New Orleans City Council

New Orleans City Council-New Orleans Recreation and Culture Grant Fund Program

Summary

In 2022, the New Orleans City Council created the Recreation & Culture Fund to provide funding to organizations that contribute substantially to the growth and well-being of New Orleanians. In the first year of the fund, nearly $7 million in grant funds were allocated directly into the hands of community organizations. Fund applications will open later in the year of 2024.

 

 

Background

The New Orleans City Council has established the New Orleans Recreation and Culture Fund (Section 70-415.312 of the Code of the City of New Orleans), Ordinance No. 29116 M.C.S adopted July 21,2022 to provide funding to support nonprofit community organizations, youth recreation organizations, and culture bearer organizations that contribute substantially to the well-being, development, and growth of the New Orleans community..

The Program

Sec. 70-415.315. Required program implementation.

The director of finance shall keep detailed and accurate records in the administration of the fund and shall make annual reports to the chief administrative officer and city council, via the clerk of council, giving a complete and detailed written accounting of all revenues in the fund, and any expenditures made therefrom.

Sec. 70-415.316. Administration of fund.

The fund shall be administered by the director of finance and shall be kept in an interest-bearing account, with interest accruing to the benefit of and to become part of the fund. The director of finance may choose to administer the fund solely or partially through an external entity, which entity shall be contractually required to keep accurate and detailed records of any use of the monies in the fund, shall keep funds in an interest-bearing account with interest accruing to the benefit of and to become part of the fund, provide and annual report to the director of finance, and be subject to audit by the city.

Ordinance No. 29116 M.C.S., adopted July 21, 2022, as amended by Ordinance No.29418  M.C.S., adopted April 20, 2023.

Purpose

Sec. 70-415.313. Funding and purpose.

(a) The fund shall be used exclusively to establish a merit-based grant program to fund not-for-profit community organizations, youth recreation organizations, and select culture bearers that contribute substantially to the well-being, development, and growth of the New Orleans community.

(b) The fund shall include:

(1) Any revenue specifically designated by ordinance for inclusion in the fund.

Eligibility

Sec. 70-415.317. Fund application.

Prior to approval of any grant request subject to the approval of the city council, the applicant for said grant shall submit a completed application on forms approved and provided by the council. At a minimum, the following information shall be required:(1) The name, physical address, telephone number, taxpayer identification number, website address (if applicable) of the applicant;

(2) IRS exempt status (e.g., 501(c)(3), 509(a)), or Form 990 indicating tax-exempt status;

(3) Completed Form W-9 for the current year;

(4) Proof of valid occupational license;

(5) Articles of incorporation;

(6) Proof of good standing from the Louisiana Secretary of State;

(7) Annual report as filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State;

(8) List of the members of the applicant's board of directors and officers, including position within the organization, as well as professional occupation and title, if applicable;

(9) Operating budget for the current fiscal year;

(10) Current program or project operating budget that is the subject of the application, showing how grant funding will be used;

(11) An attestation that the applicant will not use a grant award for the purpose of participating in a political campaign or making a political donation;

(12) Proof that the applicant has been in existence for at least three years prior to the date of the application;

(13) Proof that the applicant has a registered headquarters or permanent physical location in Orleans Parish;

(14) A statement as to whether, to the applicant's best knowledge and belief, any member of the New Orleans City Council may have reason for recusal from voting under the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics; and

(15) Attestation that applicant does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability.

Funding awards will be limited to the lower of not more than $100,000.00 or 50 percent of the total budget for an existing organization/project.

(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29190, § 1, 10-6-22)

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 New Orleans Recreation and Culture Fund for processing and issuance of grant funds.

Applications are not yet open to the public for the 2024 Recreation & Culture Fund. Once open, you can submit a grand proposal using the “Apply” link below. 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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