Central Louisiana Community Foundation’s Opportunity Grant Program

The Opportunity Grants program is a competitive small-grant initiative managed by the Central Louisiana Community Foundation (CLCF), a philanthropic organization based in Alexandria, Louisiana. CLCF was established to promote charitable giving and serve communities across a twelve-parish region in Central Louisiana. Launched in April 2018, the Opportunity Grants program is designed to support nonprofit and community organizations with funding for short-term projects that address critical needs and enhance community well-being. Opportunity Grants provide funding in the range of $250 to $2,000. The application cycle occurs quarterly, with deadlines falling at the end of April, July, October, and January. Each quarterly round invites applications across a broad range of philanthropic focus areas, emphasizing flexibility to respond to diverse community needs. Although the funding amount is modest, the program’s structure encourages agile responses to emerging challenges and supports smaller-scale initiatives that may not qualify for larger grant programs. Eligibility is limited to specific types of organizations. Applicants must be either 501(c)(3) organizations—including churches, hospitals, schools, universities, and qualified medical research organizations affiliated with hospitals—501(c)(19) organizations, or government entities. Additionally, Louisiana-based not-for-profit organizations may apply if they have received pre-approval from CLCF for alignment with its mission. Importantly, eligible applicants must be domiciled in the twelve-parish region served by CLCF, and all grant-funded programs must be implemented within this geographic area. Each project’s timeline must be no longer than twelve months. An organization can receive both a Community Impact Grant and an Opportunity Grant within the same calendar year, but not for the same purpose. Certain types of expenses are explicitly excluded from funding. These include annual fundraising events, debt payments, legal settlements, political activities, capital expenses, personnel costs, and any costs incurred before the official grant award date. Funds may also not be used for contributions to endowments. These exclusions ensure that the funding remains mission-aligned and supports direct-impact programming. The grant review process is coordinated by the Foundation’s staff, who assess applications for completeness and eligibility. However, funding recommendations are made solely by the Gifts and Grants Committee, ensuring an impartial review. Recipients are selected and notified before the end of the quarter in which they applied. Applications must be submitted using CLCF’s designated online portal. An applicant tutorial is available to guide users through the application process. For further information, interested applicants can reach out to CLCF directly. The foundation’s office is located at 1107 4th Street, PO Box 7432, Alexandria, LA 71306. For phone inquiries, applicants may call 318.445.7702. Email correspondence can be directed to emcgruder@clcf.net. Given the quarterly structure and regional focus, the Opportunity Grants program provides a consistent and accessible resource for eligible organizations seeking timely financial support for their community-oriented efforts.