The New England Botanical Society's mission is to support and encourage botanical research on the New England flora, including plants, algae, and fungi. This includes promoting studies through field, lab, and herbarium work and facilitating access to New England's botanical resources for researchers who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
The New England Botanical Society provides grants of up to $3,000 to graduate students conducting botanical research on the flora of New England. The grant aims to support a broad range of research activities including fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and herbarium studies. It also covers travel expenses for researchers to and within New England, enabling those without the necessary funds to undertake research in the region. While applicants do not need to be members of the society, funded research should acknowledge the support of NEBS in any publications that result from the work.