Louisiana Community Development Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues and improve public health in underserved communities across the U.S.

This fund provides financial support to Louisiana-based nonprofit organizations led by and serving marginalized communities, helping them to host events and activities that promote racial, climate, and criminal justice.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life for residents in the Gert Town neighborhood of New Orleans through various community-focused initiatives.

This funding opportunity supports 501(c)(3) organizations working on projects that improve the Alexandria metropolitan area, with a focus on leadership in philanthropy, education, arts, and community development.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by supporting collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and private industry to develop sustainable research infrastructure.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects that improve health and community well-being in Louisiana by introducing new solutions or reimagining existing services.

This program provides funding to local governments, economic development organizations, and eligible private landowners in Louisiana to improve site infrastructure and readiness, attracting new businesses and fostering economic growth.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and local governments in rural Southern communities for engaging professional artists in various artistic disciplines.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Louisiana-based nonprofits and community organizations to address urgent needs related to disasters and crises, focusing on food security, housing, and community wellness, particularly for vulnerable populations.

This grant provides funding to state and county governments in the Gulf Coast region for non-construction activities that restore natural resources, promote tourism, and support economic growth following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

This grant provides funding to U.S.-based non-profit organizations to support projects that promote Japanese arts and culture, particularly in areas with limited access to such events.

This funding initiative provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Orleans Parish for citywide tree planting projects, contributing to the goal of planting 40,000 new trees by 2030.

Grant Opportunity: LEH Rebirth Grants Funding Organization: Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) Contact Information: Contact LEH grants staff for assistance Award Details: Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000. LEH may award partial amounts. Matching cost share in cash or in kind is required. Eligibility: Humanities-based organizations operating within the 64 parishes of Louisiana are eligible to apply. Eligible organizations include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, public-facing organizations within accredited institutions of higher learning, state and local government agencies, and state or federally recognized Native American tribal governments in Louisiana. Organizations reaching underserved populations are encouraged to apply. Program and Intent: LEH Rebirth Grants support programmatic initiatives focused on the humanities. Eligible projects include public humanities programs, documentary photography, podcast and radio projects, humanities-based festivals and exhibition development, digital humanities projects, speaker series, assistance with publication projects, and humanities-based educational initiatives. Projects must involve the participation of credentialed humanities scholars. Application Timeline: Applications open on April 1 each year, with decisions announced in July. Rebirth project activities should be implemented between September 1 and October 31 of the following year. The application period for 2024 Rebirth Grants is April 1 to May 1, 2024. Funding Guidelines: Humanities scholars must play a central role in all phases of the project. Projects must focus on topics and themes drawn from the humanities or bring the analytical potential of the humanities to bear on current concerns. Programs must provide a balance of viewpoints, target public audiences, involve community representatives, and avoid advocacy and bias. LEH does not fund certain types of projects, such as creative and performing arts, research exclusively for scholarly audiences, scholarships, and political action. Nonprofit status is required, and cost share is expected. Evaluation and final reports are required for funded projects.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state transportation departments in rural U.S. states for the replacement and rehabilitation of multiple highway bridges to improve safety and efficiency.

The GPOA Foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of children and youth within Orleans Parish, Louisiana, through substantial financial support to nonprofit organizations. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, the foundation focuses on operational costs of programs that directly benefit this demographic, including staff salaries and materials. Notably, the foundation is open to considering multi-year requests for three years of declining support, contingent on the organizations' impact objectives and evaluation plans. Moreover, collaborative grant requests involving up to three organizations are encouraged, aiming to foster a cooperative approach towards achieving common outcomes. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofits serving children and youth in Orleans Parish, and the foundation does not fund building or renovation expenses, equipment, event sponsorships, individual scholarships, or out-of-state programs. The GPOA Foundation prioritizes early childhood education, grade-level reading proficiency by the third grade, enrichment programs, special education, and vocational training for at-risk youth, with a vision to level the playing field for the most vulnerable segments of the community. Grant renewed every year. Annual Fall opening/closing concept paper deadline: October 1st to November 1st. Full application ONLY by invitation.

Propeller’s Impact Accelerator is a 5-month program designed to support mission-driven entrepreneurs in growing their businesses through coaching, community building, curriculum, and technical assistance. The program aims to catalyze transformational growth by connecting entrepreneurs with contract opportunities, markets, and customers. It is sponsored by the Clif Family Foundation, Capital One, Nasdaq, RosaMary Foundation, WK Kellogg Foundation, and Baptist Community Ministries, aligning with their missions to foster economic development, education, and community well-being by empowering local businesses. The Impact Accelerator targets growth-stage entrepreneurs in five key areas: community economic development, education, food, health, and water. Specifically, it supports BIPOC entrepreneurs operating brick-and-mortar establishments in underserved New Orleans corridors for economic development; early childhood education and care providers for education; CPG brands emphasizing sustainable, healthy, and affordable products for food; direct health and wellness service providers, especially those serving BIPOC clients, for health; and entrepreneurs in green infrastructure, stormwater management, native plant cultivation, and coastal restoration for water. The program's overarching impact goal is to facilitate the scaling of revenues and teams, while also embedding racial equity, social, and environmental impact goals into business operations. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly delineated within each sector. For community economic development, the focus is on Black-owned brick-and-mortar storefronts in specific New Orleans neighborhoods, aiming for job creation and community ties. In education, the priority is on increasing enrollment, growing staff, and expanding business locations for early childhood education providers. For food, the emphasis is on CPG brands that are environmentally sound, locally sourced, healthy, or have compelling social/environmental impacts, with a prioritization of BIPOC-led companies. Health focuses on direct clinical care and services impacting social and physical determinants of health, especially for BIPOC client bases, striving for increased accessibility and staff growth. The water sector prioritizes green infrastructure, urban stormwater management, native plants, and coastal restoration, seeking to increase the supply of native plants for green infrastructure. Expected outcomes and measurable results include participants setting ambitious yet achievable goals for growth and long-term sustainability, an increase in business revenues and staff, and the successful attainment of social/environmental impact goals. Entrepreneurs receive over 16 hours of lead mentor office hours for goal setting, 12+ hours of business development curriculum during meetups, and 20+ hours with subject matter experts for project assistance. Additional benefits include a detailed work plan, coaching on racial equity and impact goals, introductions to stakeholders, free coworking space, and membership in a network of over 250 alumni. These structured interventions are designed to remove growth barriers and accelerate the development of entrepreneurial ventures, leading to tangible economic and social improvements within the targeted communities and sectors.

Capacity-building grants enable organizations to hire consultants to help their board and staff accomplish work that requires time, energy, expertise, and innovative thinking beyond everyday operations. In general, the most successful capacity-building projects: Address operational, management, or governance issues that affect the organization as a whole, rather than a single department or program. Focus on a single core challenge or opportunity, rather than a patchwork of unrelated issues. Are critical to the organization’s long-term success in achieving its mission. Examples of capacity-building grants may include funding for time-sensitive projects, such as executive transitions and consolidation processes such as mergers, strategic partnerships, and closing responsibly. Other types of capacity-building eligible for funding include: Data Collection and Evaluation Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive and Leadership Coaching Financial Management and Planning Fund Development and Sustainability Planning Governance and Board Development Human resources, staffing, and operational planning Organizational Development/ Readiness (preparing to seek foundation or government funding) Strategic Communications and Planning Strategic Planning

The City of Shreveport, through its Department of Community Development, has announced a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Affordable Rental Housing Proposals. This initiative is primarily funded by the HOME Investment Partnerships Program American Rescue Plan (HOME ARP). The core mission of this grant program is to address the critical need for affordable housing within the community by soliciting proposals from experienced agencies dedicated to developing and managing such properties. This aligns with a broader strategic priority to enhance housing stability and accessibility for vulnerable populations. The primary beneficiaries of this program are individuals and families from specific qualifying populations. These include people experiencing homelessness, those at risk of homelessness, individuals fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, and other populations where supportive services would prevent homelessness or serve those with the greatest risk of housing instability. The impact goal is to provide safe, stable, and affordable rental housing, thereby reducing homelessness and housing insecurity for these vulnerable groups. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around the production or preservation of affordable housing through new construction, rehabilitation, and property acquisition, including vacant land, specifically for HOME-ARP rental housing projects. These projects must commit to providing affordable rental housing for a minimum of 15 years. The City of Shreveport aims to fund up to three qualified entities that demonstrate extensive experience in affordable housing development, non-congregate or transitional housing operations, supportive service programs, and federal policy compliance. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of available affordable rental housing units in Shreveport, directly benefiting the identified qualifying populations. Measurable results will likely include the number of new units constructed or rehabilitated, the number of individuals and families housed, and the duration of their housing stability. The City's strategic priority is to leverage federal funding to create a sustainable impact on housing affordability, with a theory of change that posits that by investing in experienced developers to create and preserve affordable housing, they can directly mitigate the effects of housing instability and homelessness in the community.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide stable housing and empower low- and moderate-income communities, focusing on vulnerable populations such as working families, youth, seniors, and veterans.

The GPOA Foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of children and youth within Orleans Parish, Louisiana, through substantial financial support to nonprofit organizations. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, the foundation focuses on operational costs of programs that directly benefit this demographic, including staff salaries and materials. Notably, the foundation is open to considering multi-year requests for three years of declining support, contingent on the organizations' impact objectives and evaluation plans. Moreover, collaborative grant requests involving up to three organizations are encouraged, aiming to foster a cooperative approach towards achieving common outcomes. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofits serving children and youth in Orleans Parish, and the foundation does not fund building or renovation expenses, equipment, event sponsorships, individual scholarships, or out-of-state programs. The GPOA Foundation prioritizes early childhood education, grade-level reading proficiency by the third grade, enrichment programs, special education, and vocational training for at-risk youth, with a vision to level the playing field for the most vulnerable segments of the community. Grant renewed every year. Annual Spring opening/closing concept paper deadline: April 1st to May 1st. Full application ONLY by invitation.