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Impact Grants

Baton Rouge Area Foundation Impact Grants 

About the Grant Opportunity  

The Foundation is pleased to announce a competitive grant opportunity for local nonprofits working in the early childhood education or health, and economic prosperity sectors. This funding opportunity was 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. Letters of Intent for one-time grants up to $50,000 will be accepted from July 7 through July 24, 2026. Full details on this grant opportunity can be found linked below.

Download the Grant Overview & FAQ

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

The Letter of Intent window will open on July 7, 2026. Organizations interested in applying were asked to 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.

All LOIs must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CDT on July 24, 2026 to be considered to be invited to submit a full application.

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 this fall.

Submit a Letter of Intent

Important Dates

  • July 7 thru 24, 2026: Letter of Intent window
  • September 2026: Invitations to apply distributed to selected organizations
  • September – October 2026: Full application submission window opens
  • October – November 2026: Due diligence period
  • November 2026: Recipients notified
  • December 2026 + January 2027: 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

Economic Prosperity: 

  • Childcare business incubators and microloan programs
  • Business support and funding programs  
  • Pre-apprenticeship and career preparation programs
  • Entrepreneurship, apprenticeship, and internship programs 

Healthy Families:  

  • Nurse-Family partnerships and home visiting programs
  • Doula and midwifery services
  • Perinatal and postnatal mental health supports  
  • School-based and mobile health units  
  • Community centers and youth hubs
  • Youth mental and behavioral health programs

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:

  • Simplifying access to early learning
  • Enhancing affordability of early childhood care health, development and well-being
  • Expanding community-based options
  • Integrated family support
  • Strengthening family connections

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:  

  • A clearly outlined mission or purpose
  • Proof of organizational existence for at least two years, reflecting dedication and sustainability.
  • Demonstrated collaboration within the community
  • 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 area, 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.