June 17, 2026
Media Contact:
Courtney Thomas
Vice President for Communications & Public Affairs
Greater New Orleans Foundation
504.236.7096
courtney@gnof.org
Congratulations to the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s 2026 LGBTQ Fund Grant Recipients!
NEW ORLEANS – (June 17, 2026) Today, the Greater New Orleans Foundation announced $100,000 in grants to 23 area nonprofits from our LGBTQ Fund. Since its inaugural year in 2016, the Foundation’s LGBTQ Fund has awarded 160 grants totaling $952,000 to 57 nonprofits across our region. The grants are recommended by the Foundation’s LGBTQ committee and support organizations that increase the quality of life and access to opportunity for LGBTQ individuals and families, particularly the most vulnerable members of the community, including elders, transgender youth and adults, people of color, low-income people, and persons who are disabled.
In 2019, the Greater New Orleans Foundation Board of Directors voted to ensure that our LGBTQ work is sustained on a permanent basis by establishing an endowed fund that will make grants on an annual basis in perpetuity. With an initial fundraising goal of $2.5 million that has now been met thanks to generous contributions from donors, the LGBTQ Fund ensures that there will always be grant funding for local LGBTQ-led and LGBTQ-serving nonprofits. The Foundation continues to raise funds for the LGBTQ Endowment, particularly through planned gifts, knowing that community needs will continue in the future.
“As the first community foundation in the South with an LGBTQ Fund, the Greater New Orleans Foundation is proud to celebrate and support the incredible work these 23 nonprofits are doing to uplift the LGBTQ community in our region. We are thrilled to announce that we have met our initial fundraising goal of $2.5 million for the endowed LGBTQ Fund. We are especially proud to stand with these grantees from our LGBTQ Fund during Pride Month and in these uncertain times as we work together to create a more welcoming, safe, and equitable community for all,” said Andy Kopplin, President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “LGBTQ people and their rights remain under attack despite the sacrifices of those who have fought for these rights for decades. We remain motivated, now more than ever, to make sure the members of the LGBTQ community have the resources, recognition, support, and freedoms they need to live fulfilling lives and contribute their talents to making our community better for everyone.”
“In the early years of the LGBTQ Fund, we typically received only a dozen or so applications each year. Today, that number has grown dramatically, reflecting both the increasing needs of our community and the extraordinary work being done by local LGBTQ organizations,” said Arthur Roger, Chair of the LGBTQ Fund Committee and former Greater New Orleans Foundation Trustee. “The process of evaluating so many deserving applicants is both inspiring and challenging. This growth underscores the vital role the Fund plays in supporting LGBTQ individuals and organizations throughout our region. Having successfully reached our original $2.5 million endowment goal, we are more committed than ever to expanding the Fund’s impact and ensuring that critical resources remain available to our community, especially during these uncertain times.” The recent round of grants to local nonprofits will enhance support to the LGBTQ community by expanding access to critical services, strengthening community connections, providing education and advocacy, and creating safe, affirming spaces where people can thrive.
Donnisha Patterson-Hayes, Executive Director of Brotherhood, Incorporated, said, “Thank you Greater New Orleans Foundation! This grant will help ensure that LGBTQ individuals in our community have access to more than just services—it will provide access to dignity, stability, and opportunity. By supporting our Drop-In & Resource Center, this funding will help remove barriers to food, transportation, health education, and social support while creating a safe, affirming space where people can connect, learn, and thrive. For many participants, these resources are not simply helpful; they are life-changing and often life-saving!”
Nikki Alexander-Tumblin, Founder of New Orleans Black Pride, said, “This grant directly strengthens our ability to serve Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ communities through culturally grounded programming, wellness education, and safe community spaces. It allows us to expand access to resources, deepen community connection, and continue building environments where our people are seen, supported, and affirmed. The impact sustains spaces that protect and celebrate the lived experiences of those we serve.”
Janette Jurado, Legal Director of Home is Here NOLA, said, “Financial support creates space for dignity, safety, and real advocacy for people who are so often unseen and unheard. When I sit across from an LGBTQ+ client in detention, I’m not just offering legal advice – I’m offering a lifeline. Sustained support makes our services and programming stronger and more consistent, allowing us to listen deeply, build trust, and stand beside each person as their case unfolds. It means more people have someone in their corner, instead of facing a hostile system alone.”
Contributions to the LGBTQ Fund were made possible by support from dozens of generous local donors and grants from Funders for LGBTQ Issues, a collaborative that awards matching and planning grants to catalyze locally driven funds that address the needs and strengthen the assets of LGBTQ communities in the South.
To help support this effort, click here to donate to the LGBTQ Endowed Fund. To learn more about the Foundation’s LGBTQ Endowed Fund, please contact Vice President for Philanthropy, Meg Miles, at meg@gnof.org. To learn more about grantmaking made possible by this initiative, please contact Director of Grantmaking, Roy Williams, at grants@gnof.org.
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About the Greater New Orleans Foundation:
With roots extending over 100 years, the Greater New Orleans Foundation connects generous people to the causes that spark their passion. As one of the most trusted philanthropic organizations in the region, we work every day to drive positive impact by championing charitable giving, strengthening nonprofits, and leading civic projects in our thirteen-parish region. In addition to grantmaking, we convene people, resources, and ideas to create intelligent strategies and solutions to meet our region’s greatest challenges. We are proud to serve as a vocal civic leader with our partners to ensure an economically and culturally vibrant, sustainable, and just region for all. Learn more at www.gnof.org.