE PARK DISTRICT
$7,250URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CITY OF MOLINE
$6,000URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS
WINNEBAGO COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT
$5,042URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT
$99,902EXPANDING TREE CANOPY TO REDUCE STORMWATER IMPACTS
COORDINATING CONSORTIA TO CONSERVE LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS
