Community Assistance Fund

Community Assistance Fund (CAF) Grant Application

The Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) is now accepting applications for the 2025 – 2026 Community Assistance Fund (CAF) grants.

CAF grants provide funding to nonprofit organizations that advance the wellbeing of women in the Greater New Orleans area. Grants may be awarded in an amount between $5,000 and $20,000 to support programming in one or more of JLNO’s focus areas:

• Economic Opportunity – Supporting women’s potential to seize economic opportunities
• Physical & Mental Health – Improving women’s health to live healthier, happier lives
• Family Assistance – Providing family support that alleviates burdens on women caregivers

Application Deadline:

Applications open: Monday, July 7, 2025
Applications close: Friday, August 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for funding, an organization must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization
• Be based in or serve the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area
• Have not received JLNO funding in the past 12 months
• Submit a complete application by the deadline
• Request funding for a specific and stated program or project that supports one or more of JLNO’s focus areas
• Not request funding for ineligible expenses (e.g., salaries, marketing, travel, overhead)

To maintain alignment with our mission and funding priorities, JLNO will not consider grant requests that include the following:

• Organizations located outside the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area (unless the request directly serves individuals within the metro area)
• Sponsorships for special events or fundraisers
• Religious instruction, worship services, or faith-based teaching
• Political campaigns, endorsements, or lobbying activities
• Travel expenses (including transportation, lodging, and per diem)
• Fundraising contributions or donations
• Marketing, branding, or advertising expenses
• Overhead costs, including but not limited to staff salaries, utilities, rent, or taxes
• Capital campaigns or building/facility renovations
• Any organization with an existing project currently funded by the Junior League of New Orleans

All funding requests must be for a specific and clearly defined project or program, with broad community benefit and direct alignment to JLNO’s mission of advancing the wellbeing of women.

Application Expectations:

• Applicants must confirm they meet all eligibility requirements before applying.
• As part of the final review process, finalist applicants may be contacted by members of the Community Assistance Fund Committee to participate in a brief site visit or virtual interview. These visits allow JLNO to gain a deeper understanding of the program, its impact, and how the requested funds would be used.

Site visits or interviews will be scheduled in late August through early September 2025, prior to final funding decisions. Organizations should ensure availability during this timeframe and provide a point of contact for scheduling when completing the application.

• If selected, organizations must complete follow-up evaluations at 6 and 12 months post-award.
• JLNO requires public recognition of the grant on at least one platform, such as social media, newsletters, or donor pages.
• Grant recipients will be publicly recognized and must attend the JLNO General Membership Meeting (GMM) on October 21, 2025, where awards will be presented in person.

For questions or more information, contact the CAF Committee at caf@jlno.org.