This year, AFE has launched a new portal for submitting educational grant applications. Any community-based organization with a program targeting the floriculture industry within the United States may apply. Preference is given to floriculture programs that are national in scope and identify or improve educational opportunities for young people.
These grants provide financial assistance to support educational opportunities including national industry conventions, event programs or virtual events. The grants allow AFE to collaborate with and sponsor national, state and local association educational programs.
The deadline for all educational grant applications is June 1, 2026. Apply online here.
All requests are renewed annually, with funding dependent on the funds available.
AFE has three different educational grant opportunities to help fund industry learning programs:
The Meinders Retail Florist Educational Grant was established in 2021 to provide financial support for retail florist education. This fund supports reduced or free registration fees to floral industry events for retail florists by providing grants or scholarships to nonprofit floral industry organizations for this purpose. Grant applications focused on retail floral education will qualify for a grant under this fund.
AFE’s newest opportunity is the Demaree Family Floriculture Advancement Grant, which accepted its first applications in the 2025-2026 cycle. This grant supports special projects or programs addressing critical or timely challenges within the floral industry and focuses on initiatives that create meaningful impacts through resources, education or advancements that benefit the industry as a whole. There is a separate application for this grant. Apply here.
During the 2025-2026 cycle, AFE awarded $60,700 to support 17 educational programs for organizations, universities and industry groups that are vital to the floral industry’s advancement and success.