Louisiana Education Grants

Applicants are invited to apply for the Louisiana Architectural Foundation Grant Program. Donor Name: AIA Louisiana State: Louisiana County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Louisiana Architectural Foundation is a non-profit corporation formed in 1996. The Foundation works to advance Architecture in Louisiana by serving as a link between the public and the architectural profession. This linkage includes public awareness of Architecture, public support for Architecture, and public participation in processes that shape the environment. Types of Program Grants are available for a wide variety of programs that promote architecture in Louisiana. The Foundation is educationally oriented. The following types of programs will be considered for grant assistance. Books, pamphlets, brochures Museum programs Conferences Historic preservation Television/radio programs Public forums In-school architectural programs Architectural programs delivered to the general public For more information, visit AIA Louisiana.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation program proposals to advance bird species and habitat conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The purpose of this program is to help address the loss of 3 billion birds since 1970 by supporting projects that conserve, restore, or enhance grassland, wetland, sage-steppe, and coastal habitats for birds, or gather lacking bird population data with innovative methods, with an emphasis in focal geographies. Priorities Bird populations typically require a series of different seasonal or local habitats for their breeding, stopover, and wintering periods. Degradation, fragmentation, and loss of habitat can negatively impact bird populations, highlighting the need to implement science-driven and strategic conservation. With geographic focal areas that span major migratory routes in Alaska and along the north–south axis of the central United States, including the Gulf Coast, the program focuses on improving habitat quality and quantity for both migratory and non-migratory bird populations. Funding Information Grant awards will typically range from $100,000 to $275,000. Funded projects should be completed within two years following finalization of a grant agreement.  Geographic Focus Projects must occur in a major migratory route ranging from the northern slope of Alaska to the north-south axis of the central United States, including the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Funding is limited to the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Eligiblity Criteria Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.

This grant provides over $3.7 million to non-profits, universities, and schools to establish a Juvenile Assessment Center in New Orleans, focusing on prevention and intervention services for youth impacted by the juvenile legal system.

The Agenda for Children is excited to announce the 2024 CCR&R SRTC Workforce Early Childhood Opportunity (ECHO) Grant! Donor Name: Agenda for Children State: Louisiana County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/15/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Early Childhood Opportunity (ECHO) Fund is an innovative grant program that seeks to increase access to high-quality early care and education for Louisiana children, birth through age four, by directly funding childcare programs and the nonprofits that serve them. The purpose of the 2024 CCR&R SRTC ECHO GRANT is to provide workforce retention grant funds.  These grant funds can be used for one-time bonuses, salary subsidies for current and new staff. This applies to all childcare staff (teachers, floaters, cleaners, cooks, and admin) but excludes directors and owners. Academically Approved Family Child Care Providers may use the funds to pay substitutes. These funds are not to be used to cover regular payroll. Funding Information Each approved site will receive approximately $1K in workforce retention grant funding. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible to apply for this grant, childcare providers must meet all of the following criteria: Must be either a Type I, II or III Childcare Center or a Family Childcare Center (FCC) with Academic Approval. Schools and stand-alone Head Start Programs are not eligible for this grant opportunity. Must be located in one of the following parishes- Assumption, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, or Washington. Must be in good standing with Agenda for Children, ECHO Fund, and Licensing requirements. For more information, visit Agenda for Children.

In 1999, the Louisiana State Legislature created the Millennium Trust to provide for the disposition of proceeds from the tobacco settlement. The same legislation that created the Millennium Trust, Louisiana Revised Statute (LRS) 39:98.1 39:98.5, also established the Education Excellence Fund (EEF) as a component of the Millennium Trust. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is responsible for providing the appropriations and oversight of monies from the Education Excellence Fund with the specific purpose of ensuring that all expenditures are used to support “excellence in educational practice.” The Department distributes funds to eligible local education agencies based on student enrollment: 85% of the appropriation is distributed to local school systems and charter schools based on the number of students in the most recent Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) Budget Letter. 15% of the appropriation is distributed to approved non public schools based on the number of students as reported for the previous school year.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program (GRP) is seeking proposals for its Building the Next Generation of STEMM Leaders in the Field of Environmental Justice. Donor Name: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine State: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/08/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the development and implementation of projects that cultivate the next generation of STEMM leaders in the field of Environmental Justice (EJ). Specifically, this funding opportunity will support proposals based in education and mentorship that aim to raise awareness, expand understanding, and empower young people (grades 9-12) to apply STEMM disciplines to explore and examine the relationship between environmental hazards and their effects on the health and resilience of communities. Ultimately, the GRP expects this funding opportunity to increase the number of young people in the Gulf of Mexico region who study and work in STEMM disciplines within the field of EJ. The GRP encourages nonprofit or community-based organizations to work with young people from communities affected by environmental inequalities. This grant opportunity aims to support experiences that foster the development of the scientific and environmental literacy, skills, competencies, and capabilities that are critical to cultivating a next generation of STEMM leaders working towards Environmental Justice. Activities should focus on education and mentorship opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico region that provide youth with opportunities to learn about and apply STEMM in the exploration and examination of environmental hazards and their effects on the health and resilience of communities, raising awareness and building capacity among youth to pursue STEMM studies and/or careers in the field of EJ. These activities may take place in formal or informal educational settings, should target youth in the 9-12 grade range, and be complementary to formal education standards and learning objectives. Projects should be grounded in appropriate teaching methods for the goals of the project. Funding Information Total funding available: $4 million Specifications for award amount: This funding opportunity is for projects of at least $75,000. The majority of the available funds will support projects that are less than $500,000, and the remainder will support projects between $500,000 and $1,000,000. Award Duration Grants will be awarded to support projects up to 24 months in length. Eligibility Criteria For the purpose of this grant opportunity, applications will be accepted from all nonprofit and community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status, which support educational, service, and/or coordination activities for youth in the 9-12 grade range. Preference will be given to applicants with a history of working with children and youth, particularly those who work with underrepresented or underserved populations, including but not limited to racial/ethnic minorities, tribal youth, LGBTQ+ youth, students demonstrating low socio-economic status as established by the free and reduced lunch program, children with disabilities, first-generation immigrants, students from rural or remote areas, and/or students experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Programmatic activities must occur in the United States Gulf of Mexico region. The Gulf Research Program welcomes proposals from all nonprofit and communitybased organizations with 501(c)(3) status, on behalf of qualified individuals. The applying organization will be referred to as the “applicant” hereafter. The individuals who will lead the proposed project will be referred to as “project directors” hereafter. All eligible applicants must have a valid federal tax ID number in order to apply. For more information, visit National Academies.

The Northshore Community Foundation is seeking applications Community Impact Grant Program to support innovative and impactful projects within community. Donor Name: Northshore Community Foundation State: Louisiana County: Saint Helena Parish (LA), Saint Tammany Parish (LA), Tangipahoa Parish (LA), Washington Parish (LA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funded by a generous anonymous donor, this grant aims to foster initiatives that address critical needs, promote positive change, and enhance the quality of life for residents. This grant is available to nonprofit organizations (must be a registered 501c3 entity) with focus areas including the following: projects that address areas such as education, healthcare, social services, environment, arts, and community development.  Criteria The Northshore Community Foundation makes grants to nonprofits providing services across region of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena parishes. Selection criteria includes: Innovation: Originality and creativity of the proposed project.  Feasibility: Practicality and achievability of the proposed work.  Impact: Potential positive impact on the community.  Sustainability: Long-term viability and potential for sustained impact.  For more information, visit Northshore Community Foundation.

The United Way of Central Louisiana is accepting applications for 2024 Venture grants. Donor Name: United Way of Central Louisiana State: Louisiana County: Avoyelles Parish (LA), Catahoula Parish (LA), Concordia Parish (LA), Grant Parish (LA), LaSalle Parish (LA), Rapides Parish (LA), Vernon Parish (LA), Winn Parish (LA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/08/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Venture Grants are for smaller and rural nonprofits that have an operating budget of less than $250,000 and have a limit of $1,000 per request. The United Way of Central Louisiana empowers members of the community through access and improvement in education, health and financial empowerment. Geographical Areas UWCL currently serves 8 parishes including Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn. For more information, visit UWCL.

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy is happy to announce that it is now accepting applications for the 2024 Grant Funding Program. Donor Name: City of New Orleans State: Louisiana City: New Orleans Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: For the FY24 cycle, twenty-five (25) grants of $2,000 will be awarded to individuals and organizations that are engaging in activities that promote the cultural economy through educating  youth, training cultural producers, providing networking opportunities, creating cultural events, and other projects that align with the Office of Cultural Economy’s mission. What can be Fund: Workshops, training, and conferences that build cultural economy capacity in cultural non-profits, neighborhood organizations, and cultural businesses. Capacity Building includes networking, teaching skills such as fundraising/grant writing, working with partners to improve programming, leveraging, education about sustainability, learning of new concepts such as place-based planning, etc. Workshops, training, and conferences in any of the Cultural Economy segments as defined by the Office of Cultural Economy: Entertainment (dance, theater, music, film, sound recording), Design (fashion, interactive media, communications), Preservation (architecture, construction, landscape architecture, and interior design related to preserving historic buildings and assets), Culinary Arts, Literary Arts and Humanities, and Visual Arts and Crafts. Events with art and cultural components. Funds can be used for paying musicians or other performers, attracting tourists, or other activities that will directly impact either cultural workers or attract sales for art and cultural vendors. Note: all funded programs, events, and activities must acknowledge support from the Office of Cultural Economy through use of their logo or written/verbal acknowledgment. Eligibility Criteria State and federal 501(c)3 nonprofits For profit businesses licensed with the City and State and are in good standing Note they do not fund for-profit activities, but community/cultural activities organized by for-profit businesses qualify Individuals, such as artists, who have secured a fiscal agent (such as a nonprofit) For more information, visit City of New Orleans.

The Education After-School Grant supports after-school and summer educational arts programs offered by nonprofit organizations. Donor Name: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation State: Louisiana Parish: All Parishes Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/21/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Organizations may apply for money only to pay the professional teaching fees of the artists or educators who provide arts instruction. Only nonprofit organizations in Louisiana may apply. The purpose of this grant category is to support organizations whose after-school and summer education programs create greater understanding and appreciation for the unique culture of Louisiana. Education programs eligible for funding in this category include work within the following disciplines: Music Dance Theater Visual Arts/Photography Cultural Heritage/ Folk life Media Arts/Film/Web Culinary Arts Creative Writing/Literary/Spoken Word Multidisciplinary Funding Information The maximum amount grant amount is $7,500. Grant Period The proposed activity must occur between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria This grant category is open to 501(c)(3) organizations and active registered Louisiana nonprofits who may use a 501(c)(3) nonprofit as a fiscal agent. Commercial organizations are not eligible. Only applications to fund programs and activities that align with the mission of the Jazz & Heritage Foundation will be considered. Mission: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. promotes, preserves, perpetuates and encourages the music, culture and heritage of communities in Louisiana through festivals, programs and other cultural, educational, civic and economic activities All Jazz & Heritage grant funds must be spent in Louisiana. For more information, visit NOJHF.

The Public Welfare Foundation's Grant Program aims to support community-led, restorative, and racially just approaches to justice in the United States. The focus areas include innovative criminal justice reform in specific states and cities, dismantling structures that have harmed people of color, investing in community-based solutions to reduce mass incarceration, and reframing the narrative around the U.S. criminal justice system through storytelling and journalism.

The Rapides Foundation is seeking applications for its Workforce Opportunity Grant Program. Donor Name: The Rapides Foundation State: Louisiana County: Allen Parish (LA), Avoyelles Parish (LA), Catahoula Parish (LA), Grant Parish (LA), LaSalle Parish (LA), Natchitoches Parish (LA), Rapides Parish (LA), Vernon Parish (LA), Winn Parish (LA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/05/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Rapides Foundation believes that lower and middle household income levels must rise for the standard of living to increase for all income levels. Healthy economies with low unemployment rates and higher wage jobs provide people with the means to purchase medical insurance, make better healthcare choices and live healthier lifestyles. The goal of the funding opportunity is to increase skills and knowledge of potential employees or existing employees that will require higher wages and to increase the production capacity of business or industry partners. The mission of The Rapides Foundation is to improve the health status of Central Louisiana. The Rapides Foundation focuses its work in three strategic areas: Healthy People, to improve access to healthcare and to promote healthy behaviors; Education, to increase the level of educational attainment and achievement as the primary path to improved economic, social and health status; and Healthy Communities, to improve economic opportunity and family income, and enhance civic and community opportunities for more effective leaders and organizations. Funding Information Grant provides up to $75,000. Grant Period  Grant provides up to 12 months Period. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible grant recipients include accredited, nonprofit, postsecondary institutions. Trainings must benefit businesses and employees located within The Rapides Foundation’s nine-parish service area (Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes). Applicants should thoroughly review the Request for Proposals and other key documents included in the Key Materials section (located in the right column) to see full details of the grant opportunity, application process and proposal requirements. For more information, visit The Rapides Foundation.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in Southwest Louisiana that address community needs, particularly for youth, financial security, health, and resilience, while focusing on assisting low-income working families.

The Louisiana Project Grants (LPG) program, funded by The Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA) and administered by The Acadiana Center for the Arts for Region 4, aims to cultivate innovative arts projects with lasting impact. Replacing the Decentralized Arts Funding (DAF) program that began in 1995, LPG supports arts projects that address local needs and provide artistic value within communities. The program offers funding for a wide variety of arts initiatives that meet specific community requirements. Applications for the FY25 cycle open on May 1, 2024, and must be submitted online by June 28, 2024. Eligible applicants include nonprofit arts organizations, nonprofit organizations, public and private schools, local government agencies, and colleges and universities within Acadiana’s Region 4. The funding period spans from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, with grant amounts ranging from $2,500 to $7,500.

The Louisiana Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is a grant opportunity supported by the National Science Foundation and the Louisiana Board of Regents. The program aims to enhance Louisiana's research and development competitiveness, build partnerships among universities, national laboratories, research centers, and the private sector, and recruit students into science and engineering fields. Eligible applicants include tenured and tenure-track S&E faculty members in any Louisiana public institution of higher education or in any Louisiana higher education institution that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU). Post-doctoral researchers and graduate students can participate but must be sponsored by a faculty member who will serve as the Principal Investigator (PI). Undergraduate students are also eligible but must be accompanied by a faculty member who will serve as the PI. The program provides $750 per week for subsistence expenses while visiting an industrial facility, research center, or national laboratory, with a maximum total of $6,000. Transportation cost reimbursements up to $1,000 are also provided. Proposals can be submitted from April 12, 2023, until June 30, 2024. The proposal submission must follow specific format requirements outlined in the guidelines. For more information or questions about the RFP, contact Ms. Jessica Patton at [email protected].

This grant provides funding to organizations in Central Louisiana to recruit, support, and place mental health professionals in underserved communities, addressing the shortage of Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Professional Counselors.

This funding opportunity supports educational projects that enhance community resilience and environmental literacy in the Gulf States by engaging learners of all ages in addressing local environmental challenges.

The Community Foundation of North Louisiana Primary Grants are typically awarded to existing organizations with annual revenue of $250,000 or more. Donor Name: Community Foundation of North Louisiana State: Louisiana County: Bossier Parish (LA), Caddo Parish (LA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/21/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Program Areas  The proposed program must align with one of the following program areas: Civic Engagement Economic Development Education Environment Health & Science Human Services Organizational Development. Grant Period The proposed program must begin no earlier than June 1, 2025 and end no later than December 31, 2026. Program length must be 12 months or less. Eligibility Criteria Geographic Area: Programs must serve Caddo and/or Bossier Parishes. IRS status: All applicants must have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code or be described as an appropriate grantee for a community foundation under the IRS Code. An organization must have received its 501(c)(3) ruling letter from the IRS prior to applying for funding. Audit: If the organization’s prior year actual gross revenue was less than $750,000, a current financial compilation or review must be submitted with the letter of intent. If the organization’s prior year actual gross revenue was $750,000 or more, a current audit must be submitted with the letter of intent. Form 990: All applicants must be in good standing with the IRS regarding their Form 990 filing requirements.  A copy of the organization’s most recent Form 990 must be submitted as part of the Stage Two grant application. For more information, visit CFNL.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for summer programs that enrich the lives of children and youth from low to moderate-income families in five parishes of Southwest Louisiana.

This grant provides funding to non-profits, universities, and schools to offer technical assistance in establishing a Juvenile Assessment Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.