The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund was created in 2024 in a partnership agreement with AFE providing the The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation a new home. This momentous joining of forces promotes a shared vision of cultivating and funding innovation, advancements, and growth through floriculture research.
The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund
Together, the partnership brings a combined effort of over 120 years of dedicated funding to provide innovative floriculture research and solutions through university research. The new Fund will continue to provide a source of information financial aid for research and educational projects in floriculture and in the supporting and allied fields, such as agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, entomology, molecular biology, plant breeding, plant pathology, and plant physiology related to floriculture.
The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund’s application and process will remain separate from AFE’s research application process, complete with its own committee to complement AFE’s current research efforts.
Funding and Application Details
The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund awards grants for research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields at universities, colleges, and Federal research institutions in the United States. The proposed research and educational projects must be of substantial importance, and the results made available to the interested public. Grants are awarded on the basis of project outlines, including objectives, methods, procedures, materials, equipment, and personnel involved in the project.
Requests for only equipment are considered when supported by a research project outline. An application form is available and can be downloaded from our website.
- The research grant may include assistantships for qualified graduate students seeking advanced degrees and who are accepted by the university or college.
- We do not pay any indirect costs (overhead) on research and education grants nor faculty or principal investigator’s salary.
- Grants are awarded on an annual basis, subject to review and renewal. We recognize that research often cannot be accomplished in a single year. Grants, although approved for funding for only one year at a time, will be evaluated and considered for renewal upon receipt of a progress report, plans for the coming year, and a written request for continuation of funding.
- Grant requests must be submitted or before April 1st for consideration by the committee in early June. Proposals should be submitted electronically as a pdf document to jsimone@ednieflowerbulb.com; cc to hammer@purdue.edu for consideration. Grants are paid in August following approval at the June meeting.
About Frederick Carl Gloeckner
Frederick Carl Gloeckner was born August 14, 1901, in West Hoboken, N.J. His career began as a young boy when he traveled to California and worked with the noted flower seed breeders, Bodger Seed Co. in Gardena, and then the Brown Bulb Ranch in Capitola. He returned to New York and was associated with the American Bulb Co., where he developed his skills in selling plants, seeds, bulbs and supplies to commercial growing establishments throughout the United States.
Historical Information
In 1934, along with his father, Carl R. Gloeckner, and Leonard J. Sieger, he founded the Fred C. Gloeckner & Company, Inc., New York. During his 56 years of tireless devotion to the industry, Mr. Gloeckner received countless awards from national and state associations, as well as from the universities where his contributions were most significant. In 1971, the Society of American Florists honored Mr. Gloeckner by inducting him into the Floriculture Hall of Fame, the industry’s highest award. The American Horticultural Society presented the Commercial Award to him in May of 1987 for his accomplishment in building a nationally recognized organization in commercial horticulture.
Mr. Gloeckner believed in hard work, long hours, and encouraged many families and individuals in the industry to think positively and be aggressive toward their future. He encouraged young people to seek formalized training in the horticultural sciences, and he placed in high regard the researchers within the academic community who were constantly striving to improve all aspects of crop production.
It was a keen interest and firm resolve to facilitate innovation and improved practices in floriculture that inspired Mr. Gloeckner to found the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation, Inc. in 1960. Since the inception of the Foundation, over $7.3 million have been awarded to 68 institutions throughout the United States for the specific purpose of enabling research and education efforts in floriculture and ornamental horticulture.
New York Florists’ Club Grants
Founded in 1887, the New York Florists’ Club served the interests of floriculture through the dedication of its membership and the leadership of many respected industry and academic individuals. The Club held regular monthly meetings in New York City wherein fellow growers, wholesalers, retailers and academicians shared their experiences, engaged in productive discussion and displayed products for judging by their peers.
The New York Florists’ Club Endowment was made possible by the generosity of its membership and their recognition of the need to advance floriculture through the funding of research and education. During the 106 years of the club’s operations, countless scholarships and grants were made to worthy students and researchers at institutions throughout the United States.
On March 8, 1993 the members of the New York Florists’ Club voted to suspend operations of the club and transfer the club’s remaining monies to the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Inc. Mr. Gloeckner, a life member of the New York Florists’ Club and a strong supporter of its activities, had very similar goals with respect to facilitating research and education in floriculture. In accordance with the transfer of the club’s assets to the Gloeckner Foundation. “New York Florists’ Club Grants” have been established as a continuing tribute to the many industry people who gave so generously of their time and resources to improve and enhance the future of our industry.
Donate to the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund!
Frequently Asked Questions
Frederick Carl Gloeckner (1901-1990) started the Foundation in 1960 in order to establish an avenue to invest in floricultural research and in the talented and innovative academicians conducting this research at leading Universities throughout the country. It was Fred’s way of giving back to the industry the fruits of his success in order to insure a promising future for floriculture.
In 2024, the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation transitioned its home to the American Floral Endowment (AFE) where a special research fund was established to carry on the mission of the Foundation under the Endowment.
Great question! Both the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund (FCGFRF) and the AFE research funding support and award grants for research projects in floriculture. You can absolutely apply for funding for both. The Gloeckner Foundation applications are due April 1st each year, and AFE’s research proposals are due June 1. Follow the instructions for each application.
Researchers are welcome to apply for funding from both AFE and The Gloeckner Foundation grants. However funding requests should not be duplicate requests for the same research or be dependent on funding from both AFE and The Gloeckner Foundation for the success of the project.
A good portion of the funds were contributed by Fred Gloeckner, personally, along with others who served on the board and shared the same passion for improving the industry. For example, the New York Florists Club ceased operations in the early 1990’s and contributed their remaining funds to the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation.
Going back to the days when Mr. Gloeckner was president and continuing today, individuals from the company, industry and from the academic world serve on the research committee to review the grant proposals which are submitted by researchers around April 1st each year. This responsibility is taken very seriously and involves a great deal of work. The Research Committee members are individuals of unique ability in many different fields and they diligently read, review and discuss each proposal in detail before the final awards are announced in mid June.
Yes, without a doubt! Every application for funding must carefully and clearly answer the question “What are the anticipated benefits to the Floriculture Industry?” The Research Committee looks for projects with broad industry potential. Occasionally, this work may expand in phases of the science that sometime go beyond traditional ornamental horticulture but the committee must feel strongly that there will be benefit to the industry. Projects that are funded for more than 1 year require that the researcher must submit a Progress Report to demonstrate to the committee that objectives are being properly met.
There are many going back many years but here are a few current examples:
- The Foundation has funded work at U. of Mass (Dr. Susan Han), Clemson Univ. Cornell (Dr. Bill Miller) and Michigan State (Dr. Royal Heins) on the use of Fascination (G 4+7 and BA) to prevent leaf necrosis in Lilium. If you grow Easter Lilies, chances are the application of this material has become a standard practice in your program to prevent lower leaf yellowing. This practice has undoubtedly saved growers thousands of dollars in labor to remove dead leaves as well as in reducing costly shrinkage in product which no longer meets specification
- The Foundation has supported researchers at U. of Florida Research Centers in an effort to support the Caladium industry. Several serious challenges in maintaining effective production and harvest levels in Caladiums have been experienced by the growers in recent years. The foundation has funded a wide range of research projects from developing a rapid method of producing pathogen free stock, to breeding cold tolerant cultivars.
- The Foundation is funding several projects which on the Floricultural front, could be breakthrough science in Molecular engineering. An example is the great work being done by Dr. David Clarke’s team at the U. of FL. The results of this work are likely to revolutionize future crop introduction and performance in future generations!
- The Foundation assisted in launching e-Grow, a collaborative effort of floriculture specialists creating a free resource and learning tool for anybody involved in greenhouse plant production. e-Grow is a webinar sponsor of numerous critical cultural issues facing growers today
Chances are pretty good that they have not been submitting proposals or applications for consideration by the board. The Foundation can only react to proposals submitted for funding and requires a detailed outline of how the funds will be used and what methods the principal investigator will use in his work to allow the Research Committee to review the proposed research.
Looking For Funding?
AFE is committed to supporting research that advances the industry and combats current challenges. This research benefits every segment of the industry. We welcome new research proposal applications by August 1st of each year.
Awarding scholarships for floriculture and horticulture students is a primary function of AFE. We understand the financial burden students face and are doing our part to help! Applications for our over 30 scholarships are due on May 1st of each year.
AFE strongly believes in funding educational programs to promote and strengthen the floriculture industry. The majority of the programs funded are wide-reaching and focus on attracting young people to the industry or are educational endeavors to identify and solve industry needs and/or challenges.