2025-2026 Media Documentation and Creation Grant

The 2025-2026 Community Partnership Grants for Media: Documentation + Creation is offered by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and perpetuating the music, culture, and heritage of communities in Louisiana. This grant program supports nonprofit organizations in creating, documenting, or exhibiting artistic works that reflect or interpret the diverse cultural heritage indigenous to Louisiana. Eligible projects may include visual art, photography, film, literature, digital media, performing arts, and recordings. Grant applications must be submitted via the Foundation's online portal, accessible through their website. Only 501(c)(3) organizations and registered Louisiana nonprofits are eligible, including those using a Louisiana-based fiscal sponsor. Commercial or for-profit entities are not eligible. Applicants do not need to be based in Louisiana, but the funded work must occur within the state, and priority will be given to Louisiana-based organizations. The program period runs from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. The maximum award is $7,500, and awards are frequently granted for less than the requested amount. All expenses must be incurred within Louisiana, and a comprehensive list of ineligible expenses includes out-of-state activities, startup funding, event planning, K-12 education programs, projects completed outside the funding window, re-granting, and hospitality costs, among others. Applicants may only submit one application across the Foundation’s five grant categories per cycle. Previous recipients must submit final reports for earlier grants by September 1, 2025, to remain eligible. Applications will be evaluated by an independent review panel using four weighted criteria: alignment with the Foundation’s mission (10 points), artistic, educational, or historic merit (40 points), community need and impact (40 points), and feasibility (10 points). The Foundation upholds a strict conflict of interest policy during evaluations. Proof of nonprofit status, either through an IRS determination letter or current Louisiana nonprofit filing, is required. Awardees will be notified by August 11, 2025, and funding will be disbursed upon contract and W9 form submission. Those using fiscal sponsors must ensure the sponsor is a Louisiana-based nonprofit and will also need to provide additional documentation. Grant recipients must credit the Foundation in all promotional materials and may be asked to participate in ceremonies or media engagements. A final report, due by September 1, 2026, is mandatory and must include detailed documentation such as a final budget, receipts, photos or links to finished projects, and proper attribution to the Foundation. Failure to submit this report disqualifies applicants from future funding. For inquiries, applicants may contact the Programs, Marketing, and Communications team at grants@jazzandheritage.org or by phone at 504-558-6100.