Last Chance to Register for Impact 100, the Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle!
Courtesy of VPJR
It’s not too late to join Impact 100, the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s women’s giving circle! Each year more than 100+ local women commit to giving $1,100 each and together making a single, transformative $100,000 grant to a nonprofit, along with 15 smaller grants to other local nonprofits. Recipient nonprofits use the grants to increase their impact and grow their network of supporters. 2026 is Impact 100’s 14th year of grantmaking. Since its inaugural year, Impact 100, sponsored by Villere & Co., has granted more than $1.725 million to nonprofits across our region through the collective power of women coming together to support our community.
In 2025, Impact 100 awarded its $100,000 grant to People’s Housing+, Inc. (PH+). PH+ was created as a result of the strategic merger of three New Orleans-based community development organizations with support from the Greater New Orleans Foundation. PH+ was established to achieve greater scale and impact with an unabashed focus on advancing racial equity in community development. PH+ is a housing developer and also advocates for permanent housing affordability, housing subsidies, and strategies to combat displacement. They are using the Impact 100 award to create the People’s Housing+ Cares Emergency Loan Fund, available to their network of homeowners in the form of a 0% interest loan, with patient repayment terms.
Please consider joining Impact 100! Members are welcome to pay in monthly installments. To participate in the first vote on nonprofit categories, we ask that you register by September 17. Voting for categories is an important step in the granting process as it will determine which nonprofits are slated for the final vote. 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.
Manning Family Children’s Recognizes Former Foundation Board Chair, Mrs. Betty Lauricella, with the 2026 Louisiana Legacy Award
Courtesy of Mrs. Betty Lauricella
Manning Family Children’s announced on July 20 that former Greater New Orleans Foundation Board Chair, Mrs. Betty Lauricella, will be honored as the hospital’s 2026 Louisiana Legacy Award recipient in recognition of the significant impact she has made on child wellbeing across the state and region after serving on the hospital’s board for 42 years. The award will be presented during the 2nd annual Louisiana Legacy celebration planned for October 1.
The Louisiana Legacy celebration was established with the Manning family in 2025 to honor the defining moments and leaders who have helped shape our state and region, while raising funds to support the vital mission of Manning Family Children’s. Community support through the 2026 Louisiana Legacy event will help fund a new, 60-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Manning Family Children’s – a critical expansion that will help Manning Family Children’s continue to deliver the highest level of neonatal care, at a time when more babies than ever before rely on its highly specialized, lifesaving care.
Mrs. Lauricella served as chair from 1997 to 1999.
New Agenda for Children Report Illustrates Importance of Investing in Early Care and Education for Children
The Agenda for Children released their newest report, New Orleans Early Care and Education: State of the Sector, in early August—providing a comprehensive look that demonstrates significant progress in early childhood education in the city.
The report showed:
- New Orleans invests more local dollars in early childhood education than any other parish.
- In 2025, more early childhood education (ECE) programs in New Orleans are rated High Proficient or Excellent than ever before—71 percent of rated programs, up from just 5% in 2017.
- Local voters’ 20-year ECE millage, matched dollar-for-dollar by the state’s Early Childhood Education Fund, helped push publicly funded enrollment to historic highs in 2024-2025.
- Kindergarteners are arriving with stronger early literacy skills, particularly among economically disadvantaged children, outpacing the state’s average across every single demographic.
- New Orleans has made great progress in improving low-income families’ access to high-quality early care and education.
- Enrollment data reveal opportunities to reach more diverse learners (e.g., children with disabilities, dual language learners, children in foster care, and children experiencing homelessness.)
Grant Opportunity: Apply for Round Two of Community-Led Green Infrastructure Grantmaking Program Today!
The Greater New Orleans Foundation and its subsidiary, the New Orleans Community Support Foundation, have scheduled a virtual technical assistance webinar for round two of the Community-Led Green Infrastructure grantmaking program. Last year, the Foundation launched the grantmaking program, supported by federal funding, to support community-driven solutions that reduce flooding, improve water quality, and strengthen resilience in Southeast Louisiana’s most vulnerable communities. In round 1, the Foundation awarded $1.025 million in grants to 12 organizations across four parishes. In round 2, the Foundation will be granting up to $725,000 overall.
On September 1, the Foundation kicked off the two-step application process for round 2 of the program, beginning with an Expression of Interest questionnaire to ensure eligibility and alignment with program objectives. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application later this fall. The questionnaire is now live here through September 30. To learn more about the application process and eligibility requirements, we invite you to attend our second informational webinar on September 17.
Foundation, City of New Orleans Call for Applications for the 2026 Youth Climate Action Fund
The Greater New Orleans Foundation and the City of New Orleans have announced that applications for the 2026 Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund (BYCAF) are open now and will close on September 10! The City of New Orleans, in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, will award micro-grants of up to $5,000 for innovative youth-led climate projects as part of the Youth Action Climate Fund.
Teams of three or more youth leaders (15-24 years old) are tasked with developing and implementing a project that addresses an environmental problem identified in the City’s Climate Action Plan and are required to have a fiscal 503(c)3 sponsor. Additionally, the City of New Orleans Office of Youth and Families will hold an application assistance session to answer questions and provide more information about the application process and the program on August 20. Register here. Selected teams will be awarded $1,000-$5,000 to implement their project in Orleans Parish by mid-April 2027.
Join Us for a Board Governance Intensive in New Orleans on October 6 and 7 and Covington on October 13 and 14!
The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Paulette and Frank Stewart Board Governance Institute is co-hosting two Board Governance Intensives focused on building impactful and inclusive boards in October.
Designed for board members, executive directors, and senior staff, these intensives focus on strengthening nonprofit governance, building inclusive practices, increasing engagement, and maximizing impact focusing on essential governance topics. The Board Governance Intensive offers opportunities to reflect on your board experience and plan concrete action steps.
The Foundation’s Institute, in partnership with JPMorganChase, is hosting the first Board Governance Intensive workshop on October 6 (9:30 am–4 pm) and 7 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) at the Foundation’s Center for Philanthropy (919 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130.) Organizations are required to register in teams of 2-4, and the fee to participate is $100 per organization. However, we never want funding to prevent participation. We have a small pool of funds available for partial scholarships for qualified organizations. To learn more and register, click here.
The Foundation’s Institute and the Northshore Community Foundation are co-hosting the second Board Governance Intensive workshop on October 13 (9:30 am-4 pm) and 14 (9:30 am-4 pm) at the Northshore Community Foundation (807 N. Columbia Street, Covington, LA, 70433.) While individual registration is available for this free workshop, we strongly recommend attending as a team of two or three. To learn more or register, click here.
This Labor Day, we celebrate the people whose hard work and dedication help make the Greater New Orleans region stronger. From serving neighbors to creating opportunities and strengthening communities, your work makes a difference in the place we call home.
Happy Labor Day from the Greater New Orleans Foundation!
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