Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc logo

Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker New Orleans, LA EIN: 46-4487461 Website

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.

Key facts about Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana Inc

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.

EIN
46-4487461
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$867,989
Grants made (2025)
11
Average grant
$78,908
Median grant
$87,500
Total assets
$7,149,909
Primary geography
Louisiana (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$7.1M

+12.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$868K

+864.4% YoY

Grant Count

11

+1000.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$79K

-12.3% YoY

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.

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.

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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

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

New OrleansBaton RougeEvanstonCovingtonDonaldsonvilleJeffersonMetairieNew RoadsWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M0 grants2019 0 grants2020 0 grants2021 1 grant2022 0 grants2023 1 grant2024 11 grants2025

From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2024) to $868K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $868K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

For Providers by Providers Louisiana: $187KFor Providers by ProvidersLouisiana$187KPointe Coupee Early Childhood Coalition: $120KPointe Coupee Early ChildhoodCoalition$120KJefferson Community Foundation: $113KJefferson Community Foundation$113KAfton Partners LLC: $90KAfton Partners LLC$90KAgenda for Children: $88KAgenda for Children$88KAscension Parish Schools: $88KAscension Parish Schools$88KState of Louisiana Office of the Governor: $82KState of Louisiana Office ofthe Governor$82KSt Tammany Parish School: $76KSt Tammany Parish School$76KEast Baton Rouge Parish School System: $13KEast Baton Rouge Parish SchoolSystem$13KNational Association for Family Child Care: $8KNational Association forFamily Child Care$8K

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

3<$50K6$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 6 grants of 13 (46%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
For Providers by Providers Louisiana New Orleans, LATo 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, LATo 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, LATo allow jefferson community foundation to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development.$112,500
Afton Partners LLC Evanston, ILTo allow afton partners to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development.$90,000
Agenda for Children New Orleans, LATo allow agenda for children to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development.$87,500
Ascension Parish Schools Donaldsonville, LATo 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, LATo 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, LATo 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, LATo 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, DCTo allow national association for family child care to further their mission to advance the field of early childhood education & development.$7,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $7,149,909 $4,712,280 $4,300,845 $867,989
2024 $6,354,964 $6,325,352 $2,791,720 $90,000
2023 $2,476,107 $2,588,120 $2,169,434 No grants reported
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$7,149,909$6,354,964$2,476,107
Revenue$4,712,280$6,325,352$2,588,120
Expenses$4,300,845$2,791,720$2,169,434
Net Investment Income$232,296$109,416$37,778

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 14, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 22, 2025)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
  4. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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

Libbie Sonnier PHD — Executive Director: $205KLibbie Sonnier PHDExecutive Director$205KCandace Weber — Chief of Partnerships: $128KCandace WeberChief of Partnerships$128KSadie Becnel — Government Affairs Director: $118KSadie BecnelGovernment Affairs Director$118K

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.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 13552, New Orleans, LA 70185
Phone: (504) 417-3735
Website: https://policyinstitutela.org

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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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