Congratulations – if you are looking here, odds are good you’ve received notice that you’ve been awarded a Unity Gardens grant! Here are a few tips and resources to help you manage your grant.
Helpful Tips
- Keep ALL of your receipts in one place – when it comes time to submit your final report, you will need them to complete the budget form
- If you can’t find a specific native plant you intended to use, you may absolutely substitute a different plant – we want you to spend all your money to get as many native plants in the ground as you can! We just request that you let us know what you are intending to swap so we can make sure it is a suitable plant (ie. native to our eco-region), so please shoot us a quick email at unitygardensaa@gmail.com.
- Take advantage of negotiated discounts for Unity Gardens grant recipients with several local nurseries including Patuxent Nursery, Babikow, and Providence Center. Contact information for these nurseries was included in your grant award letter.
- Be sure to let us know your planting day date so we can try to have a Unity Gardens representative stop by to say hi, take some pictures and give you your sign(s).
- Take lots of pictures but be sure to have your participants sign a photo release form (see below).
- If you want to foster enthusiasm or say thank you to key volunteers some Unity Gardens swag might be in order. You can shop our Merch Store to find our latest offerings. Not only can you get some fun swag, but you also give back to Unity Gardens – we receive 10% of the proceeds from all sales.
Final Reports
Every grant recipient must complete a final grant report once their project has been implemented. Please click HERE to submit your final report. If you would prefer to download and email your report, please download the Final Report instructions HERE.
- Final Grant Report Deadlines: Fall Grants: November 15 and Spring Grants: July 30.
- Organizations will be asked to return money that was not used or for which you do not have a receipt.
- Timely reporting and good communication ensures that your group remains in good standing if you decide to apply for another Unity Garden grant in the future.
And Some Other Details…
Plant Selection and How to Plant Instructions
Photo Release Form
Unity Gardens uses photos of our grant projects to inform and educate about our work, and the value of native plants. Photos may be used on Unity Gardens’ social media pages, our website, and in print. By submitting photos to Unity Gardens, you are certifying that all persons depicted in the photos you share with us have signed a Photo Release Form.
Local Sources for Native Plants
Finding the exact native plant you want can be challenging. The good news is there are mores sources than ever to find natives. Here’s a recent list we put together.
Grantee Signage
A group of volunteers from Rock Oak Villas – a Fall 2025 Unity Gardens grantee – are all smiles after a job well done with their new Unity Gardens signs – one Welcome to a Native Garden and two Do Not Mow/Do Not Spray.
Each grant project can receive up to 3 signs at no cost, as follows:
- One metal 12 x 16 in Unity Gardens sign for your project in your choice of 2 designs – Welcome to a Native Garden or Managing Water with the Power of Native Plants. These signs have holes so you can screw it to a fence, building, or you can use the post we provide.
- A second 12 x 16 sign in your chosen format (Welcome to a Native Garden or Managing Water with the Power of Native Plants) in Spanish. (This is optional).
- One 8 x 12 metal “Do Not Mow, Do Not Spray” sign to notify landscapers and maintenance crews that the area is intentionally planted.
Additional signs are available at cost upon request. The 12 x 16 inch signs are $40 each and the smaller No Mow signs are $16 each. Checks should be made payable to Unity Gardens and delivery should be coordinated with your Unity Gardens planting day contact.
Maryland Pollinator Pathway
Have you joined the Maryland Pollinator Pathway yet? We ask that you do so we can collectively see the contributions we are making to a greener future – one native garden at a time. It only takes a minute and it’s free. Here’s how!