Advocacy

ADvocacy

The membership of the American Public Gardens Association identified Advocacy as one of the primary goals in the 2023 Strategic Plan.

APGA is committed to advocacy and leadership on behalf of the public garden sector and its members. Beyond merely representing the interests of our gardens on a national level with key stakeholders, we seek to build relationships and provide resources that give our members the tools they need so they remain indispensable in the eyes of their communities.

Key Issues

The challenges and opportunities for public gardens everywhere.

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Get Involved

Ways you can be a voice for public gardens everywhere.

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Advocacy Alert: Office of Management & Budget Rule Change

Sweeping changes are proposed to the administration of all Federal grants. Find out what you can do – make your voice heard!

As written, the regulations would:

De-emphasize the role of peer review in screening applications and awarding grants.
Give political appointees the authority and responsibility for reviewing grant applications to ensure they “align with presidential priorities.”
Prohibit funding for activities that advance DEI, as well as certain activities related to gender ideology, gender-affirming care, abortion-related activities and voter registration efforts.
Restrict the ability of grant recipients to engage in some kinds of advocacy.
Give agencies the authority to restrict eligibility for certain categories of nonprofits.
Establish that any grant could be cancelled at any time if the agency providing the funding decides the grant is no longer in the national interest.
Discourage international collaboration.

Learn More at AAM-US.ORG

Public Garden Magazine - focus on Advocacy

The August, 2025 Public Garden magazine featured a focus on Advocacy at public gardens:

– Making the Case for Public Gardens
– PA Gardens: Cultivating Influence
– Botanic Garden Advocacy at International Levels
– The APGA Advocacy Committee

ADvocacy ACTIONS

Association Advocacy has supported several initiatives, including recent legislation and judicial decisions.

2026 Field Wide Letter to Congress

In April, 2026 APGA and over 30 members joined 1325 museums and museum Associations from across the country in a Field Wide Letter to Congress organized by the American Alliance of Museums. This unprecedented expression of museum support reflects Congress’ continued funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowments of the Arts and Humanities, and STEM-related education funding from NASA, NOAA, and the National Science Foundation despite Administration efforts to eliminate the programs.

The museum field is the only source of advocacy in support of the Office of Museum Services at IMLS, which provides over $50M annually in grant funding for museums. From 2022-2024 APGA members received over $10M in funding from IMLS and APGA has received an IMLS grant to develop a Learning Management System in support of the Association’s Professional Development opportunities for our members.

Read Letter

2026 APGA Member Signers

Awbury Arboretum, Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University, Brookgreen Gardens, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Ganna Walska Lotusland, Hermitage Museum & Gardens, Hershey Gardens, Holden Arboretum, Idaho Botanic Garden, Imua Discovery Garden, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Lincoln Park Zoo, Longue Vue House & Gardens, Memphis Botanical Garden, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, Morton Arboretum, Mount Auburn Cemetery. New York Botanical Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden, Olbrich Botanical, Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Diego Botanic Garden, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Santa Barbara Botanica Garden, Seattle Botanic Gardens. Teton Botanical Garden. The Gardens at Heather Farm, The John Fairey Garden Conservation Foundation, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Ventura Botanical Gardens, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Universal Charitable Deduction

Starting in FY2026, Americans filing personal taxes using the standard deduction are able to deduct $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a couple in charitable contributions. APGA advocated for this bipartisan, bicameral measure with AAM and ASAE.

529 "Career Savings Accounts"

“529 Savings Accounts” expanded to include post-secondary certifications and licenses. APGA joined with ASAE in support of this bipartisan, bicameral measure.

Learn how your public garden’s talent development programs can take advantage of this new provision.

Protecting Members

The Association joined a coalition of Museum Associations, the American Library Association, and AFSCME in an amicus brief in support of a temporary injunction in Rhode Island v. Trump.
The proposed Executive Action impacted dozens of IMLS grants awarded to APGA members.
The injunction was upheld and the case decided in favor of keeping IMLS open.
In April, 2026 the Administration dropped IMLS from it’s appeal of this ruling.

Federal Museum Funding

The Association has joined with our peer museum Associations and hundreds of museums advocates annually in support of funding for museums through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.
This advocacy has seen federal support grow from $30M to over $55M, with APGA members receiving over $10M in IMLS grants from 2023-2025.
The Administration has recommended closing these funding pathways in each of the budgets submitted to Congress. Museums advocacy has encouraged Congress to continue providing the funding.

Grant Opportunities and Impact