Hurricanes Katrina and Rita vividly exposed social and economic disparities that existed for significant numbers of Louisiana’s citizens. The LDRF is especially interested in addressing these disparities while supporting the state’s long-term recovery.

To this end, the LDRF will fund organizations that are working to create an equitable Louisiana through work in economic development, housing, education reform, health care, land use planning, and legal services that are focused on building a better and more equitable Louisiana for all people – regardless of race, ethnicity, economic circumstances, sexual preferences, or gender.

The LDRF will support a range of long-term focused strategies to address its mission. It has identified the following as key elements of such strategies:

1. Organizations must have the willingness and capacity to use multiple strategies to effect change. Often this will and should be through partnerships with other organizations, allies, and resources.
2. Organizations must reflect in their strategies an understanding of the impacts of regional, social, political, and cultural dynamics on efforts for equitable and inclusive recovery and betterment for Louisiana and its families affected most severely by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
3. Organizations must provide evidence that their projects, approaches, and strategies reflect knowledge of existing work in the field and can demonstrate how their particular requests will build upon and contribute to existing work.

Exclusions
The LDRF is unable to fund:

• Individuals
• Sponsorships of events
• Capital expenditures
• Organizations that discriminate or otherwise restrict participation on the basis of ethnicity, lifestyle, gender, age, or religion
• Soliciting or proselytizing
• General operating expenses
• Reimbursable or duplicative expenses

Application Process
Organizations interested in requesting support from the LDRF are asked to carefully consider how their programs align with the foundation’s mission and goals, as described above. If you then feel your organization meets these criteria, please submit a two-page (maximum) Letter of Interest and include:

1. A brief paragraph describing your organization’s programs
2. The major impact your work has had in or for Louisiana over the past year, particularly since hurricanes Katrina and Rita
3. The primary reason you are seeking support
4. The strategic partnerships in which you are currently involved
5. A one-page annual operating budget for the most recent fiscal year.

Letters of Interest from organizations working in the five primary areas of focus for LDRF are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. The foundation will acknowledge receipt of each Letter of Interest within 30 days. If the organization meets the criteria above, a full grant proposal will be requested and an application form will be forwarded. Full proposals should only be submitted upon request.