Visual Artist Ben Depp Selected as the 2026 COHN | GNOF | NOLA | ARTS Award Winner
Louisiana wetlands. Photo by Ben Depp
Ben Depp in his studio. Photo by Ben Depp
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is proud to announce that New Orleans-based visual artist Ben Depp has been selected, as the 2026 COHN | GNOF | NOLA | ARTS Award winner. Depp will receive $13,000 and be honored at a special reception at the Marigny Opera House on October 13, 2026. The award is made possible due to a generous bequest from Marianne and Dr. Isidore Cohn, Jr. and given annually.
In 2014, Depp began taking aerial photographs using a powered paraglider, which allowed him hours of airborne exploration on a low flight path. In the twelve years since, he has continued to explore and photograph South Louisiana’s coastal landscape, constantly searching for unusual compositions. The resulting portfolio of work is now part of the permanent collections at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and The Historic New Orleans Collection, was exhibited at the Pensacola Museum of Art, Walter Anderson Museum, and the Louisiana State Museum, and published by National Geographic, and Smithsonian Magazine. Depp was the 2024 Louisiana Documentary Photographer of the Year. To see more of his work, visit www.bendepp.com.
“We are delighted to announce Ben Depp as the 2026 COHN | GNOF | NOLA | ARTS Award winner,” said Andy Kopplin, President and CEO, Greater New Orleans Foundation. “Our advisory committee selected Depp because of his unique approach documenting South Louisiana’s coastal landscapes, challenging us to prioritize our local environment.”
“What I find compelling about Ben Depp’s work is that it moves beyond simple documentation. In his more atmospheric images, the landscape is revealed as an otherworldly abstraction —dramatic images that invite us to pause, to reconsider places we think we know well,” said Ian J. Cohn. “In this regard, his work continues a tradition of photographers whose work transcends the literal, images which compel the viewer to reconsider the subject and their relationship to it. Swamps and wetlands that we might otherwise take for granted assume a very different character through his lens.”
“The Cohn Family is grateful to the Greater New Orleans Foundation and members of the advisory committee for their guidance and involvement in making this annual award possible. Together, we share a passion to discover and recognize artists from within the New Orleans community. In addition to this singular award, grants provided to several New Orleans-based community organizations are made possible by a fund established by our father/grandfather, Dr. Isidore Cohn, Jr. and his wife Marianne Cohn. We are confident that the awardees well represent their wishes and the legacy embodied in their gift.”
Depp said, “I have spent more than a decade flying a powered paraglider over South Louisiana to make photographs that document a vanishing landscape. I hope that my photographs serve as a memorial to these ethereal, biodiverse wetlands. Making these photographs requires spending days in a landscape that is often inhospitable to humans. The work often feels thankless; so, it is all the more an honor to be recognized with the 2026 COHN | GNOF | NOLA | ARTS Award. Thank you to the Cohn Family, the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the selection committee.”
“We are thrilled to have chosen such a deserving honoree,” said Leann Moses, COHN | GNOF | NOLA | ARTS Award Committee Member and former Foundation Board Chair. “Ben’s work compels us to see Louisiana’s landscape in a new light, as an ongoing narrative of astonishing natural beauty that often goes overlooked. I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the Cohn family for their steadfast support of the arts in our region.”
Education Leaders Join Charter School Board Governance Panel Discussion
Courtesy of City Park Conservancy
The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Paulette and Frank Stewart Board Governance Institute, in partnership with NOLA Public Schools, hosted Advocating for Change through Collective Power, an event that brought together district and state education leaders with charter school board members and school leaders to discuss current and emerging issues impacting the New Orleans charter school landscape. This event was a part of our Charter Board Governance Series: Upskill and Reskill Your Charter Boards!
Thanks to our speakers and moderators who participated in our two fireside chats and answered questions from participants:
- Dr. Fateama Fulmore, Superintendent, NOLA Public Schools
- Former State Senator Conrad Appel III, BESE At-Large Representative
- Larry Washington, KIPP New Orleans Board Member
- Jamar McKneely, Chief Executive Officer, InspireNOLA Charter Schools
- Olin Parker, Orleans Parish School Board Vice President
- Thomas Lambert, Assistant Superintendent, Louisiana Department of Education, Office of Assessments, Accountability, & Analytics
The Upskill and Reskill Your Charter Boards! series is specially designed for new and seasoned charter school board members. This dynamic series ensures that all charter school board members can access the content and resources they need to ensure our charter schools are effective, impactful, and sustainable. This series is offered with generous support from the Pro Bono Publico Foundation and in partnership with NOLA Public Schools, New Schools for New Orleans, and local and national consultants with established records of success in elevating the impact and effectiveness of charter schools.
The next event in the series is a masterclass entitled, Planning for Financial Sustainability, on April 11 from 10 am- 1 pm at the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Center for Philanthropy (919 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130.) This masterclass invites charter board members to dive more deeply into their charter organization’s fiscal health – beyond balanced budgeting. Board members will gain insights into the board’s financial leadership and oversight roles, factors that impact the fiscal position of a charter, and planning strategies to ensure financial sustainability throughout the charter term. This session is open to all charter board members. Finance Committee Chairs and members are especially encouraged to attend. Click here to register.
GiveNOLA Day 2026: Join Us for Our GiveNOLA Day Training Webinar and Expert Panel Discussion This Month
Nonprofit registration for GiveNOLA Day 2026 has now closed. With Early Giving starting on April 28, the GiveNOLA Day team is working hard to prepare nonprofits to make the most out of GiveNOLA Day. On April 7, our team is hosting a training webinar to help nonprofits take advantage of our new platform and the tools it offers, like peer-to-peer fundraising, matching grants, and text-to-give functionality. To sign up for our webinar, click here. The webinar will be available for viewing on our website after April 7.
On April 9, the Association of Fundraising Professionals is hosting a panel discussion featuring four GiveNOLA Day experts, including the Foundation’s Senior Program Officer Rachel Swan. For many nonprofits, GiveNOLA Day is a cornerstone of their annual fundraising efforts. Join us for this discussion as leaders reveal the proven strategies behind their GiveNOLA Day successes. Learn practical tips, hear real-world examples, and get your questions answered to help you plan a winning campaign for GiveNOLA Day 2026. The Foundation is hosting the event at our Center for Philanthropy. Parking will be available in nearby lots. To register for the event, click here.
Join the Foundation and the Tulane ByWater Institute to Learn More about the Southeast Louisiana Adaptation Forum
The Foundation and the Tulane ByWater Institute invite practitioners working on green infrastructure and climate to join peers from across sectors working to accelerate equitable implementation of green infrastructure and climate adaptation at the Southeast Louisiana Adaptation Forum Spring 2026 Member Meet-Up at Skeeta Hawk Brewing on April 22.
This gathering is an opportunity to build new relationships across sectors and parishes, learn more about Forum Membership and programming, understand an emerging data science and community knowledge project, and celebrate the growing regional collaboration that drives our collective impact. This event is for all practitioners, community leaders, researchers, and partners from nonprofit, government, business, philanthropic, and academic sectors. Please RSVP here to attend.
The Southeast Louisiana Adaptation Forum is an emerging regional collaborative that engages and connects people to accelerate implementation of transformative green infrastructure and climate adaptation projects, to support regional and cross-sector professional coordination, and to build capacity of the region’s practitioners through shared learning. The Forum is led by a diverse Organizing Committee and administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation and Tulane ByWater Institute.
Employer-Led Collaboration Unites Construction and Healthcare at Career Expo
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is convening Industry Sector Workforce Partnerships in Construction and Healthcare to build a larger middle class for our region. Through each partnership, employers come together to align around shared workforce needs. This employer-led, systems-level approach organizes industry to lead, while aligning education and community partners to support clear pathways for individuals to secure quality jobs.
At the 2026 Career Expo on March 18, hosted by Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans and YouthForce NOLA, that approach was on full display. The Expo brought together more than 2,000 ninth-grade students from across New Orleans public schools for hands-on career exposure and exploration. Building on this powerful platform, employers across both sectors showed up not as individual companies, but as aligned industries—coordinating messaging, highlighting priority roles, and designing engaging experiences for students.
From skilled trades to clinical and non-clinical healthcare careers, students experienced a more connected and comprehensive view of opportunity. Rather than isolated exposure, they engaged with a broader ecosystem—gaining insight into how industries function, where opportunities exist, and how their interests can translate into real, attainable career pathways.
This moment reflects what sector partnerships make possible: industries working together, with the Foundation as convener, to create more aligned pathways from education to employment. In partnership with Junior Achievement and YouthForce NOLA, this work is helping to build a stronger, more coordinated workforce system—and expanding access to quality jobs for young people across our region.
Blog: Purpose-Driven Governance – The Role of Governance in Uncertain Times
By Devon Turner, Director of Nonprofit Leadership and Effectiveness, Greater New Orleans Foundation
In this three-part nonprofit blog series and complementary training program, presented in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co., the Greater New Orleans Foundation explores the role of governance during uncertain times.
Years ago, I served as a founding board member for a nonprofit I truly loved. In our first few years, we created governance systems and policies shaped by our organization’s core values, a collaborative board culture, and communications protocols. And yet, even with my background as an Executive Director, and with board colleagues who demonstrated commitment to their roles, I was constantly reminded that intentional, values-driven governance is more than compliance. It is a rigorous, intentional act of stewardship.
Today’s board members are governing through unprecedented levels of complexity. In challenging and uncertain times, how can board members govern effectively – not just fulfilling our legal duties, but truly advancing the mission and vision of our nonprofits through such environments?
At the Foundation, we teach that governance is providing guidance to an organization so that it fulfills its mission, advances its vision, and lives its values. Board members do not merely sit at the head of an organization, but are accountable to organizational leadership, the communities we serve, and the laws which regulate nonprofit activities. To navigate these times, we must shift our focus from merely protecting the organization to advancing its broader purpose, which also means governing an organization with our broader ecosystems in mind. Read the rest of the blog post here to learn about the three foundational approaches to governance that can better position your board to lead effectively and with purpose.
2025-2026 Executive Director Intensive Cohort Celebrates Closing Session
In partnership with the Kresge and Hilton Foundations, the Greater New Orleans Foundation on March 26 celebrated the closing session of its 2025-2026 Executive Director Intensive (EDI), a comprehensive, 6-month leadership program exclusively for nonprofit executive directors, CEOs, and presidents. EDI combines experienced trainers and peer learning to support leaders as they develop critical technical and leadership skills; inspire their staff, board members, and other stakeholders to deeper impact and greater responsiveness; and envision organizations that simultaneously meet community needs and successfully navigate changes in the nonprofit sector.
The program’s curriculum draws on research; experiences with individual coaching and organizational capacity building in the region; and the collective wisdom of EDI alumni to create a powerful space to cultivate core leadership skills, think creatively, try fresh ideas, and identify action steps to successfully lead your organization.
To learn more about EDI, click here.
Foundation’s Board Governance Intensive Returns in April
Effective board leadership is crucial to an organization’s success. To help organizations improve their board governance, the Foundation’s Paulette and Frank Stewart Board Governance Institute is hosting a Board Governance Intensive workshop. The day and a half-long workshop will take place on April 22 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm and on April 23 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Foundation’s Center for Philanthropy. Attendance on both days is required. Organizations are required to register teams of 2-4 participants. This intensive will support teams of board members, executive directors, and senior staff who work closely with board members.
Join Us for a Nonprofit Governance Webinar Series Starting in April!
The Greater New Orleans Foundation, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co., is excited to present Stronger Boards Means Stronger Nonprofits: A Governance Webinar Series. Through this virtual, lunchtime series, new and experienced board members are invited to dive into timely and relevant governance topics to support them in fulfilling both their legal and ethical duties, particularly during times of uncertainty and change. The first session is about financial leadership for board members and will be held on April 28 from 12-1:30 pm. To register for this session, click here. While each webinar is free, registration is required to receive the links to participate. To learn more about the other sessions, click here.
Impact 100 Winner Hotel Hope Featured in NOLA.com Article
Courtesy of NOLA.com
Since opening in the former motel on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in 2018, Hotel Hope in New Orleans, an interfaith nonprofit, has provided safe, comfortable emergency housing to single mothers and their children in a loving atmosphere while supporting their journey to self-sufficiency and self-empowerment.
With the rising cost of rent and shortage of affordable housing, that mission has grown more difficult in recent years, Sister Mary Lou Specha, Hotel Hope’s executive director, said in a recent interview with NOLA.com. “It costs around $1 million per year to run Hotel Hope, and while the organization receives some state and federal funding, it relies on generosity of volunteers and donors to keep its doors open. We provide rent assistance for three to six months, and then they’re on their own. When we first opened in 2018, we were able to put people into a house in 34 days. Now, that takes around 75 days because the availability of housing is limited.”
Hotel Hope is hosting the Fourth Annual Hope Fest, presented by Airbnb, on April 9 from 6-9 pm at the Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & Co. During the festival, Hotel Hope will raise vital funds that will provide shelter, stability, and support to families in need. The festival will feature a silent auction, live music, and food. To purchase tickets or sponsorships, click here.
In 2021, the Foundation’s women’s giving circle, Impact 100, awarded Hotel Hope its transformative $100,000 grant. Impact 100 is a group of over 100 local women who commit to giving $1,100 each and together making a single transformative grant to a local nonprofit. Since its inaugural year, Impact 100 has granted more than $1.725 million to nonprofits across our region. We invite you to join Impact 100 for its 14th year. Members are welcome to pay in monthly installments. To register for Impact 100, click here. If you have any questions, please contact Donor Relations Associate Mary Conly Fakier at maryconly@gnof.org or (504) 620-5275.
Thanks for joining us for this edition of The Greater Good.
The Greater New Orleans Foundation Team