The Safe Arborist Techniques Fund (SATF) Grant Program 2026 is an important research funding opportunity supporting innovation, safety improvement, and knowledge development within the arboriculture and tree care industry.

The program is jointly established by the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) to support research and development focused on improving the techniques, equipment, and safety practices used by arborists when climbing, rigging, and working with trees.

Through this grant program, researchers and institutions are encouraged to develop evidence-based solutions that help create safer working environments for arborists while improving understanding of tree work risks, equipment performance, and hazard identification.

The SATF Grant Program provides funding of up to $15,000 per project and expects funded projects to be completed within two years from the initial fund disbursement.

About the Safe Arborist Techniques Fund (SATF)

The tree care profession involves complex and physically demanding activities, including tree climbing, equipment operation, rigging, and managing hazardous situations.

Arborists often work in environments where safety risks can arise from:

• Tree structure and stability
• Equipment limitations
• Rigging techniques
• Climbing methods
• Environmental conditions
• Human factors during tree operations

The Safe Arborist Techniques Fund was created to support research that addresses these challenges and develops practical solutions that protect arborists and improve industry standards.

The program focuses on advancing:

• Safer climbing techniques
• Improved rigging practices
• Better arborist equipment
• Hazard identification methods
• Workplace safety systems
• Evidence-based tree care practices

Grant Benefits

Successful applicants may receive:

• Research funding of up to $15,000
• Support for innovative arboriculture safety research
• Opportunity to contribute to improved industry standards
• Platform to share findings with researchers and tree care professionals
• Opportunity to publish research outcomes in professional journals
• Recognition through TREE Fund research networks

Funded researchers are expected to contribute knowledge that can benefit arborists, urban forestry professionals, researchers, and organizations involved in tree management.

Areas of Research Supported

TREE Fund welcomes research proposals from a broad range of academic and technical disciplines.

Projects may involve:

• Qualitative research
• Quantitative research
• Engineering studies
• Safety assessments
• Equipment and technique evaluation
• Risk identification studies
• Arboriculture technology development

Research should contribute to improving safety in areas such as:

• Tree climbing
• Rigging operations
• Arborist equipment
• Tree work procedures
• Hazard prevention

Projects Not Eligible for Funding

The SATF Grant Program does not support certain types of projects.

Applications will not be accepted for:

1. Individual Grants

The program does not provide grants directly to individuals.

Funding must be connected to eligible research institutions or organizations.

2. Municipal Tree Surveys or Assessments

Projects primarily focused on municipal tree inventories, surveys, or assessments are not eligible.

3. Tree Planting Programs

Funding is not available for tree planting initiatives.

4. Traditional Forestry and Conservation Studies

Projects focused mainly on:

• Forestry production
• Timber management
• Agroforestry
• Forest ecology
• Conservation of natural forests

are not eligible.

5. Product Testing for Commercial Benefit

Research focused primarily on testing a product for the benefit of the company manufacturing that product will not be funded.

Application Timeline and Important Deadlines

The SATF Grant application process follows a structured timeline.

Letter of Intent (LOI) Period

Opening Date: August 1, 2026

LOI Submission Deadline: September 1, 2026

TREE Fund will only accept Letters of Intent between August 1 and September 1, 2026.

Proposal Review Notification

September 15, 2026

Applicants whose Letters of Intent meet the requirements will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Full Proposal Submission Deadline

October 15, 2026

Only applicants whose LOIs are approved will be allowed to submit complete applications.

Grant Recipient Notification

Mid-to-late December 2026

Selected applicants will be informed of funding decisions.

Application Process

The application process consists of two major stages:

Step 1: Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI)

Applicants must first submit an LOI through the online application portal.

The Letter of Intent must clearly identify:

• Principal Investigator (PI)
• Institution responsible for conducting the research
• Research concept
• Alignment with SATF priorities

TREE Fund reviews each LOI to determine whether:

• The project meets eligibility requirements
• The research aligns with program goals
• The project has reasonable potential for success

Only approved LOIs move forward to the full application stage.

Step 2: Submit Full Research Proposal

Applicants invited after LOI approval must submit a complete proposal by:

October 15, 2026

The full proposal must provide detailed information about the research project, methodology, budget, and expected outcomes.

Application Requirements

Applicants must provide information about:

• Principal Investigator
• Co-Principal Investigators
• Student assistants (if applicable)
• Curriculum vitae information

The proposal must include the following sections:

1. Project Description

Overall Project Summary (Maximum 400 words)

Applicants must explain:

• The current problem being addressed
• The impact of the issue on arboriculture and urban forestry
• The goals of the proposed research

2. Measurable Outputs and Outcomes (Maximum 250 words)

Applicants should describe:

• Expected research outputs
• Publications
• Educational materials
• Presentations
• Outreach activities

Applicants should also identify up to five measurable outcomes showing how the research may improve tree care practices.

3. Current Knowledge and Previous Research (Maximum 1,000 words)

This section should include:

• Existing knowledge about the research topic
• Previous attempts to address the problem
• Relevant scientific literature
• Experience of the research team

4. Project Work Plan (Maximum 1,500 words)

Applicants must clearly explain:

• Research scope
• Research objectives
• Hypotheses
• Study design
• Methodology
• Data analysis approach
• Any commercial or proprietary elements

5. Dissemination Plan (Maximum 300 words)

Applicants should explain how research findings will be shared with:

• Academic communities
• Arboriculture professionals
• Industry stakeholders

TREE Fund encourages researchers to make findings widely available.

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6. Literature References

Applicants should provide relevant citations following recognized academic citation standards.

Budget Requirements

Applicants must provide detailed budget information, including:

Eligible Budget Categories

• Institutional compensation
• Research stipends
• Employee benefits
• Travel expenses
• Transportation costs
• Equipment purchases
• Materials and supplies
• Contract labor
• Consultants
• Speakers
• Institutional overhead
• Other expenses

Institutional overhead is limited to:

Maximum 10%

Applicants must also identify:

• Cash contributions from other sources
• In-kind support

A minimum of:

10% additional funding support

is required.

Selection Criteria

Applications are reviewed based on several important factors.

TREE Fund reviewers will focus on:

1. Research Team Experience

Reviewers consider:

• Previous achievements
• Research experience
• Expertise of investigators

Early-career researchers are encouraged to collaborate with experienced researchers or advisors.

2. Contribution to Arboriculture

Projects should demonstrate clear potential to improve:

• Arborist safety
• Tree care practices
• Industry knowledge

3. Research Approach

Evaluation includes:

• Strength of research questions
• Experimental design
• Methodology
• Scientific quality

4. Dissemination Strategy

Reviewers assess how effectively findings will reach:

• Researchers
• Tree care professionals
• Industry stakeholders

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

TREE Fund does not discriminate based on:

• Race
• Color
• Creed
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Disability
• National origin
• Ethnic background

The organization welcomes applications from diverse researchers and institutions.

However, current TREE Fund trustees and immediate family members of trustees are not eligible to receive grants.

Award Process and Fund Distribution

Grant recommendations are reviewed by the TREE Fund Research and Education Committee before being presented to the TREE Fund Board of Trustees.

Grant approvals occur during:

• Spring Grants: May Board Meeting
• Fall Grants: December Board Meeting

Recipients receive written notification within one month of trustee approval.

Successful applicants must complete:

• Grant agreement forms
• Payment schedules
• Reporting requirements
• Required documentation

Reporting Requirements

TREE Fund expects research findings to be shared widely so they can benefit the arboriculture community.

Grant recipients should:

• Notify TREE Fund when research findings are published
• Inform TREE Fund about conference presentations
• Acknowledge TREE Fund support in publications and presentations
• Share findings through professional journals

Researchers are encouraged to publish in journals such as:

• Arboriculture and Urban Forestry
• Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
• Arboricultural Journal
• Trees: Structure and Function
• Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology
• Plant Pathology
• HortScience
• Sustainable Development
• Landscape and Urban Planning
• Journal of Urban Health
• Urban Ecosystems

Previous Safe Arborist Techniques Fund Grant Recipients

Examples of previously funded projects include:

2025 Award

Leonardo Bianchini, PhD
University of Tuscia Department of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences

Project:
“Tree Risk during Rigging Operations: Identifying Biomechanical Risk Factors for Arborist Safety – TRIAS”

2024 Award

Lawrence Kahn
Tulane Law School Utility Vegetation Management Institute

Project:
“Enhancing the ANSI Z133 Safety Standard’s Effectiveness with Case Studies”

2023 Award

Lawrence Kahn
Tulane Law School Utility Vegetation Management Institute

Project:
“Can Mandatory Minimum Clearance Requirements Between Trees and Powerlines Successfully Reduce Injuries and Death to Workers and the Public?”

2022 Award

Dr. John Ball
South Dakota State University

Project:
“Evaluation of Efficiencies Among Climbing Systems and Rope Diameters”

2019 Award

Matt Follett
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Project:
“Evaluation of Load Distribution in Removal Operations: A Comparison of Techniques and Equipment”

                                     Read Full Details HERE

How to Apply

Interested applicants should prepare their research proposal and submit their Letter of Intent through the official TREE Fund application portal HERE

Conclusion

The Safe Arborist Techniques Fund Grant Program 2026 provides an excellent opportunity for researchers and institutions to advance safety, innovation, and scientific understanding within the arboriculture industry.

By supporting research into climbing techniques, rigging systems, equipment improvement, and hazard prevention, the program contributes to creating safer workplaces for arborists worldwide.

Researchers with strong proposals that can improve tree care safety practices are encouraged to submit their Letters of Intent before September 1, 2026, and take part in developing the future of safer arboriculture.

Discover more global Grant opportunities on OFY HERE