Wilson Foundation: Empower Grant

The Wilson Foundation's Empower Grant supports transformative projects in North Baton Rouge, particularly in ZIP codes 70802, 70805, 70806, 70807, 70811, and 70812. With a focus on housing, education, community wellness, and economic vitality, the foundation seeks to empower local residents through collaborative efforts. By prioritizing community engagement and sustainable change, the grant aims to address the underlying social and economic challenges faced by over 124,000 residents in the region.

NOTE:
The Empower application cycle opens in February of each year and supports projects that serve individuals and families in ZIP codes 70802, 70805, 70806, 70807, 70811, and 70812.The Fall application cycle opens in late July and supports projects and programs being implemented directly in the neighborhoods and schools located within specific boundaries in our NBR place-based focus.
Whether place is defined as a block, neighborhood, or community, the Foundation will serve as a catalyst for place-based collaboration to help residents create and sustain opportunities to thrive.
To inform this work, a focus on the data in our 10-parish service area has led us to prioritize six ZIP codes in the area typically referred to as North Baton Rouge. Over 124,000 residents live in these neighborhoods that are rich with history and culture and comprise a significant portion of the regional population. They are also areas where social and economic challenges are concentrated with respect to transit, crime, and income as a result of disinvestment.
Goals
Through the Empower pillar, Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation will focus on improving outcomes for children and families residing in North Baton Rouge.
Empower focus areas include:

• Housing: Programs that create and preserve housing opportunities that serve residents at various income levels;
• Education: Programs that establish neighborhood supports for student growth, learning, and achievement for students of all ages and backgrounds;

Community Wellness: Programs that increase access to facilities, programs, goods and services that reflect the needs and priorities of residents, promote healthy lifestyles, and reduce crime; and
Economic Vitality: Programs that support resident employment, increase community investment, and promote the start-up and growth of small businesses.
Grant Types
The Foundation will make four types of investments within the Empower pillar: Direct Service, Capacity & Collaboration Building, Systems Change, and Capital.
Direct Service (Program Support): New or existing programs that make positive gains for individuals and/or families in North Baton Rouge.Partnerships & Collaborations: Formalized partnerships, coalition building efforts and/or continuums that strengthen the collaboration of organizations to achieve enhanced results.Systems Change: Awareness, research and advocacy efforts addressing community issues of concern that result in changes to policy or practice.Capital: Building purchase, construction, expansion, renovation, and/or land acquisition.
Place-Based Applications
Place-based philanthropy describes an approach that targets a specific location-be it a community, neighborhood, or ZIP code-upon which to focus resources to make a transformative impact. Successful applicants for this pillar will:
Serve participants who reside in the communities of focus. Organizations will have programming that is intentional in outreach and implementation for residents in these specific ZIP codes.Value community engagement. Organizations must demonstrate they are prioritizing resident voice and doing projects “with” rather than “to” the community they serve.
Demonstrate effectiveness. Organizations will have the capacity to carry out the proposed work and have the appropriate evaluation measures in place (or are willing/able to establish those measures) to determine success in contributing to positive outcomes.

Eligibility

The organization or its fiscal agent must be tax exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.If a fiscal agent is used, they must submit a letter of agreement as an attachment, and the name of the partner organization is to be used as the project name on the application.Programs must address one or more of the Empower focus areas of Housing, Education, Community Wellness, and Economic Vitality as outlined in the Empower Grant Guidelines.Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation will support programming that serves residents of North Baton Rouge and centers their voice and vision in approach and outcomes. We will support grantees that help residents and communities get the support they need to achieve long-term, sustainable change.
Funding for certain statewide projects may be considered, but the project must serve the entire state without regional restrictions.