Central Louisiana Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Central Louisiana Community Foundation supports community development, art and culture, youth, health, food, housing, and human services in 12 parishes in Central Louisiana.
IP TAKE: This funder’s opportunity awards are part of a relatively new program and a great one to get involved with right now in the region.
PROFILE: Established in 1999, the Central Louisiana Community Foundation (CLCF) is a community foundation based in Alexandria, Louisiana. Community leaders began discussing the idea for a community foundation in 1989 but did not form it until 10 years later with the help of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Led by a volunteer board of directors and managed by a small professional staff, this local, private nonprofit corporation encourages local philanthropy. The funder seeks to “connect people to priorities they care about and increase charitable giving in order to advance the quality of life for all in our communities” and also to “improve the quality of life in Central Louisiana by building permanent endowments, utilizing strategic grant making to address community needs.” CLCF funds local community development, art and culture, youth, health, food, housing, and human services efforts.
Grants for Community Development, Arts and Culture, Public Health and Access, and Housing and Homelessness
The Central Louisiana Community Foundation has a competitive cycle for its opportunity grants that address literacy, arts and culture, historic and environmental preservation, and community development. Community impact awards promote innovation for philanthropic projects that feature fresh ideas and pressing community issues. Other CLCF initiatives are the community impact challenge, which is a two-week fundraising event, and the celebration of philanthropy event that highlights the generosity of local donors.
Grantmaking focuses on a 12-parish service area in Central Louisiana. These parishes are Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon, and Winn. Past local grantees include the Alexandria Museum of Art, Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services, and the Central Louisiana Coalition to Prevent Homelessness.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $250 and $100,000. Opportunity grants are between $250 and $2,000, while impact challenge grants are between $25,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving in the foundation’s news section.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. CLCF awards opportunity grants four times per year with deadlines on the 15th of May, August, November, and February. Community impact award applications are due August 31. Direct general questions to cenlacf@clcf.net.
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