Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc
The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based nonprofit and Form 990 public charity. It is a nonpartisan source of data, research, and information for policymakers and stakeholders on early care and education for young children, birth to age four, in Louisiana and their families.
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc at a glance
In short: Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc gave $868K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $79K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $867,989
- +864.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +1000.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $78,908
- -12.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $87,500
- Total assets
- $7,149,909
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 13552, New Orleans, LA 70185
Phone: (504) 417-3735
Website: https://policyinstitutela.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was For Providers by Providers Louisiana ($187K). Together the top 10 received $863K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 6 grants of 13 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The institute describes its policy and research work as focused on early care and education for young children and their families in Louisiana. Its 2025 grants went primarily to Louisiana recipients: 89% of grant dollars went to Louisiana, 10% to Illinois, and 1% to Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
How Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc gives
- Giving grew 156% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2024) to $868K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $868K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| For Providers by Providers Louisiana New Orleans, LA | To allow for providers by providers Louisiana to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $187,367 |
| Pointe Coupee Early Childhood Coalition New Roads, LA | To allow pointe coupee early childhood coalition to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $120,000 |
| Jefferson Community Foundation Metairie, LA | To allow jefferson community foundation to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $112,500 |
| Afton Partners LLC Evanston, IL | To allow afton partners to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $90,000 |
| Agenda for Children New Orleans, LA | To allow agenda for children to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $87,500 |
| Ascension Parish Schools Donaldsonville, LA | To allow ascension parish schools to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $87,500 |
| State of Louisiana Office of the Governor Baton Rouge, LA | To allow state of Louisiana office of the governor to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $81,650 |
| St Tammany Parish School Covington, LA | To allow st. Tammany parish school to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $76,472 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System Baton Rouge, LA | To allow east baton rouge parish school system to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $12,500 |
| National Association for Family Child Care Washington, DC | To allow national association for family child care to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development. | $7,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,149,909 | $4,712,280 | $4,300,845 | $867,989 | 11 | $232,296 |
| 2024 | $6,354,964 | $6,325,352 | $2,791,720 | $90,000 | 1 | $109,416 |
| 2023 | $2,476,107 | $2,588,120 | $2,169,434 | — | — | $37,778 |
| 2022 | $1,895,334 | $1,950,006 | $1,889,888 | $339,500 | 1 | $36,342 |
| 2021 | $1,964,589 | $1,226,423 | $935,471 | — | — | $7,849 |
| 2020 | $1,667,572 | $1,813,533 | $749,259 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | $559,950 | $723,636 | $524,394 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The institute’s stated mission is to advance policies to ensure that Louisiana’s young children are ready for success in school and in life. Its work includes developing policy proposals informed by data, research, best practices, and other states’ experiences, as well as educational and outreach activities related to those proposals. The organization describes its approach as child-centered, equity-focused, data-driven, results-oriented, and visionary.
The 2025 filing describes grants as supporting recipients’ work to advance early childhood education and development. Among the grantees, For Providers by Providers Louisiana says it provides quality training for early education providers. Agenda for Children says it supports children and families by expanding access to resources and high-quality early education and care. The National Association for Family Child Care says it promotes quality family child care and educates and trains caregivers. Jefferson Community Foundation describes its mission as using donated funds to address critical community needs in Jefferson Parish.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the institute made 11 grants totaling $867,989. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $187,367, with a median grant of $87,500.
The largest awards included $187,367 to For Providers by Providers Louisiana, $120,000 to Pointe Coupee Early Childhood Coalition, $112,500 to Jefferson Community Foundation, and $90,000 to Afton Partners LLC. Other notable grants were $87,500 each to Agenda for Children and Ascension Parish Schools, and $81,650 to the State of Louisiana Office of the Governor. The stated purposes for these awards were to support the recipients’ missions to advance early childhood education and development.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Leach Werner as president; Julie Morial MD as vice president; Jonathan Chapman CPA as treasurer; Vince Jackson as secretary; and Dionne Rousseau JD as immediate past president. Directors listed are Kristen Brown, James Tucker, Jennifer Eplett Reilly, John Diez, and Sharonda Williams.
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc is led by Libbie Sonnier PhD, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Libbie Sonnier PhD
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$83K (2020) → $205K (2025)
Mary Leach Werner
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sadie Becnel
Government Affairs Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2025)
Phillip Rozeman MD
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allen Richey
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonald J. Walker III
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luis C. Zervigon
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Tomlinson JD
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonjia Brown-Joseph
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Dean
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Carver
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Magner PhD
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Jennings Roy
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wesley Martin
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Tucker
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Diez
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Brown
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharonda Williams
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Eplett Reilly
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Candace Weber
Chief of Partnerships
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$102K (2024) → $128K (2025)
Dionne Rousseau JD
Immediate Past President
Vice Chair → Chair, 2020
Chair → Immediate Past President, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Morial MD
Vice President
Director → Vice Chair, 2020
Vice Chair → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vince Jackson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Chapman CPA
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Drew Chapman CPA (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Elizabeth Guglielmo Picard (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Eplett (2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Oliver (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Liz Smith (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Gwen Hamilton (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Lizette Terral (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael Oliver Cecd Fm (2022) — Director
- Former: Nicholas Tomlinson Jd Llm (2022) — Director
- Former: Valerie Leblanc (2022) — Director
- Former: Jim Clinton (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Wes Martin (2021) — Director
- Former: Jim Brandt (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Deborah Randolph (2020) — Director
- Former: Carol Wise (2019) — Director
- Former: Martha Landrum (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Melanie Bronfin (2019) — Executive Director
- Former: Mia Orr (2019) — Policy Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $205K, to Libbie Sonnier PHD (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc
How much does Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc give each year?
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc gave $868K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $90K across 1 grant.
What is Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's typical grant size?
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's median grant in 2025 was $87,500, and its average grant was $78,908, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc give grants?
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc gives mostly in Louisiana: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (2 grants) and Baton Rouge, LA (2 grants).
Does Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's largest grantees?
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's largest 2025 grantees include For Providers by Providers Louisiana ($187,367), Pointe Coupee Early Childhood Coalition ($120,000) and Jefferson Community Foundation ($112,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc?
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What does Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc fund?
The institute’s stated mission is to advance policies to ensure that Louisiana’s young children are ready for success in school and in life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc?
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check policyinstitutela.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's EIN?
Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4487461. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/policy-institute-for-the-children-of-louisiana-inc-morg_740ef6efef954ea38ffcbd8bf1cd8835
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464487461_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/policy-institute-for-the-children-of-louisiana-inc-morg_740ef6efef954ea38ffcbd8bf1cd8835},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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