Opportunity Grant Program

The Opportunity Grants Program, administered by the Central Louisiana Community Foundation (CLCF), is a quarterly competitive funding opportunity designed to support small-scale projects that meet pressing community needs within the CLCF's 12-parish service area. Established in April 2018, this program offers grants ranging from $250 to $2,000 for eligible organizations aiming to implement initiatives that align with the Foundation’s philanthropic objectives. Each quarter, the Opportunity Grant cycle emphasizes responsiveness to local concerns across all areas of interest, thereby fostering charitable engagement and development throughout Central Louisiana. Eligible applicants for this program include a broad spectrum of nonprofit and public sector entities. This includes IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations such as churches, hospitals, medical research institutions affiliated with hospitals, as well as schools, colleges, and universities. 501(c)(19) veterans’ organizations and government entities also qualify. Additionally, Louisiana-based not-for-profit organizations that have obtained prior approval from CLCF as mission-aligned are eligible to apply. All applying entities must be domiciled within the Foundation’s 12-parish region and ensure that their proposed project takes place within this geographic area. Funded projects must have a timeline of 12 months or less and may not duplicate the purpose of any concurrent Community Impact Grant from CLCF. The program explicitly excludes funding for annual fundraising campaigns or events, the creation or augmentation of endowment funds, debt repayments or legal settlements, politically affiliated activities, pre-award expenditures, capital expenses, and personnel costs. These restrictions aim to ensure that funding is directed toward direct, impactful, and immediate community benefit. Applications are accepted during four designated quarterly windows: April 1–30, July 1–31, October 1–31, and January 1–31. Applicants must submit their materials through the CLCF’s online portal before the closing date of the applicable window. Applications are first reviewed by Foundation staff for completeness and adherence to eligibility guidelines; however, the staff does not participate in selection decisions. Eligible applications are then forwarded to the Foundation's Gifts and Grants Committee, which is responsible for the final funding decisions. Award notifications and disbursements are completed within the same quarter in which the application was submitted, ensuring a relatively swift turnaround from submission to project initiation. While the program does not include a pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent or concept paper, applicants are encouraged to review the tutorial available on the Foundation’s portal for assistance with the submission process. For further inquiries, the Foundation provides direct support via phone and email. Because this program follows a regular quarterly cycle, it is considered recurring, with the next application period scheduled to open on January 1, 2026, and close on January 31, 2026. Interested organizations should prepare in advance to align with this timeline, especially if they intend to pursue both an Opportunity Grant and a Community Impact Grant within the same calendar year.