Tree grant of $10k-$40k open for applications with goal of 1M trees by 2030

More than 350,000 trees have been planted as part of the TEDI program. (Photo by lovelyday12/Getty Images iStockphoto)

A state agency is attempting to get more trees in the First State, and is giving away money to do so.

Through the state’s Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative (TEDI), organizations can apply for a grant between $10,000 and $40,000 for Spring 2026 tree planting projects.

“Planting trees increases carbon sequestration and storage, contributing toward Delaware’s climate goals,” said Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Greg Patterson. “In addition, they also improve air and water quality, provide shade for cooling and create habitat for wildlife.”

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The grant money is part of the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, and eligible applicants include state agencies, conservation districts, counties, non-governmental organizations having 501(c)(3) status, municipalities, public school districts, private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, business entities responsible for corporate campuses, and tribal governments.

“These areas were dominated by ash trees that were severely impacted by the invasive emerald ash borer,” said Ellen Lake, Director of Conservation & Research at the Mt. Cuba Center who was able to restore four acres of riparian buffers along the Red Clay Creek with the $37,000 TEDI grant they received this year. “We planted a total of 1,484 native trees consisting of 11 species. This planting will provide food for native wildlife and improve water quality by shading the stream and helping to decrease erosion and flooding.”