News
Travel Grant Funding Opens Doors for Retail Florists
September 17, 2026
Each year, we provide grants to support the continued and future education of industry members. Our retail florist education travel grants help florists expand their skills, build industry connections, and access educational opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to attend.
This year, two florists received support through the Ken and Jean Royer Family Fund – Retail Florist Education Travel Grant, taking part in very different educational experiences that have already influenced their work and involvement in the industry.
The Ken and Jean Royer Family Fund – Retail Florist Education Travel Grant is designed to facilitate ongoing education and networking at industry events, particularly for individuals who might face financial barriers to participation. Applicants must be owners, managers, or employees of traditional retail florists with a brick-and-mortar storefront and must be requesting the grant as a first-time attendee of a regional, state, or national conference or event. Founded in 2024 with a bequest from the estate of Ken and Jean Royer, the fund promotes education in the floral industry.
Applications are currently open for this grant, along with the Arizona Retail Florist Education Travel Grant, Bill Doran Company Wholesale Education Travel Grant, Oklahoma Florists’ Education Fund, and Retail Florist’s Continued Education Grant. All five have an October 1 deadline (more details below!).
Martha Whitney Butler, AIFD – The French Potager, LLC
For Martha Whitney Butler, AIFD, the Royer Family Grant provided the opportunity to attend the National Garden Club Flower Show School – Course 1, held March 23–26 in Fort Payne, Alabama. As a retail florist committed to continued education, Martha saw the course as a way to strengthen both her design knowledge and her understanding of the standards behind horticulture and floral design.
The coursework covered plant identification, grooming, staging, and the elements and principles of design. Martha also participated in hands-on study and mock judging as she works toward becoming an accredited Flower Show Judge.
The experience directly connects to her work at The French Potager, where she regularly gives programs for garden clubs and helps flower show exhibitors who come into her shop looking for guidance. Martha shared that becoming an accredited judge will strengthen her knowledge and allow her to provide more informed presentations and support to her customers.
Since attending the course, the experience has already led to additional opportunities.
“It really was such a great experience, and it has opened up so many doors for me. I even attended the NGC Mississippi state conference last week and exhibited my work, met lots of floral enthusiasts, and was selected to assist with the table designs for next year’s state conference. This has been absolutely amazing, and I can’t thank AFE enough for opening this door for me.”
For Martha, the value of the grant went beyond the coursework itself. As a small business owner, stepping away from her shop requires planning, and the support allowed her to fully commit to the experience. As she shared in her report, “The impact extends far beyond the classroom. It shows up in my work, in my teaching, and in the relationships I build within my community.”
Lorna Cooper – Bradys Floral
Lorna Cooper of Bradys Floral used her Royer Family Travel Grant to attend the 2026 SAF Next Gen Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, an experience she described as incredibly valuable to her professional growth within the floral industry.
During the conference, Lorna participated in educational sessions focused on professional communication and effective collaboration with coworkers, leadership, and clients. She came away with practical tools she plans to incorporate into her daily work.
Her involvement extended beyond the educational sessions. As part of the SAF Next Gen committee, Lorna helped begin planning for next year’s conference and joined discussions about encouraging more young people to become involved in the floral industry and supporting their development as professionals.
Throughout the conference, she also connected with growers, wholesalers, farm representatives, and fellow retail florists, gaining insight into different parts of the floral supply chain and how other shops approach their daily operations. A tour of North Carolina State University and its floriculture research facilities was another highlight.
“Receiving this grant allowed me the opportunity to attend the conference, expand my professional network, and continue investing in my education within the floral industry,” Lorna shared.
Apply by October 1
These experiences are just two examples of how continued education can introduce florists to new ideas, connections, and opportunities. Applications are currently open for five AFE travel and continued education grants for retail and wholesale floral professionals, all with an October 1 deadline.
The Arizona Retail Florist Education Travel Grant was developed for retail florists in Arizona to pursue floral industry educational or design events. The grant supports owners, managers, and employees of traditional brick-and-mortar retail florists in Arizona and helps offset the cost of attending out-of-state industry educational opportunities.
The Bill Doran Company Wholesale Education Travel Grant supports continued education and professional development within the wholesale floral community. Created in 2025, the grant helps owners, managers, and employees of traditional wholesale florists, as well as professionals involved in the marketing and promotion of floral products, attend approved state, regional, national, or international industry events. One recipient is selected annually, with the grant covering half of the eligible conference registration and travel costs up to $2,000.
The Ken and Jean Royer Family Fund – Retail Florist Education Travel Grant supports ongoing education and networking at industry events. Applicants must be owners, managers, or employees of traditional brick-and-mortar retail florists and first-time attendees of the regional, state, or national conference or event they plan to attend. The fund was established in 2024 through a bequest from the estate of Ken and Jean Royer.
The Oklahoma Florists’ Education Fund was created in 2025 in partnership with the Oklahoma State Florists’ Association to support continued education and professional development for Oklahoma florists. Awards ranging from $100 to $1,000 can support opportunities including design classes, bringing an industry educator to a flower shop, educational programs for retail florists, and attendance at local or national industry seminars, workshops, conventions, and meetings.
The Retail Florist’s Continued Education Grant provides reimbursement funding to brick-and-mortar retail floral owners in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., to continue their education through opportunities including in-person industry events, community courses, and webinar classes. The grant was established by Bob and Carol Sharpe, retired third-generation florists from Frederick, Maryland.
You could be our next grant recipient! Applications for all five grants are due October 1. Grants are reviewed annually, with funding dependent on available resources.
