Baton Rouge Area Foundation Impact Grants
About the Grant Opportunity
The Foundation is pleased to announce a competitive pilot grant opportunity for local nonprofits working in the early childhood education or community safety sectors. This funding opportunity is being issued in response to recent findings from our Opportunity Data Project and seeks to address some of the challenges and areas for greatest impact highlighted within those briefings. We are now accepting Letters of Intent for one-time grants ranging from $5,000 – $25,000. Full details on this grant opportunity can be found linked below.
Application Process
The goal of this effort is to distribute funds both efficiently and effectively; to that end, the Impact Grants application process will consist of two phases:
Phase 1: Letter of Intent (LOI), submitted through an online form.
Phase 2: Full Application, by invitation only
Letter of Intent
Organizations interested in applying should complete the LOI form detailing their organization’s history, operations, and the intended program or project for support. A copy of the questions included on the LOI can be found here for consideration. Once you are ready to submit, the official LOI submission form can be accessed at the link below.
The window for LOI submissions will be May 2, 2025 – May 30, 2025. All LOIs must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 30, 2025, for consideration to be invited to submit a full application. After completion, we recommend downloading your responses for record keeping.
Following the completion of the LOI period, the Foundation will conduct a thorough review process to evaluate the submissions. Organizations that best meet the evaluation criteria will be invited to submit a full application. Please note that we will not accept applications submitted via email; all LOIs must be received through the above linked form to be eligible for consideration.
Important Dates
- May 2 thru 30, 2025: Letter of Intent window
- June 2025: Invitations to apply distributed to selected organizations
- July 2025: Full application submission window opens/Impact Grants Application Webinar
- August 2025: Grant recipient selection
- September/October 2025: Fund distribution
Eligibility:
Organizations must meet certain requirements detailed below:
Eligible Organizations
- Organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization or a public agency, such as a school district or library.
- Organizations must be in good standing under state and federal IRS guidelines.
- Organizations should have a demonstrated history, commitment, and track record in one or more areas identified within the grant focus areas.
- Organizations must have been operational for at least two years.
Eligible Service Areas
- Applications will be considered for:
- Organizations with established programs and services within the Capital Region
- Organizations looking to expand their programs into the Capital Region
- The Capital Region for this grant opportunity is defined as:
- Ascension Parish
- East Baton Rouge Parish
- East Feliciana Parish
- Iberville Parish
- Livingston Parish
- Pointe Coupee Parish
- West Baton Rouge Parish
- West Feliciana Parish
Eligible Uses
Eligible fund uses include:
- Unrestricted Funding Support – provides organizations with the funding needed to cover operational costs and overhead, ensuring that their fundamental functions can thrive in support of their larger mission.
- Project Support – provides funding that specifically aids in the implementation of new or existing initiatives. This could include a wide range of projects aligned to the identified funding areas.
- Capital Costs Assistance – provides funding support for facility or infrastructure needs that directly contribute to the provision of programs and services and benefits the organization’s mission overall.
Project and Program Areas
Community Safety: programs and services focused on violence intervention or prevention are eligible to apply. Projects and programs can include but are not limited to:
- Youth development and support
- Violence prevention and intervention
- Community well-being and support
- Safety and advocacy
- Economic empowerment and crisis support
Early Childhood (birth to five): programs and services for children, parents, families, and caregivers are also eligible to apply. Projects and programs can include but are not limited to:
- Access to quality early learning
- Early childhood care health, development and well-being
- Early childhood workforce capacity building and support
- Curriculum and instructional support
- Facilities and infrastructure
- Community inclusivity
- Parental and caregiver support programs
- Health and developmental screenings
- Transition to kindergarten
- Innovative models and research
- Advocacy and policy change
Detailed examples for each of these are outlined in the comprehensive grant informational packet linked near the top of this page.
Restrictions
- The Baton Rouge Area Foundation does not make grants to individuals, private business ventures or partisan political organizations.
- At this time, we are not offering multi-year opportunities.
Evaluation Criteria:
LOI responses will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Proof of organizational existence for at least two years, reflecting dedication and sustainability
- Demonstrated collaboration within the community
- A clearly outlined mission or purpose
- Alignment of proposed projects with our funding areas to maximize impact
- Consistency of the population being served with the organization’s mission, ensuring targeted and meaningful support
- Geographic location within BRAF’s service parishes, emphasizing the importance of local community engagement
- Display of a well-structured organization and project budget, highlighting transparency and financial prudence
Contact Information:
For inquiries, please contact grants@braf.org.