The Hardman Foundation Inc. is a private foundation that maintained a small grant program in key universities of the west coast for aspects of native plant conservation. In 1994, the foundation made an endowment to Oregon State University to support graduate student research concerning the native plants of Oregon.

The purpose of the endowment is to support "careful botanical research for the sake of preservation and expansion of native plants and vegetation."

The guidelines are as follows:
"research projects in systematic botany that contribute to understanding of evolutionary development or regional native plant variation within species or species complexes" and "studies of flowering plants considered choice or rare, or that are depleted in range and need study, or require propagation for enrichment of the native range and for use in botanical gardens or other suitable preserves" will be favored. " In addition, botanical investigations of paleological, geographical, climatological, edaphic and biotic factors as the environmental requirements of specific variant adaptations that can be identified are most suitable subjects of conservation research."

Students who have benefited from awards from this endowment include:

Kimberly Davis

Lisa Grubisha

Francisco Camacho  

Sami Gray

Matt Carlson

Justen Whittall

Jason Alexander

Kara Hempy

John Syring

Brian Knaus

Paul Severns

Rachael Roberts

Olivia Duren

Robin Mulvey