2024 Backyard Microgrants

In late 2024 Angry Birds generously donated funds for Wild Green Future's Backyard Microgrants program, allowing individuals and community institutions to improve the wildlife habitats in their local areas. Now that we are well into 2025, the results are coming in!

Birdhouses at the College of DuPage in Illinois

The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois used their microgrant to build birdhouses, which they installed around their campus.

From Outdoor Lab and Prairie Manager Anna: "Our project went fabulously... We had 14 tree swallow nests, 1 northern house wren nest, 1 bluebird nest,and 3 rounds of wood ducks. Students and community volunteers helped collect the data and thousands of people on tours have heard about the program."

Plant Sale with Friends of Deckers Creek in West Virginia

The Friends of Deckers Creek in Morgantown, West Virginia used their microgrant to purchase native plants for their plant sale fundraiser!

From Friends of Deckers Creek Katie: "We used the $500 to buy native plants... and then sold them to raise money for Friends of Deckers Creek... We ended up raising a total of over $1000 for Friends of Deckers Creek... Overall it was a great success, and I cannot thank you enough for making it all possible!"

A new pollinator garden with the Urban Butterfly Initiative in Illinois

The Urban Butterfly Initiative in Charleston, Illinois used their microgrant to create a pollinator garden at a partner business's front yard!
From Executive Director Paul: "We had a great group of people help install our native plants in May and they are becoming established. As we hoped, the project is getting a lot of attention with passers-by and visitors to the bike shop asking questions and excited to see it develop, so the education aspect of the project is happening as well!"

Native Plants to expand the Kilrush Food Forest in Kentucky

The Kilrush Food Forest in Lexington, Kentucky used their microgrant to purchase many native plants, expanding the food forest's area and converting municipal land that had previously been managed as lawn space into better habitat for wildlife and humans.

More to come!

We are still receiving results from this summer's projects. Keep an eye on this page and Wild Green Future's social media for more updates as they develop!

Thank you Angry Birds!

The 2024 Backyard Microgrants were made possible by a generous donation from Angry Birds.

2021 Backyard Microgrants

To celebrate Earth Day 2021, Wild Green Future awarded microgrants to increase wildlife habitats in backyard ecosystems. These microgrants funded native plants restoration and wildlife shelter construction in yards, parks, and schools across the United States.

Outdoor Classroom in Massachusetts

“The addition of the butterfly bushes and asters that were purchased with the microgrant from Wild Green Future border a lovely sensory stepping stone garden. We are so grateful for the support which will bring joy and wonder to our outdoor classroom space for years to come.”
- Amy, science teacher and microgrant recipient

Pollinator Patch in Pennsylvania

Wild Green Fiend Erik added native pollinator plants to his garden using this microgrant.

Native Plant Restoration in New York

This microgrant funded the continued expansion of native plant growth on a Wild Green Fiend Jennifer's woodland property. The plants were obtained from local conservation organizations, and were chosen to better support the local insects and birds.

Bluebird Nest Box in North Carolina

This microgrant allowed Lily the science teacher to install a bluebird nest box on campus. The nest box is made from recycled plastic, allowing for a more durable shelter with minimal upkeep.

Bat Houses in Ohio

This grant assisted in materials costs for bat houses at a recreational campground in Ohio. These were installed by local naturalist CJ and his colleagues, and specifically designed to provide shelter for summer maternal bat colonies of Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis). The campground also provided bat observation booklets to educate its young campers about these underappreciated animals.

Native Plant Yard Restoration in Florida

Biologist Megan used her microgrant to restore many native plants to her backyard, including these flowers. She even did a controlled burn!

Monarch Butterfly Habitat Restoration in Michigan

The Flint River Watershed Coalition used their microgrant to help restore monarch habitat in Michigan's urban lakes. This microgrant allowed for the purchase of native flowering plants for a lakeshore environment. During a period of historic rainfall, these plants survived flooding and provided a food source for butterflies and caterpillars alike.

Emergency Grant Funding

In 2021, the cold snap in Texas caused a major sea turtle stunning event. The staff and volunteers of Sea Turtle Inc. took in thousands of cold-stunned turtles for treatment, working heroically to rescue and care for them amidst power outages to their facilities. The generous donations from the Wild Green Community during 2020’s conservation fundraiser allowed Wild Green Future to provide an emergency grant of $1,000 to Sea Turtle Inc. to help them with their efforts.