B.W. Wells Stewardship Fund

The B.W. Wells Stewardship Fund is named for Bertram Whittier Wells, an eminent North Carolina plant ecologist at North Carolina State College. Wells was a passionate advocate throughout his career for the protection of North Carolina’s native flora. In 1932 he published The Natural Gardens of North Carolina, a classic book describing the natural plant communities found in the State. Wells’ retirement home, Rock Cliff Farm, is now protected as part of Falls Lake State Recreation Area, and the B.W. Wells Association was formed to preserve his legacy and conservation ethics. A donation to NCNPS by Maude Wells, his wife, led to the establishment of the fund in his honor.
BW Wells explaining ecological principles
B.W. Wells teaching ecological concepts

About the B.W. Wells Stewardship Fund

The B.W. Wells Stewardship Fund provides several grants each year to projects that involve the installation of new native plant gardens, restoration and maintenance of existing natural plant communities, and public education on native plants and their benefits and conservation. Grants are available to organizations, including federal, state, and local agencies, and local community organizations. Grants are awarded up to $1000.

Proposals should fall within the mission of NCNPS: “to promote the enjoyment and conservation of North Carolina’s native plants and their habitats through education, protection, cultivation, and advocacy.”

All applications must be received by September 1. Notification will be made to applicants by November 1st of each year.

Projects may include but are not limited to:
• management of natural plant communities in North Carolina, e.g., invasive species control, prescribed burns, erosion control
• preparation, installation, and care of native plant and pollinator gardens
• development, production, and distribution of educational programs and materials promoting native plants and their habitats

NCNPS does not fund
• the purchase of plants or seeds not native to North Carolina
• projects for the same site in two consecutive years
• irrigation projects or installation of hardscape

Application details

All applications must include the following:

• Project description
• Statement on how the project relates to the NCNPS mission
• Budget summary
• Plant/seed list if requesting funds for plantings

Detailed information and instructions for submitting can be found on the application form. Please be aware that you cannot save incomplete applications to finish later.

Grant Obligations

Grant recipients agree to the following obligations as part of their acceptance of funds:

• Acknowledge the NCNPS B.W. Wells Stewardship Fund, including the website, in event publicity, printed materials, social media, and signage, as practicable
• Submit a short description of the project and photo(s) to be published in Native Plant News, the newsletter of the NCNPS, and on the NCNPS website
• Report any significant changes to project start/end date to the Grants and Scholarship Committee Chair

The grant recipient is encouraged to offer a field trip or present their work at a local chapter of NCNPS, if appropriate. Local Chapters are listed on the NCNPS website.