The San Francisco Orchid Society Conservation Committee was established in 2012 to support projects that contribute to the conservation of orchids and orchid habitat. Any member of the SFOS is invited and welcome to participate in the Conservation Committee. Our approach is closely based on the plan of the San Diego County Orchid Society, which has in the last 20 years raised more funds to support orchid conservation than any other similar organization in the country.
Our business plan has three stages.
Stage 1: RAISING FUNDS THROUGH DONATED PLANTS
Fundraising involves obtaining donated plants, caring for plants, and selling plants. We ask the SFOS membership at society meetings and through our newsletter for their extra plants and divisions, explaining the purpose for which we are raising money.
Please support our efforts by donating plants, and by purchasing plants at the sales.
The SFOS also accepts cash donations earmarked for conservation efforts.
Stage 2: SOLICITING CONSERVATION GRANT PROPOSALS
We will solicit and review grant applications at least once a year, however applications are accepted year-round.
Inquiries and applications can be sent to [email protected]
Stage 3: AWARDING GRANTS
Applications will be distributed to the members of the Conservation Committee in advance of our award meeting.
Applications should include a one-page summary of the project, a budget, a resume for the principal researcher, and a letter of recommendation from a recognized authority or institution in the orchid world.
Committee members grade the applications according to their individual interpretation of our guidelines.
Any member of the SFOS is welcome to participate in the review and awards process.
At our award meeting the grades are averaged for each grant, leading to grants which are generally most effective, grants which are generally less effective, and grants which are in the middle. The committee will then discuss the grants that have received a score in the upper half. The committee may ask for further information from the applicants or from experts in a particular field before final funding recommendations are made to our orchid society’s board of directors.
Most of our grants will be in the range of $2500 or less.
In many orchid-rich parts of the world, even these modest funds can help to move conservation efforts forward.
Successful applicants must agree to write a report / give talk for the society, publicize their results, and acknowledge our support in their publication(s).
When considering grant criteria, we will take into account our goals:
If no submitted application reasonably meets the above criteria, we hold funds over until the next application season.
Our business plan has three stages.
- We will sell designated plants donated for conservation efforts by members of the society, by vendors, or by others at Member Plant Sales.
- All funds raised from these efforts will be set aside for orchid conservation. We will solicit grant requests from researchers, scientists, orchid specialists from around the world, and carefully consider their goals, budget, and how well their project meshes with our mission.
- We will award grants to worthwhile individuals and institutions, with the understanding that they will provide a summary report to the Society at the end of the project. One hundred percent of funds raised by the Conservation Committee will go to support conservation of orchids in the wild.
Stage 1: RAISING FUNDS THROUGH DONATED PLANTS
Fundraising involves obtaining donated plants, caring for plants, and selling plants. We ask the SFOS membership at society meetings and through our newsletter for their extra plants and divisions, explaining the purpose for which we are raising money.
Please support our efforts by donating plants, and by purchasing plants at the sales.
The SFOS also accepts cash donations earmarked for conservation efforts.
Stage 2: SOLICITING CONSERVATION GRANT PROPOSALS
We will solicit and review grant applications at least once a year, however applications are accepted year-round.
Inquiries and applications can be sent to [email protected]
Stage 3: AWARDING GRANTS
Applications will be distributed to the members of the Conservation Committee in advance of our award meeting.
Applications should include a one-page summary of the project, a budget, a resume for the principal researcher, and a letter of recommendation from a recognized authority or institution in the orchid world.
Committee members grade the applications according to their individual interpretation of our guidelines.
Any member of the SFOS is welcome to participate in the review and awards process.
At our award meeting the grades are averaged for each grant, leading to grants which are generally most effective, grants which are generally less effective, and grants which are in the middle. The committee will then discuss the grants that have received a score in the upper half. The committee may ask for further information from the applicants or from experts in a particular field before final funding recommendations are made to our orchid society’s board of directors.
Most of our grants will be in the range of $2500 or less.
In many orchid-rich parts of the world, even these modest funds can help to move conservation efforts forward.
Successful applicants must agree to write a report / give talk for the society, publicize their results, and acknowledge our support in their publication(s).
When considering grant criteria, we will take into account our goals:
- Protect orchids in the wild.
- Conduct studies related to orchid conservation.
- Educate the public about conservation in general, orchid conservation in particular, and encourage public participation.
If no submitted application reasonably meets the above criteria, we hold funds over until the next application season.