Federal Grant Award Summary

The Chicago Botanic Garden, operating under the Chicago Horticultural Society, received $704,927 in funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312) to develop a scalable framework for coordinated plant management across multiple botanic garden institutions. Commencing September 1, 2026, and concluding August 31, 2029, the project will establish standardized data collection protocols and processes for managing living plant collections, with initial focus on orchid specimens held across partner institutions. Key deliverables include aggregated plant condition data organized and uploaded to a shared platform, documented work processes and management protocols, plant condition testing results, and a comprehensive global conservation plan for participating collections.

The project will generate replicable models and research findings through publication in academic journals and presentation at professional conferences and workshops, consistent with the National Leadership Grants program's emphasis on advancing museum practice through widely adaptable solutions. This collaborative conservation initiative is designed to influence long-term species resilience and guide future collection curation practices across the participating botanical garden network, thereby extending federal investment benefits across multiple institutions and advancing professional standards in plant conservation management.