The Greater New Orleans Foundation Awards $960,000 in IMPACT Grants

December 10, 2014

48 nonprofit organizations win highly competitive IMPACT grants 

New Orleans, LA | December 10, 2014 – The Greater New Orleans Foundation announced today the 48 nonprofit organizations that received 2014 IMPACT grants in the following categories: arts and culture; education; health; social services; and, youth development. Now in its sixth year, the IMPACT program is the Foundation’s largest discretionary grantmaking program that awards grants to organizations that serve mostly low-income communities. This year the Foundation awarded a total of $960,000 to 48 nonprofit organizations.

“The nonprofit organizations receiving IMPACT grants are working tirelessly to make this a thriving community for all,” said Albert Ruesga, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “The IMPACT grants would not be possible without the generous support from our donors, and we’re humbled to be partners in philanthropy with them.”

“One way to address our obesity crisis is to educate students both inside and outside the classroom about the health benefits of eating fresh, local fruits and vegetables,” said Kate Parker, executive director at Market Umbrella. “With our IMPACT grant, we’ll double the number of students from 250 to 500 who will visit our Crescent City’s Farmer’s Market to taste and learn about Louisiana’s seasonal produce and receive classroom activities that encourage healthy eating.”

Over 160 applications were received and the rigorous review process included a site visit by Foundation staff, a careful study of the organization’s financial information, and a review by the Foundation’s grants committee. In addition to financial support, IMPACT grantees are also provided throughout the year with networking opportunities, communications assistance, and trainings and workshops on nonprofit best practices.

“These funds will allow us to get more homeless teenagers off the streets,” said Jim Kelly, executive director of Covenant House, an organization that has received an IMPACT grant for multiple years. “Besides providing a warm bed and healthy meals, our teenagers receive counseling, employment and educational opportunities.”

Since its inception in 2009, the IMPACT Program has granted more than $5 million to more than 135 nonprofit organizations in the Greater New Orleans region.

To follow the success stories of IMPACT grantees throughout the year, we invite you to follow us on Twitter @GNOFimpact and visit dev.gnof.org.

Below are the 48 organizations receiving 2014 IMPACT funding.

ARTS AND CULTURE:
Arts Council of New Orleans – $10,000
Efforts of Grace, Inc. – $17,500
Louisiana Partnership for the Arts – $10,000
Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans – $17,500
New Orleans Airlift – $10,000
NOVAC – $10,000

EDUCATION
Family and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children – $20,000
Leading Educators – $10,000
Loyola University of New Orleans – $20,000
Orleans Public Education Network – $15,687
School Leadership Center – $10,000
Stand for Children Louisiana – $10,000
The Center for Development and Learning – $20,000

HEALTH
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship New Orleans – $35,000
504HealthNet – $20,000
Broad Community Connections – $30,000
CBNO/MAC Foundation – $15,000
Children’s Health Fund – $20,000
Coastal Communities Consulting – $22,000
Daughters of Charity Foundation New Orleans – $35,000
Edible Schoolyard New Orleans – $35,000
EXCELth – $25,000
Grow Dat Youth Farm – $26,220
Louisiana Children’s Museum – $25,000
LSU Health Sciences Center Foundation – $5,305
Market Umbrella – $35,344
Mary Queen of Vietnam CDC – $10,000
National Alliance on Mental Illness – New Orleans – $20,000
New Orleans Kids Partnership – $28,500
Ochsner Clinic Foundation – $50,000
Playworks Education Energized – $25,000
St. Thomas Community Health Center – $30,000
The Childhood and Family Learning Foundation – $35,000
United Houma Nation – $26,279
YMCA of Greater New Orleans – $20,000

SOCIAL SERVICES
Covenant House New Orleans – $15,000
Goodwill Industries – $15,000
Harmony Neighborhood Development – $15,000
Kingsley House – $14,000
New Orleans Family Justice Alliance – $15,000
New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation – $7,500
Northlake Homeless Coalition – $15,000
Providence Community Housing – $15,000
Reconcile New Orleans – $15,000

YOUTH DEVELOMENT
Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights – $20,000
Nonprofit Knowledge Works – $20,000
The Micah Project – $20,000
Youth Empowerment Project – $20,000

For more information on grantmaking opportunities for nonprofit organizations through the Greater New Orleans Foundation, please subscribe to the Foundation’s email newsletter at dev.gnof.org.