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 industry 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 Policy

The Association’s Official Advocacy Policy as approved by the Board of Directors.

Field-Wide Letter to Congress

Congress authorized nearly level funding for IMLS and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities in FY2026, despite the Administration’s recommendation to eliminate the funding. The Association is joining museum Association peers in a Field Wide Letter thanking Congress for its continued support and encouraging continued support in FY2027 as the Administration has again recommended closing the Institute and Endowments.

This letter is for Institutions to sign, not Individuals or Corporate members.

The Association encourages our members to sign on to the letter by April 30, 2026.

Sign-On Here

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.

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