Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans

Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans (EPNO) 2025 Grant Opportunity

Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans (EPNO) is a program of the Greater New Orleans that brings together community individuals to collaboratively and collectively make change, using the Giving Circle model, through grantmaking. Through a high-engagement, six-month program, locally engaged individuals are connected with other emerging leaders, nonprofits, and the greater community to positively impact our region through granting funds to organizations tackling some of our toughest problems. Cohort members participate in a series of educational sessions, learning about nonprofits and grantmaking from expert guest speakers from the community.

EPNO separates each year’s class into smaller groups—or impact teams—to focus on building participants’ skills and knowledge base in a particular interest area. In their teams, cohort members collaboratively design Focus Statements to call for proposals from nonprofits in the Greater New Orleans area addressing their interest area. Cohort members will review proposal, invite limited applications, conduct site visits, and decide how to allocate funds.

The 2025 class has three grantmaking teams that will award up to $10,000 in each of the following areas: Arts & Culture, Health, Human Rights & Justice.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have 501(c)(3) status or have a Fiscal Sponsor
• Be located within the Foundation’s 13 parish service area
• Have a budget at or below $1,000,000, unless otherwise noted

Impact Team Focus Statements

Arts & Culture:

The EPNO Arts & Culture Impact Team will support an arts and culture nonprofit with an operating budget of $500,000 or less. Eligible organizations provide direct support services and programs to local entertainers and culture bearers. While we support systemic change to the arts ecosystem, this grant is not designed to support advocacy efforts.

We are committed to supporting an organization that uplifts historically underrepresented communities, with a focus on:

• BIPOC communities
• Individuals impacted by the criminal legal system

Our goals are to:

• Inspire Growth – Encourage continuous learning, skill-building, and personal development so individuals and groups can expand their opportunities.
• Honor Tradition – Preserve, continue, and celebrate the historical and cultural practices that make New Orleans unique, ensuring that future generations can experience and learn from them.
• Promote Healing – Support and improve health, wellness, and overall sense of well-being. Healing can mean finding peace after hardship, building confidence through self-expression, or creating spaces where people feel safe and supported.

The EPNO Arts & Culture Impact Team trusts that the work you do makes a difference.

Health:

The EPNO Health Team believes that good health is the foundation for every opportunity in life. We aim to support community-based organizations that enhance health literacy and empower vulnerable populations in Greater New Orleans. Our focus is preventive care, helping individuals and families build the knowledge and confidence to take proactive steps before physical or mental health conditions occur.

• Priority will be given to organizations working directly with at-risk communities in the Greater New Orleans area.

We value approaches that integrate health education – including nutrition, chronic disease prevention, mental health and other practical everyday solutions into people’s lives in ways that are culturally relevant, affordable, and sustainable. We aim to support improvements in community well-being, reduce preventable health crises, and foster long-term resilience in Greater New Orleans.

What Makes a Proposal Competitive:

• Clearly explains how your organization empowers the population you serve for the benefit of their physical and mental health.
• Demonstrate how your organization helps individuals understand their options for their well-being.
• Exhibits a consistent and stable track record of providing services.

Human Rights & Justice: 

Our Impact Team is united by the belief that every human deserves dignity, equity, justice, and equal access to critical human services in our community. Guided by compassion and courage, too often we see a disconnect between the availability of valuable resources and those who most need those resources. We seek to fund nonprofits that increase access, remove barriers, educate, and/or provide critical resources to people experiencing vulnerability. We are looking for your ability to illustrate the work your organization is doing to provide wraparound services or integrated elements of ongoing support.

In our grantmaking, we will direct funding toward nonprofits whose work centers around change in policy, advocacy, education and access for the Greater New Orleans community. These are unrestricted general operating funds to be used by the grantee in furtherance of their mission.

In determining grant awards, examples of services a nonprofit may provide to qualify include but are not limited to:

• Assisting people experiencing vulnerability in applying for government services, such as social services, food assistance, public housing, shelter assistance, post-secondary education processes, and natural disaster recovery services
• Connecting communities that have historically faced barriers to access with legal resources and/or access to legal counsel
• Providing immigration services and support
• Advancing initiatives that promote broader access to justice and chip away at systemic inequities
• Increasing equitable access to legal aid and resources
• Navigating administrative processes or access information
• Assisting with re-entry services for people returning to the community

A strong grant application should address the following:

• Name the barrier(s) your organization is helping people overcome
• Describe how your organization is informed by the voices of the people you serve
• Explain how this grant will strengthen or stabilize your organization
• Demonstrate sustainability by showing networks of local support: volunteers, in-kind contributions, grassroots fundraising, and long-term community presence

Together, we will leverage our resources to build a just and inclusive future where freedom, fairness, and human dignity are not privileges, but guaranteed rights for all.

HOW TO APPLY:

Now through September 26, 2025, eligible 501 (c)(3) organizations located in the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s service area may apply through the Foundation’s online application portal here.

All LOIs are due via the online portal no later than September 26, 2025. The Greater New Orleans Foundation will only accept applications submitted electronically. Applications received after the deadline will be ineligible for review.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have 501(c)(3) status or have a Fiscal Sponsor
• Be located within the Foundation’s 13 parish service area
• Have a budget at or below $1,000,000, unless otherwise noted

Please note: EPNO has a Conflict of Interest policy which may prohibit an organization at which an EPNO member or immediate family member is employed from applying to this year’s grant cycle. EPNO will notify you after your letter of intent is received if there is a conflict.

Learn Before Applying:

The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s technology partner, Foundant, created a brief tutorial for applicants that can be found here.

Please email EPNO@gnof.org with any questions.