Baton Rouge Area Foundation Impact Grants

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF), one of the nation’s largest community foundations, is offering a pilot grant opportunity aimed at improving early childhood education and community safety. Established in 1964, BRAF works to improve the quality of life in South Louisiana by supporting local nonprofits, developing collaborative strategies with community leaders, and using data-driven approaches to identify high-impact philanthropic opportunities. This specific grant program was developed in response to findings from the Opportunity Data Project, part of the Foundation’s broader Opportunity Agenda, which pinpointed key areas such as kindergarten readiness and violence prevention for targeted interventions. The Impact Grants are structured to fund one-time projects with awards ranging between $5,000 and $25,000. The grant process consists of two phases: an initial Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by a full application invitation for selected applicants. The LOI must be submitted online between May 2 and May 30, 2025. In June 2025, organizations selected to continue will be invited to submit full applications, with those applications due in July 2025. Grant recipients will be chosen in August, and funds will be distributed in September or October 2025. LOIs and applications not submitted via the designated online form will not be considered. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations or public agencies such as school districts and libraries. They must be in good standing with state and federal IRS regulations and have been operational for at least two years. Additionally, eligible organizations should have a strong track record in either early childhood development or community safety and be currently providing or planning to expand services within the defined Capital Region. This region includes Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes. Funds may be used for unrestricted operational support, project-specific initiatives, or capital cost assistance directly tied to the organization's mission. Acceptable projects in the early childhood category may include programs addressing access to quality learning, workforce development, curriculum support, infrastructure, parental assistance, screenings, kindergarten transition, and policy advocacy. In community safety, eligible projects might focus on youth development, violence intervention, mental health, reentry support, advocacy, and economic empowerment for at-risk groups. Applicants are evaluated based on organizational longevity, mission clarity, community collaboration, alignment with BRAF focus areas, target population impact, geographic relevance, and financial transparency. Reporting requirements include a final report due one year from the date of fund distribution. BRAF encourages organizations of all sizes to apply, especially those serving economically disadvantaged families, and welcomes innovative or pilot projects. For more information or assistance, interested parties can contact the grants team at grants@braf.org or call 225-387-6126.