grants and funding opportunities
Healthy tree canopy grants
Our grants are available to cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and non-profit organizations to enhance the county’s tree canopy.
The goals of the program are to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and disease by funding tree planting, educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees, and increase the diversity and resiliency of the tree canopy.
Types of grants
2026 healthy tree canopy grant flyer (PDF, 1MB)
Affordable housing
Grants are for removing ash trees and planting trees on affordable housing properties.
They are for new and existing affordable housing properties. Eligible applicants include:
- Owners and managers of existing affordable multifamily housing
- Developers of new affordable multifamily housing
- Affordable housing land trusts
Grants of a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $20,000 are available. A 25% match of the granted amount is required.
Grant guidelines for affordable housing properties (PDF, 1MB)
Grant application for affordable housing properties (DOCX, 1MB)
Cities
For cities with no tree inventory or an incomplete tree inventory:
- Grants are only to complete tree inventories.
- Grants of $1,000 to $5,000 are available, and a 25% match is required.
For cities that have a completed tree inventory and a have a MN DNR certified tree inspector or an ISA-certified arborist under contract for the proposed grant project:
- Grants are to implement tree plantings, maintain newly planted trees, remove and replace ash trees, conduct outreach, develop gravel-bed nurseries and develop tree management plans.
- Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 are available, and a 25% match is required.
Grant guidelines for cities (PDF, 1MB)
Grant application for cities (DOCX, 1MB)
Schools
Grants are for tree plantings on school properties, tree-related education, tree inventories, ash tree removals, and Arbor Day celebrations.
Eligible applicants include administrators, teachers, principals, and facility managers of existing charter, private, and public schools in Hennepin County. Grants of a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 are available. No match required.
Grant guidelines for schools (PDF, 1MB)
Grant application for schools (DOCX, 1MB)
Nonprofit organizations
Grants are for tree plantings on community properties, tree-related education, tree inventories, ash tree removals, and Arbor Day celebrations.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Hennepin County.
Grants of a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 are available. No match required.
Recommended tree list
When developing a planting plan, use the recommended tree list (PDF, 2MB). The list includes species of trees and notes about their suitability for planting in various locations. A do-not-plant list is also included.
Application
Applications for 2026 will be open from Tuesday, January 20 through Tuesday, March 3.
Register in the Supplier Portal
You need to be registered to submit an application. There has been an upgrade to the Supplier Portal, so you may need to register or re-register. For detailed instructions on how to register and submit an application, including video tutorials and more, visit Supplier Portal help.
Access the RFP and apply
- Visit the Supplier Portal
- Under Contracting opportunities, view the application materials by selecting the Healthy tree canopy grant you wish to apply for (affordable housing, cities, nonprofits, or schools).
- Submit materials through the supplier portal by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
Contact us for help with your project
Hennepin County foresters are available to help you develop projects and answer any questions related to the grant and application process. Before applying, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the healthy tree canopy grant manager, Leslie, at leslie.alcantarmejia@hennepin.us.
Information meeting
Hear about project ideas and understand the application process discussed during the February 4 information meeting:
Recently awarded grants
In July 2026, the county board awarded 13 Healthy Tree Canopy grants totaling $278,761.34. Grant projects will take place in seven cities, at four schools, and two nonprofit organizations, including congregations. More than 687 trees will be planted, and 61 ash trees will be removed through the grant projects.
The grants will:
- Fund the collection of data through tree inventories, which is critical to increasing and diversifying the tree canopy and starting to respond to emerald ash borer.
- Address the impacts of tree pests and pathogens by improving city forestry capacity and treating or replacing and replanting ash trees that are threatened by emerald ash borer. Grantees are required to plant at least one replacement tree for every ash tree removed.
- Educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in tree planting efforts.
- Improve livability and reduce disparities by planting trees in neighborhoods throughout the county experiencing disproportionate amounts of economic, environmental, and health inequities.
- Protect people and increase the county's resilience to climate change - important goals in the county's Climate Action Plan - by increasing the benefits that trees provide. These benefits include capturing carbon, reducing air pollution, and taking up stormwater, and providing shade to counteract the urban heat island effect.
Grants awarded to cities
Grants to cities fund tree inventories, help mitigate the effects of tree pests and pathogens, increase the capacity of city forestry programs, educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in tree planting efforts, and improve livability by planting trees in neighborhoods that face economic, environmental, and health disparities.
Brooklyn Park
$45,000 to remove and replace 30 ash trees.
Crystal
$50,000 to plant 72 trees in two neighborhood focus areas and to expand a gravel-bed tree nursery.
Excelsior
$30,200 to remove five ash trees and plant 30 trees.
Hopkins
$30,000 to plant 100 trees around multiple neighborhoods throughout the city.
Loretto
$40,156 to remove 26 ash trees and plant 42 trees.
Maple Grove
$13,065 to plant 155 trees across different city-owned sites.
Medicine Lake
$18,093 to update public tree inventory, plant 12 trees, and conduct six ash tree treatments.
Grants awarded to nonprofit organizations and schools
Grants to nonprofit organizations and schools are used to engage communities in planting trees, remove and replace ash trees, conduct tree-related education, complete tree inventories, and hold Arbor Day celebrations.
Bakken Museum in Minneapolis
$4,633 to plant 11 trees for replacement of previously removed ash at the Bakken Museum
Bloomington Independent School District 271
$9,960 to plant 40 trees and conduct tree-related education at Olson Elementary and Middle School
Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins
$7,654 to plant 47 trees for replacement of previously removed ash at the church.
Minneapolis Public Schools Special School District No. 1
$10,000 to plant 48 trees at various schools to replace previously removed ash trees
Orono Independent School District 278
$10,000 to plant 12 trees at Orono High School for replacement of previously removed ash
Robbinsdale Independent School District 281
$10,000 to plant 88 trees and conduct tree-related education at Zachary Lane Elementary School