Best Social Justice Grants in Louisiana

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.

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.

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.

Education unions and NEA affiliates working on student-centered bargaining and advocacy initiatives in Louisiana can seek support to enhance student learning and improve educator working conditions. National Education Association Staff Organization offers up to US $50,000 for projects that engage communities, promote social justice, and influence policies for healthy, equitable school environments.

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.

The B.W. Bastian Foundation Grant supports organizations committed to equality for all Americans, including the LGBTQ+ community. Grants typically range from $100 to $15,000, and applicants must have 501(C)3 tax status. Funding is primarily for projects in the Intermountain West and may include general operating support or specific programs. Organizations should first inquire before applying, especially if requesting more than previous grants. The foundation does not fund individuals or lobbying efforts.

Mary's Pence Grants provide essential funding and support for women's social justice organizations in the U.S. and Canada. Established over 30 years ago, the program is dedicated to empowering women on the margins by funding grassroots initiatives that focus on community-centered, sustainable change. Organizations with budgets under $200,000 are eligible to apply for grants up to $5,000, fostering relationships and collaborative efforts to address systemic issues and promote social justice.

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.

The Richard L and Freda K Flerlage Foundation

Our Mission

Working to empower underserved populations through small grants in support of literacy, healthcare, reduction of poverty, and the promotion of social and environmental justice.

We are a small family foundation, when possible we aim to support organizations with relatively small operating funds where our small grants will have their greatest possible impact.

Our average grant is $3,800.

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association provides the best way for practitioners to give back to the Federal legal community. Chartered by Congress in 1954, the Foundation serves people in communities across the United States through its generous grants, scholarships, and programming.

Our Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to:

• Promote and support legal research and education;
• Advance the science of jurisprudence;
• Facilitate the administration of justice;
• Foster improvements in the practice of Federal law

Foundation Grants

Foundation grants support community service projects and civics programs which comply with the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education; advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law.

Civics Education Grant

The Civics Grant Program is designed to support projects and initiatives that promote a wider public understanding of democratic principles, the judicial system and the rule of law. Through targeted funding, the program empowers FBA chapters, sections, divisions, national standing committees (FBA entity), and other organizations to develop and support projects in their communities that foster public understanding of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, particularly among younger Americans.

Applicants may only receive one (1) Foundation grant per year.

With a mission to advance social justice, Proteus Fund provides Louisiana and other U.S. 501(c)(3) public charities and fiscally sponsored projects with general operating support to strengthen BAMEMSA community power. Eligible groups work on civil and human rights, civic engagement, immigration and refugee rights, and related movement-building strategies benefiting BAMEMSA communities.