The New Horizons Grants program

The New Horizons Grants program is offered by the Louisiana Blue Foundation to promote innovative and research-based approaches that improve health and community well-being across Louisiana. The foundation was established to support solutions that advance health equity and foster sustainable systems of care. With New Horizons, it seeks to identify and empower organizations that are developing creative ways to solve entrenched challenges in health, education, and social conditions that affect quality of life for Louisianians. The grant program funds proof-of-concept projects that pilot new services, resources, or models of intervention that have not been previously tested or implemented. Eligible projects might include creating new resources, piloting a service that does not yet exist, adapting an existing program to a different population or setting, or conducting original research to fill knowledge gaps. Each grant supports one-year projects designed to demonstrate measurable outcomes that can later be scaled or replicated. Applicants must be Louisiana-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. The foundation’s emphasis on local organizations ensures that funded projects remain rooted in the needs and priorities of Louisiana communities. For-profit, governmental, and out-of-state applicants are not eligible. No matching funds are required, and awards are structured as a single payment of up to twenty-five thousand dollars. Applications begin with an online Letter of Intent (LOI) submitted through the Louisiana Blue Foundation’s website. The LOI process allows applicants to describe their project idea, rationale, and intended impact. LOIs are accepted on a recurring quarterly schedule, with deadlines on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 each year. Projects selected through this process may be invited to submit full proposals or receive direct funding depending on review outcomes. Each LOI is evaluated for innovation, potential impact on health or well-being, feasibility, and evidence of community benefit. Projects demonstrating new approaches to long-standing issues, or those that propose to test concepts in new contexts, receive particular attention. The foundation’s review process favors research-informed projects that include methods for tracking success or measuring outcomes. The New Horizons Grants are recurring, with quarterly submission windows. Based on the established cadence, the next Letter of Intent deadline following November 7, 2025, is December 15, 2025. Applicants should plan to monitor the foundation’s website for updates or additional guidance before each cycle. Awards are typically announced shortly after submission review, and funded projects are expected to begin within the following calendar year.