BRAF Impact Grants

A competitive pilot grant opportunity for local nonprofits working in early childhood education or community safety sectors. This funding opportunity was issued in response to findings from BRAF's Opportunity Data Project and seeks to address challenges and areas for greatest impact in these sectors.

Geographic Scope: The Capital Region, defined as:

• Ascension Parish
• East Baton Rouge Parish
• East Feliciana Parish
• Iberville Parish
• Livingston Parish
• Pointe Coupee Parish
• West Baton Rouge Parish
• West Feliciana Parish

Community Safety

Programs and services focused on violence intervention or prevention, including:

• Youth development and support
• Violence prevention and intervention
• Community well-being and support
• Safety and advocacy
• Economic empowerment and crisis support

Early Childhood (Birth to Five)

Programs and services for children, parents, families, and caregivers, including:

• Access to quality early learning
• Early childhood care, health, development and well-being
• Early childhood workforce capacity building and support
• Curriculum and instructional support
• Facilities and infrastructure
• Community inclusivity
• Parental and caregiver support programs
• Health and developmental screenings
• Transition to kindergarten
• Innovative models and research
• Advocacy and policy change

Eligible Uses:

• Unrestricted Funding Support – covers operational costs and overhead
• Project Support – aids implementation of new or existing initiatives aligned to funding areas
• Capital Costs Assistance – supports facility or infrastructure needs that contribute to program/service provision

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization or public agency (school district or library)
• Must be in good standing under state and federal IRS guidelines
• Must demonstrate history, commitment, and track record in identified grant focus areas
• Must have been operational for at least two years
• Organizations with established programs within the Capital Region or seeking to expand into the Capital Region are eligible

What They Do Not Fund:

• Grants to individuals
• Private business ventures
• Partisan political organizations
• Multi-year opportunities (at this time)

Evaluation Criteria:

• Proof of organizational existence for at least two years
• Demonstrated collaboration within the community
• Clearly outlined mission or purpose
• Alignment of proposed projects with funding areas
• Consistency of population served with organization's mission
• Geographic location within BRAF service parishes
• Well-structured organization and project budget

Contact Information: grants@braf.org | (225) 387-6126

Application Process

The Impact Grants application process consists of two phases:

Phase 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

• Format: Online form submission
• Content: Organizations detailed their organization's history, operations, and intended program or project for support
• 2025 Deadline: May 2-30, 2025 (window now closed)
• Note: Pre-registration through the application system was not needed for LOI submissions

Phase 2: Full Application

• Format: By invitation only
• Eligibility: Only organizations that submitted LOI and met evaluation criteria were invited
• 2025 Timeline: July 2025 opening

Important Dates (2025 Cycle)

• May 2-30, 2025: Letter of Intent window
• June 2025: Invitations to apply distributed
• July 2025: Full application submission window opens/Webinar
• August-September 2025: Due diligence period
• October 2025: Recipients notified
• December 2025: Fund distribution

Additional Resources

• Grant Overview & FAQ document available for download
• LOI questions document available for reference
• Impact Grants Application Webinar held in July 2025