Community-Led Green Infrastructure Initiative

The New Orleans Community Support Foundation, a supporting organization of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, has released a Request for Applications for the Community-Led Green Infrastructure initiative. Supported by federal funding, this program seeks to advance environmental health and community resilience by funding nonprofit and community-based organizations to design, implement, and evaluate green infrastructure projects in Southeast Louisiana. The focus of this effort is on flood mitigation, community resilience, and water quality improvements in vulnerable and underserved communities throughout the Greater New Orleans region. The initiative’s primary objectives are to increase the resiliency of local communities through stormwater management projects led by the very communities they serve, to expand local understanding of environmental challenges by involving residents directly in project design and implementation, and to build the capacity of grantee organizations to secure and manage future funding in the fields of green infrastructure and water quality improvement. Through two funding rounds, the program expects to support at least 12 projects or project phases across planning, construction, and evaluation, with a total of $1.75 million in funding distributed between 2025 and 2027. The first round of grants offers three distinct pathways. Stage 1 awards of $50,000 are dedicated to design and planning, supporting community engagement, feasibility assessment, and conceptual project design. Stage 2 awards of $150,000 support implementation of community-owned infrastructure projects that address pressing stormwater and resilience challenges. Stage 3 awards of $62,500 focus on evaluation and storytelling, enabling communities to measure impact, share lessons, and communicate results. Applicants may only apply for one project stage per round. For Round 1, up to $1 million in total funding is available, with between six and twelve awards anticipated. Eligibility is restricted to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or fiscally sponsored projects of nonprofits. Applicants must demonstrate strong community ties in underserved or vulnerable areas of the specified parishes: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, Tangipahoa, and Washington. Organizations must also have experience with green infrastructure or community collaboration, maintain appropriate insurance, and be registered with SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier. For organizations without federal compliance infrastructure, pre-award technical assistance will be available. Attendance at at least one technical assistance session is required to remain eligible. Applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s Foundant Grants Portal. The RFA was released on August 1, 2025, with applications opening on August 8, 2025. The application deadline is October 24, 2025. Awards will be announced on December 1, 2025, and projects are expected to begin January 15, 2026. Applications will be judged on criteria including direct community impact, feasibility, alignment with environmental goals, degree of community engagement, organizational capacity, and sustainability planning. Final funding recommendations will be made by the Community Advisory Board, subject to Foundation approval. In addition to financial support, awardees will participate in a Community of Practice designed to foster collaboration and learning across funded projects. They will also be required to submit quarterly progress reports and a final report, track project-specific metrics, and participate in formative and summative evaluation processes. Reporting and storytelling will be critical to highlight regional progress in environmental stewardship. Contact for this funding opportunity is Alyssa at alyssa@gnof.org. Application and RFA materials are available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese upon request.

Applicants must attend a technical assistance session; pre-award support includes grant writing and compliance guidance.