New Orleans City Council-Caesar's New Orleans Casino Community Support Grant Program

The grant application period has closed!

Background

The City Council/Caesar's Community Support Grants Program was established under the terms of Ordinance 22,163 M.C.S. that was adopted March 16, 2006. Grant award guidelines and the grant application format were approved by the New Orleans City Council under the terms of Ordinance 22,410 M.C.S, adopted on October 5, 2006.

The Program

Caesar’s New Orleans Casino (formerly Harrah's Casino) will make available “one” annual award totaling $225,000 to grant recipients selected by the New Orleans City Council.  Each Councilmember will be allocated $32,142 annually. Any funds not awarded will be rolled forward into the subsequent year.  

Purpose

  • The purpose of the program is to provide grant support to local organizations and projects that contribute substantially to the well-being, development, and growth of the New Orleans community.
  • The program is intended to be broad-based and to foster a diversity of meritorious organizations and projects
  • Organizations and projects that meet a greater number of the Council’s overall goals will be given greater emphasis

Eligibility

  1. Organizations must have an IRS exempt status (e.g., 501(c)(3), 509(a), or Form 990 indicating tax-exempt status).
  2. Organizations must be in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.
  3. Programs/projects funded under this program must have their permanent location in the Parish of Orleans
  4. Organizations shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability
  5. Funding under this grant cannot be used for political activities
  6. Funding under this grant cannot be used for programs which are operated by or take place in primary/secondary educational institutions
  7. Funding is limited to not more than 50% of the total budget for an existing organization/project and not more than 25% of the total budget for a start-up organization or new project

Attachments

  1. Copy of the IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, 509(a), or Form 990 indicating tax-exempt status
  2. Completed W-9 Form for the current year
  3. Copy of the Occupational License
  4. Copy of the Articles of Incorporation
  5. Proof of Good Standing from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office. A print-out of the Secretary of State’s page is sufficient.
  6. Copy of the Annual Report
  7. List of the Board of Directors and officers, including position within the organization as well as professional occupation and title, if applicable
  8. Copy of the organization’s operating budget for the current fiscal year
  9. A copy of the current program or project operating budget that is the subject to this application, showing how grant funding will be used

Grant Review and Approval Process

All grant proposals shall be submitted through the Council website using the “Apply” link below. Upon submission, the Council Fiscal Office will review each application for eligibility and completeness of the application. The Council Fiscal Office may request additional information to evaluate specific proposals as needed. Projects/programs not meeting the criteria of the program and incomplete applications will be rejected.

Completed applications will be forwarded to each Council office for review and selection. Each Council office will submit to the Council Fiscal Office their list of applicants selected and the proposed award amount. The Council Fiscal Office will draft a resolution including all selected applicants and award amounts for consideration by the full Council.

The City Council will then, at a regular or special meeting, determine the programs/projects that will be funded that year. Grants will be awarded by resolution of the City Council at a regular or special meeting of the Council. Certified copies of the resolution will be forwarded to Caesar’s New Orleans Casino for processing and issuance of grant funds.

Applications are due no later than July 19, 2024. This process generally takes about ninety (90) days. Please note that the proceeds of any grant awarded by the City Council are subject to be given in installments, depending on the nature of the program/project.

For additional information, please contact the Council Fiscal Office, City Hall Room 1E06, 1300 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 at (504) 658-1095.

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