Best Social Justice Grants in Louisiana

Louisiana social justice and human rights nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor and budgets under $1,000,000 can access funding through Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans program. Organizations in its 13-parish service area may receive up to US $10,000 for arts and culture, health, or human rights and justice work.

Rural, grassroots 501(c)(3) community organizations using organizing strategies in Southern states, including Louisiana, can seek general or project support for social, economic, and environmental justice work. Focused on strengthening rural communities, Southern Partners Fund backs leadership development, capacity building, and community organizing; organizations with larger budgets may apply for project support only.

Rural grassroots community groups in Louisiana and the broader Southeast working on social, economic, or environmental justice can receive up to US $3,500 for organizing, capacity building, and travel assistance. Southern Partners Fund’s Discretionary Fund supports community organizing, education reform, immigration rights, and voter engagement efforts led by and for rural residents.

The AES Hawaiʻi Foundation Grant supports communities near AES Hawaiʻi’s renewable energy projects, focusing on social justice, education, environmental stewardship, and community health. Preference is given to nonprofit organizations in these areas, but statewide entities may also apply. Successful projects should align with the Foundation’s impact pillars, demonstrate measurable community benefits, and address unmet needs, ensuring long-term positive effects on the local community.

The WWT Foundation Grant aims to empower organizations aligned with the foundation's values, focusing on community service, employee engagement, and business impact. Key areas of support include career readiness, STEM education, human services, and health and wellness. Eligible organizations must be located in the U.S. and registered as 501(c)(3). Applications are accepted year-round, allowing for flexible engagement and support for impactful community initiatives.

The AJ Muste Foundation's Rapid Response Grants support U.S.-based organizations engaged in grassroots activism for social justice. These grants, up to $5,000, are aimed at addressing immediate needs of groups fighting for equality and liberation. The funding is designed for unexpected opportunities and emergencies, promoting powerful organizing efforts. The foundation prioritizes groups lacking traditional funding sources and those focused on systemic change rather than individual support.

The HRE USA 2025 Edmonds Summer Fellowship honors the legacy of Kirby Edmonds by offering young leaders hands-on experience in human rights education. This fellowship provides mentorship and learning opportunities to engage youth in creating human rights-friendly schools and communities. Supported by the Dorothy Cotton Institute, it aims to nurture future leaders committed to human rights advocacy. Eligible candidates must be 18 or older, reside in the U.S., and commit to 100 hours of work between June and August 2025.

The Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits, established in 2024, honors the legacy of Alexandra Hallock by supporting small nonprofits focused on human rights, women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes. This grant offers a one-time $20,000 unrestricted funding along with pro-bono capacity building support. It aims to strengthen organizational infrastructure and governance, ensuring impactful community engagement. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits with revenue under $400,000, operating for at least one year, and based in the U.S.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on voter engagement, election integrity, and civic participation across the U.S., including Louisiana, can seek support for year-round organizing efforts. Focused on democracy and social justice, Park Foundation prioritizes state and national groups mobilizing voters, protecting voting rights, and countering voter suppression.

Youth leaders ages 13–23 in Louisiana running kindness-centered social impact projects can apply for Riley's Way Foundation’s Call for Kindness Fellowship, with awards up to US $5,000 for project expenses. Eligible U.S. citizens and DACA recipients working on social justice or related community issues receive a 12‑month leadership fellowship and coaching.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored projects with national or broad multi-region reach working on empathy-building programs can seek partnership consideration for storytelling, animal connection, or related initiatives. Acton Family Giving provides support to organizations whose work advances its Empathy Building Initiative, and Louisiana social justice and human rights groups with expansive reach may be eligible.

Doctoral students at U.S. institutions researching social justice, inequality, immigration, work, or related social science topics can receive up to US $15,000 for dissertation data collection, analysis, and writing. Louisiana-based scholars or those studying U.S. social, political, and economic inequality may access this Russell Sage Foundation support, with priority for underrepresented researchers and projects on BIPOC communities.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, or related social justice issues can apply for funding from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on strengthening methods and data, this program supports one-year projects, including exploratory and pilot studies, and may benefit Louisiana scholars examining structural barriers, civic engagement, education, labor markets, or criminal justice.

Louisiana schools, local governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through Safe Routes to School National Parternship for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events. Grants of US $500 - US $1,000 support November activities that promote activism, anti-racism, anti-bullying, and student walking or rolling to school, with priority for first-time and secondary school celebrations.

U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations focused on education and social justice can seek funding to advance forward-thinking programs, including work benefiting Louisiana communities. Baskin Family Foundation supports initiatives that promote social justice and human rights, as well as educational efforts, making it a potential fit for nonprofits addressing systemic inequities and learning opportunities.

Kauai graduate students pursuing full-time master’s or doctoral degrees in social justice, public or human service, education, or health can receive scholarship support through the Inspired to Serve Scholarship Fund. Offered by Hawai'i Community Foundation, this opportunity may benefit students from Louisiana who have relocated and now meet Hawaii residency and study requirements.

Education-focused organizations and NEA affiliates working on racial and social justice initiatives in Louisiana can apply for the CRSJ Racial Justice in Education Grant, awarding US $5,000 - US $75,000. Grants from National Education Association Staff Organization support K–12 racial equity projects that build awareness, leadership of people of color, multiracial solidarity, and organizational transformation.

Education and social justice organizations working on K–12 student achievement and racial justice in education, including those in Louisiana, can seek partnership funding to strengthen community advocacy and engagement. With a mission to support equity-focused initiatives, National Education Association provides grants to mobilize community partners, engage trained union members, and build roles for parent and community involvement.

Aspiring educator groups and campus chapters in Louisiana can apply for National Education Association Staff Organization’s CREATE grants, awarding up to US $2,000 for projects in educator quality, community engagement, political action, or social justice. Programs advancing social justice or human rights in education may be especially competitive.

Recent PhDs in the humanities or interpretive social sciences seeking paid social justice roles in Louisiana and nationwide can apply for ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships, which provide more than US $142,000 over two years plus benefits. American Council of Learned Societies places fellows with nonprofit organizations advancing social justice in their communities.

Louisiana social justice and human rights nonprofits can access funding through American Electric Power Foundation to advance equity, basic human needs, and STEM education. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) charities, certain public entities, or exempt operating foundations located in AEP’s service territory or serving its customers, with strong diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

Louisiana social justice and legal services nonprofits can access funding through Indigo Oak Fund to support fair justice initiatives, rehabilitation and anti-recidivism programs, and 7th Amendment advocacy. Colorado- and Bay Area–focused but occasionally open to other areas, this grant may benefit organizations advancing civic engagement and training future attorneys and social justice workers.

Louisiana 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups with budgets under $500,000 can access training and up to US $4,000 in funding to strengthen their organizations and leadership. Mockingbird Incubator’s eight-week cohort supports emerging founders, including social justice and human rights organizations, with workshops, fundraising support, and a chance at an additional seed grant.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Inc.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center litigates, educates, advocates, and provides grants to nonprofits to eradicate social injustices. 

We pursue litigation through our own efforts as well as funding others in the following fifteen issue areas: Access to Benefits, Children’s Rights, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Due Process, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Native American Rights, Prisoners’ Rights, Refugee and Immigration Rights, Voting Rights, and Veterans’ Rights.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Grant

We make grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across fifteen issue areas. The Center funds litigation matters that are consistent with our namesake Barbara McDowell’s past legal efforts and her beliefs regarding social justice.

Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded. 

About NIF

Advancing Equality for All Israelis

The New Israel Fund (NIF) helps Israel live up to its founders’ vision of a society that ensures complete equality to all its inhabitants. Our aim is to advance liberal democracy, including freedom of speech and minority rights, and to fight the inequality, injustice and extremism that diminish Israel.

From Israel’s first rape crisis centers, to fighting discrimination, NIF-funded organizations have driven positive social change and furthered justice and equality. NIF has provided over $350 million to more than 950 organizations since our inception in 1979.

Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship

Want to travel to Israel/Palestine while advancing equality, democracy, and peace for all?

The New Israel Fund’s Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit Israel/Palestine, meet frontline Israeli and Palestinian activists, and learn about issues of war, peace, and inequality by seeing the reality on the ground. 

Fellows will visit Israel/Palestine on November 3-10, 2026.

This trip is a great opportunity to learn alongside peers and friends (ages 21 – 35). NIF is based on the simple idea that those of us who share a commitment to Israel/Palestine and to progressive values can join together to work for equality, freedom, and human rights. You will join a cohort of participants from the U.S. and Canada building relationships across borders to be sustained for years to come.

Following the trip, participants are expected to organize at least two NIF events in their home communities, with support from NIF staff. These events could look like a report-back highlighting the participants’ learnings from the trip, educational programs featuring NIF grantees/partners, or something else entirely that is tailored to the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of the fellow’s communities.

The program is subsidized by generous donors in the NIF community. All “on-the-ground” costs—your hotel accommodation and almost all meals—will be covered by NIF. Participants are responsible for purchasing their own airfare and travel/health insurance. If the cost of airfare is a barrier for you, please apply anyway. Limited airfare subsidies may be available.

The Baugh Foundation supports progressive, inclusive, nonprofit organizations that reflect the love of Christ by providing assistance to those in need, enriching the lives of children and youth, keeping faith communities informed and engaged, and guarding the wall of separation between church and state.We welcome applications from progressive, faith-based organizations. At this time, the vast majority of our funding goes to progressive Baptist organizations or initiatives, and organizations that work to guard the separation of church and state. We believe that a free church in a free state is dependent upon a functioning democracy.Funding Priorities: 

• Social justice and advocacy
• Progressive faith-based journalism
• Meeting basic human needs
• Progressive faith-based post-secondary education
• Inclusivity initiatives
• Arts and enrichment

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a Princeton, New Jersey-based endowment fund providing grants to individuals, young adults who volunteer or intern for progressive social action projects or programs in an area of their interest and commitment. The Amy Adina Fund also sponsors a lecture each year on a relevant and timely topic related to its educational mission.

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund was started in 1987 one year after Amy Adina, 20, died suddenly while a student and activist at Rutgers University. It is a realization of her family and her communities’ desire to celebrate her life, to fulfill her dreams and her potential. Since its inception, almost 1,500 grants have been awarded for work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States—nearly $1,000,000 in total. The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

About Our Grants

Small grants (depending on length of service), are awarded to as many applicants as possible rather than giving larger amounts to fewer individuals. The number of awards has grown each year thanks to annual contributions as well as to gifts sent to the Fund to honor special occasions and life cycle events.