Best Grants for Teachers Continuing Education in Louisiana

The Ronald L. Schmied GCFI Scholarship is a travel award supporting graduate students studying marine recreational fisheries. Established in memory of Ron Schmied, a dedicated fisheries biologist, this scholarship aims to assist students in attending the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute annual meeting. With at least one $1,500 scholarship awarded each year, it covers airfare, lodging, and research-related expenses, fostering the next generation of fishery professionals and promoting engagement in vital discussions within the field.

The XENO PRIZE for Performance Arts, awarded by Franklin Furnace, supports early-career LGBTQ+-identifying performance artists creating new work in 26 states with restrictive gender-affirming laws. This annual prize, established in 2023, offers $5000 to a selected recipient from proposals submitted for the Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2025, encouraging innovative voices in the contemporary performance art landscape.

The Hurricane Katrina 20th Anniversary Disaster Preparedness Grants, funded by the ASPCA, offer up to $500,000 to enhance disaster preparedness for animals in high-risk coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Grants between $20,000 and $50,000 will be awarded to eligible non-profit organizations and municipal agencies focusing on animal welfare or disaster assistance. This initiative aims to improve the safety and well-being of animals during disasters, reflecting lessons learned from past experiences.

The Innovation Grant Program by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation aims to enhance the health and wellbeing of Louisianians through innovative projects. Grants, typically under $25,000, support new ideas and interventions that can potentially disrupt negative trends in health and education. This initiative promotes a research-based approach to philanthropy, encouraging applicants to challenge the status quo with fresh, impactful solutions. Projects are expected to be completed within a year.

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Full-Time Associates

Regions supports organizations important to our associates through the Regions Matching Gifts Program. This program, which is open for use for all full-time Regions associates, affiliate associates and recent retirees, allows you to make an even greater difference to your favorite charities by doubling your tax-deductible contributions to these organizations. 

The NPN’s Southern Artists for Social Change Grant offers $75,000 project grants to BIPOC artists and culture bearers in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, fostering social change through civic practice. This initiative aims to empower communities by supporting collaborations that address local challenges, envision futures centered on racial justice, and enhance artistic practices. Launched in 2020, it has funded 28 transformative projects, promoting equity and justice in the arts across the region.

The Gridiron Veterans Scholarship, provided by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, offers essential financial support for military veterans and first responders. This initiative focuses on wellness, rehabilitation, and recovery programs, ensuring participants can access mental health services, physical therapy, and holistic resources. The foundation prioritizes those facing emotional and physical challenges, empowering them to overcome barriers and improve their quality of life through customized, evidence-based support.

The Holt Family Foundation, originally founded as The Daybrook Foundation post-Hurricane Katrina, aims to enhance community life in Louisiana. It offers grants to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations focusing on arts, early childhood education, and community engagement. Additionally, the Foundation provides college scholarships to Louisiana students, emphasizing innovative programs and education to foster positive community development. Its mission reflects the founder's commitment to supporting local families and organizations.

Nature's Path's Gardens for Good program empowers communities by funding organic gardens that address food insecurity. Since 2010, it has donated $930,000 CAD to support 120 gardens. In 2023, grants of $6,500 each will be awarded to 20 gardens across the U.S. and Canada. Eligible applicants must be registered non-profits with urban organic agriculture projects that serve low-income communities, promoting sustainable practices and inclusivity.

The Watson-Brown Foundation Grant supports organizations dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the South. It offers various types of grants, including for educational programming and historic preservation, with a focus on southern studies. Eligible recipients include public charities in the southeastern United States. The Foundation's Junior Board of Trustees also awards grants to preservation projects in east central Georgia, emphasizing youth engagement in cultural heritage.

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Recent Retirees

Retirees of Regions and its affiliated companies are eligible for the Matching Gift Program for up to 5 years after retirement (the gift date must be within the first 5 years of retirement). Regions will match donations of $25 or more, up to a total of $1,000 per year per retiree.

The Regions Community Affairs team will contact the organization on your behalf to verify the gift and review eligibility.

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities 

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities acts as a steward and supporter of Louisiana’s diverse and vibrant culture and history.

To that end, we are dedicated to ensuring access to the humanities, offering and broadening pathways for a lifetime of learning for people of every generation and from every walk of life. We champion the humanities to enrich the lives of all Louisianans in all 64 parishes. 

Our Mission: The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ mission is to partner with communities, institutions, and individuals to explore Louisiana’s past, reflect on our present, and imagine our future.

Constitution Day Grants

Mini grants to institutions supporting existing or developing Constitution Day programming. 

The IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program aims to enhance biomedical research capacity in underfunded states by fostering collaborations among research institutions. By supporting faculty research, mentoring, and student involvement, INBREs create pathways for undergraduate students to enter biomedical careers. This initiative not only promotes institutional partnerships but also strengthens research infrastructure, ultimately contributing to a more robust scientific community in IDeA states.

The Community Partnership Grants by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation support music and arts education in Louisiana's K-12 schools. Grants of up to $7,500 are available for instruments, supplies, and instruction. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and local nonprofits. The program aims to enhance cultural traditions and foster artistic expression, continuing a legacy of over $13.5 million in funding for community projects since 1979.

The Connected Healthy Lives Grant, provided by the Humana Foundation, aims to enhance health equity by removing social barriers to health. It supports community organizations in delivering essential services such as suicide prevention and nutritional literacy. The grant focuses on fostering emotional connections and lifelong wellness through collaboration across various states, ensuring that all individuals have access to healthy choices that can improve their quality of life.

The Community Partnership Grants by the Jazz & Heritage Foundation aim to support music and art education programs, cultural events, and artistic projects that reflect Louisiana's rich culture. With grants up to $5,000, the foundation prioritizes Louisiana-based applicants, fostering community engagement and cultural preservation. Since 1979, over $13.5 million has been awarded, helping schools and nonprofits thrive. This initiative encourages both documentation and creation of artworks that celebrate the unique heritage of Louisiana.

The Community Partnership Grants program by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation supports Louisiana's arts community by providing funding for music and arts education, cultural events, and new artistic works. Established in 1979, the program has distributed over $15 million to local nonprofits, schools, and artists, fostering job opportunities for Louisiana-based performers at public festivals and cultural events. Grants up to $7,500 are available to eligible organizations to further the Foundation’s mission.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is offering Community Partnership Grants to support music, arts, and cultural education programs. Nonprofit organizations in Louisiana can apply for up to $5,000 to cover professional fees for artists and educators. This initiative aims to enrich community engagement through artistic instruction and cultural preservation, reflecting Louisiana's unique heritage. Since 1979, the Foundation has distributed over $13.5 million in grants to foster local arts and culture.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in collaboration with NOAA, is offering funding to enhance environmental literacy and community resilience across the U.S. Gulf Coast. This initiative supports projects focused on local environmental challenges and solutions through place-based education. With $4M available, applicants can request between $100,000 and $750,000 for projects lasting 12 to 36 months, aimed at engaging community members and fostering future leaders in addressing regional environmental issues.

RBC Foundation – USA aims to enhance community quality of life by supporting non-profit organizations that promote diversity and positive change. In 2023, it awarded over $2.8 million in grants, prioritizing youth programs for ages 15-29, arts access for diverse populations, and mental well-being initiatives. The foundation encourages sustainable projects that foster economic independence, providing critical support for education, mental health, and cultural enrichment, thereby making a significant impact across various communities.

About Us

Connecting Generous People to the Causes They Care About

Since its inception in 2000, Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) has become one of south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations. CFA’s geographic focus includes the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Vermilion. Our core purpose is building legacies and improving communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. Over the past two decades, CFA attained two significant milestones. CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $336 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $174 million. In 2012 and 2013, CFA was recognized among the Top 100 community foundations in the country.

About Richard Guidry

Richard Guidry (1949 – 2008) contributed greatly to the education and preservation of the French language. This educator, author, actor and consultant dedicated his life to keeping the Cajun and Creole dialects alive in South Louisiana. The Richard Guidry Cajun and Creole Language Fund was established to support projects and initiatives that encourage, increase and improve the use of the multiple varieties of French in Louisiana, especially their spoken use in public, in the arts and in education. This includes, (but is not limited to) scholarships for students or non-students, aid for classroom projects, as well as research, cultural initiatives and media projects for the wider community.

The Richard Guidry Cajun and Creole Language Fund

The Richard Guidry Cajun and Creole Language Fund supports projects and initiatives that encourage, increase and improve the use of the multiple varieties of French in Louisiana, especially their spoken use in public discourse, in the arts and in education.

The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused Collaborations Program (RII-FEC) aims to enhance research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by fostering partnerships among government, higher education, and industry. This program supports interdisciplinary teams of researchers to tackle significant challenges in STEM fields, promoting diversity and broadening participation. By integrating Minority-Serving Institutions and early-career faculty from underrepresented backgrounds, RII-FEC seeks to build sustainable STEM capacity and drive impactful discoveries across regions.

The Health Equity Innovation Fund, managed by the Humana Foundation, provides seed funding to organizations aimed at reducing health disparities. By focusing on innovative solutions, the Fund supports interventions that improve emotional health and nutrition for underserved populations. Launched in October 2022, it prioritizes high-risk, high-reward projects that can lead to sustainable improvements in health equity across diverse communities.

The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation supports nonprofits focused on alleviating poverty and promoting social justice in the South. It seeks organizations with strong ties to low-wealth communities, clear strategies for addressing systemic issues, and a long-term vision for change. Eligible applicants should demonstrate accountability, strategic networking, and a commitment to racial equity. The Foundation is open to innovative approaches and encourages submissions from groups aligned with its mission, fostering impactful community partnerships.

The WNAN Natural History Research Grant supports research in biological natural history within western North America. Grants of up to $2,500 are available for five authors to assist with travel, supplies, and other research-related expenses. This initiative particularly encourages applicants from institutions where research is not the primary focus, aiming to foster diverse contributions to natural history.

The Humana Foundation offers research grants by invitation only, focusing on health equity and barriers to healthy living. The foundation aims to support organizations that identify scalable solutions addressing emotional connections, nutrition, and chronic disease. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) charities and accredited educational institutions. The foundation prioritizes solution-driven research that benefits communities in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas, while adhering to strict anti-discrimination policies.

The Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) SMART Grant aims to enhance early care and education systems in the U.S. by supporting targeted investments in technology and data analytics. This initiative, led by the Administration for Children and Families, encourages states to improve program quality, family choice, and data-driven decision-making for children from birth to five years old. The funding is designed to create measurable outcomes and strengthen coordination within the mixed-delivery system.