GCA ScholarshipsExplore & Apply
The Garden Club of America offers 29 merit-based scholarships and fellowships in 12 areas related to conservation, ecology, horticulture, and pollinator research.
Botany
The Anne S. Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany
To protect, preserve and expand knowledge about the medicinal use of plants, thus preventing the disappearance of plants with therapeutic potential. Providing this research opportunity for botanists can, in turn, assist medical science to develop therapies that improve the quality of life of patients and develop life-saving medicines.
Doctoral candidates and recent PhDs in botany
January 31
The Garden Club of America Summer Scholarship in Field Botany
To support students' field studies and offer an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.
For undergraduate and graduate students.
February 1
The Loy McCandless Marks Scholarship (an International Scholarship in Tropical Horticulture or Landscape Architecture)
To promote the study of tropical horticulture and landscape architecture.
For graduate students and undergraduates
January 15
The Zeller Summer Scholarship in Medicinal Botany
To encourage US undergraduate students to expand their knowledge of medicinal botany by pursuing summer study in various projects, courses, and/or internships with supervision and structure.
For summer study following any undergraduate year.
February 1
The Joan K. Hunt and Rachel M. Hunt Summer Scholarship in Field Botany
To promote the importance of botany to horticulture by encouraging young students to study field botany in the US, and to offer an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the field beyond the regular course of study.
For undergraduate or graduate students.
February 1
The Garden Club of America Fellowship in Tropical Botany
Coastal Wetlands Studies
The Garden Club of America Award in Coastal Wetlands Studies
To promote, expand and enrich the body of research concerning the coast by actively supporting graduate students in the field of coastal wetlands science.
Open to graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in coastal wetlands science.
January 15
Conservation & Ecological Restoration
The Garden Club of America Fellowship in Ecological Restoration
The Garden Club of America (GCA) offers an annual Fellowship in Ecological Restoration. Established in 2000 with funds from the John B. Young Charitable Trust as well as GCA members and clubs, the fellowship’s goal is to support research that will advance knowledge and increase the number of scientists in the important field of ecological restoration, the active healing of the land. The $8,000 grant is awarded annually to exceptional graduate students to support specialized study in ecological restoration at an accredited U.S. university. Preference ...
The Sara Shallenberger Brown Garden Club of America National Parks Conservation Scholarship
To encourage studies and careers in the conservation fields, with the opportunity to protect, enhance, and gain knowledge and experience for the lasting benefit of the U.S. National Parks. The Sara Brown GCA National Parks Scholarship will fund at least one (or more) SCA Apprentice Crew Leader (ACL), Leader, and/or Apprentice annually.ACLs and leaders will provide support, encouragement, and mentorship of high school crews engaged in hands-on conservation projects. Apprentices will work under the direct oversight of a land management agency or organization to address specific needs, which...
February 15
Desert Studies
The Garden Club of America Award in Desert Studies
To promote the study of horticulture, conservation, botany, environmental science and landscape design relating to the arid landscape.
For graduate and junior or senior undergraduate students.
January 15
Garden History & Design
The Garden Club of America Scholarship in Garden History and Design at the Archives of American Gardens
The Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History and Design
Horticulture & Related Fields
The Keller Scholarship in Conservation Horticulture
To promote plant conservation capacity and coordination among botanic gardens, and/or public gardens, in the United States through programs of Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US (BGCI-US) in collaboration with The Garden Club of America (GCA).
Open to a current undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior with a declared major in biology, horticulture, or related fields. Preference is given to students with interest in plant conservation and botanic gardens.
January 15
The Katharine M. Grosscup Scholarships in Horticulture
To encourage the study of horticulture and related fields.
Open to rising college sophomores, juniors, seniors or master's degree candidates in the fall of 2024.
January 15
The Corliss Knapp Engle Scholarship in Horticulture
To encourage the development of research, documentation, and teaching skills in the field of horticulture.
For undergraduate, graduate, advanced degree candidates, or non-degree seeking students above the high school level.
February 1
The Garden Club of America Hope Goddard Iselin Fellowship in Public Horticulture
To further the study of public horticulture through experiential learning that takes place at a recognized public garden, botanic garden, arboretum, or other closely aligned public horticulture institution within the United States.
Open to students enrolled in a graduate-level university program to study public horticulture. Student must confirm ability to conduct research or otherwise utilize facility where study will be undertaken.
February 1
The Garden Club of America Montine M. Freeman Scholarship in Native Plant Studies
To encourage the understanding, development and use of underutilized native plants. Established to encourage the development of research, documentation, and teaching skills in the field of horticulture.
Open to college undergraduates or graduate students, advanced degree candidates, or non-degree seeking students above the high school level.
February 1
The Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship in Conservation Horticulture
International Work & Study
The Garden Club of America and the Royal Horticultural Society Interchange Fellowships
To foster British-American relations through the interchange of scholars in horticulture, landscape architecture, and related areas and to promote the exchange of information in the horticulture field. These international and prestigious Interchange Fellowships allow for an American student to study and work in the UK and a British student to study and work in the U.S. The fellowships last one year and are life changing experiences for the recipients who go on to be leaders in the field of horticulture. View the resources below to learn more about the fellowships and previous fellows. ...
January 15
The Loy McCandless Marks Scholarship (an International Scholarship in Tropical Horticulture or Landscape Architecture)
To promote the study of tropical horticulture and landscape architecture.
For graduate students and undergraduates
January 15
Landscape Architecture
The Garden Club of America Rome Prize Fellowship in Landscape Architecture
The American Academy in Rome supports innovative artists, writers, and scholars living and working together in a dynamic international community. The Rome Prize Fellowship in Landscape Architecture, which includes geography, environmental design and planning, landscape and ecological urbanism, landscape history, sustainability, and ecological studies, provides American landscape architects with a special opportunity for advanced study, travel, and association with other fellows in Rome.
Anyone may apply. However, undergraduate students are not eligible for Rome Prize Fellowships.
November 1
The Moore Family Fellowship in The Making of the American Landscape
To promote, expand, enrich and develop the body of research in significant man-made changes to the American landscape since the country’s founding in 1776.
Graduate students pursuing advanced degrees.
February 1
Native Bird Habitat
The Frances M. Peacock Scholarship for Native Bird Habitat
To provide financial aid to study areas in the United States that provide seasonal habitat for threatened or endangered native birds and to tend useful information for land-management decisions.
College seniors and graduate students.
January 15
Pollinator Research
The Garden Club of America Board of Associates Centennial Pollinator Fellowship
Summer Environmental Study
The Clara Carter Higgins Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship
To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, providing the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.
Open to undergraduate college students.
February 5
The Garden Club of America Awards for Summer Environmental Studies
The Caroline Thorn Kissel Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship
To promote environmental studies by students who are residents of New Jersey or nonresidents studying in New Jersey or its adjacent waters.
Open to current and actively enrolled college students, graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, non-degree-seeking students, or those actively enrolled in continuing education programs at a US-based institution.
February 5
The Mary T. Carothers Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship
To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.
Open to college undergraduates for summer study following their freshman, sophomore, or junior year.
February 5
The Elizabeth Gardner Norweb Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship
To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.
Open to college undergraduate for summer study following freshman, sophomore, or junior year.
February 5
Urban Forestry
The Garden Club of America Zone VI Fellowship in Urban Forestry
To advance the field of urban forestry by encouraging students to study the planning, management, horticulture and ecology of urban forests and the effect of healthy urban forests on people and the environment. urban forests and the effect of healthy urban forests on people and the environment.
For graduate students and advanced undergraduates.
January 15