Orleans Parish youth-serving program providers encouraged to apply
NEW ORLEANS – The NOLA Coalition Tuesday announced the 2022 Youth Master Plan (YMP) Grant opportunity to expand and deepen services for children and youth ages birth-24 in New Orleans. The online application process will open on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
The coalition secured $756,300 in undesignated funding for the initial cycle of YMP grants via business and philanthropy to help local youth-serving nonprofits grow their impact and drive generational change. In June, members distributed $500,000 via Summer Impact Grants, bringing the coalition’s total grant awards to more than $1.25 million to date.
“In a city where the majority of our young people are struggling to survive, we’re fortunate to have a detailed, strategic plan which outlines exactly what’s needed to improve youth well-being and the future of our city,” said Michael Williamson, UWSELA President and CEO. “Thanks to the NOLA Coalition, we finally have the resources to implement the Youth Master Plan Grants and see the results so many partners have worked years to realize.”
United Way of Southeast Louisiana will oversee the three-year competitive RFP process designed to fund long-standing programs and upstart nonprofits and smaller neighborhood organizations. The grants will be awarded three times a year based on an open rotating grant process (Note: the process will not open if funding is unavailable):
• November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2023
• February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2024
• June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
Eligible programs may focus on a wide variety of youth issues or be narrowly focused, but they must align with the YMP, a comprehensive roadmap for creating and sustaining a positive, youth-development-focused and results-oriented New Orleans that works for all our young people.
“The children and youth of New Orleans are worthy of investments that sees their greatness and value and intends to lift up ways to advance paths for their success and positive development, as framed through the Youth Master Plan, said Karen Evans, Executive Director, New Orleans Children & Youth Planning Board. "While its often said that children/youth are the future, we now have the awesome opportunity and challenge to align investments with that fact through this funding/grant process. I’m excited by this alignment and see it as an encouraging starting point in support of implementation of the Youth Master Plan.”
Interested programs must be headquartered and operate in Orleans Parish, align with the New Orleans Youth Master Plan, and focus on serving youth of color – birth to 24 – living at or below the ALICE Threshold. The first cycle will prioritize organizations with operating budgets below $500,000 and those that have not received dedicated NOLA Coalition funding.
The first round of grant applications must be submitted electronically by Sept. 22, 2022, by 4 p.m. Notification of grant awards – ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 – will be e-mailed the week of Oct. 17.
Review the complete list of requirements and apply online at UnitedWaySELA.org/YMPgrants.
The NOLA Coalition
The NOLA Coalition, a broad group of over 400 nonprofits, civic organizations, and businesses, recently announced a two-part, concurrent strategy to address crime and quality of life in New Orleans. The Investment in Youth Support Service pillar includes a pledge of $15 million to enhance programs in the city to help them grow their impact and drive generational change. This funding will come from new private sector sources, including business, philanthropy, and individuals.
“The NOLA Coalition has two, concurrent, pillars of action: Community Support for Public Safety; and, Investment in Youth Services,” said Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO, Inc. “We are grateful to all of the organizations and individuals who contributed to this second tranche of investment in youth services, as well as to United Way for serving in this key coordinating, monitoring and reporting role.”
Visit NOLAcoalition.info to contribute online and learn more about the coalition’s progress.
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About The NOLA Coalition
The NOLA Coalition is a collection of local organizations and businesses with an acute interest in helping to address crime and quality of life, for reasons of both life and livelihood. The organizations in The NOLA Coalition are small and large, with diverse membership, from across the city and region. An updated list of recommendations and coalition members can be found at nolacoalition.info.
About United Way of Southeast Louisiana
For nearly 100 years, United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) has been a leader and trusted partner in improving lives and making a lasting difference. We fight to eradicate poverty by preparing people for quality jobs, growing incomes, and affording better health and education opportunities throughout Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. We have a bold vision of equitable communities where all individuals are healthy, educated, and financially stable – and we have a plan. United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Blueprint for Prosperity guides all strategic investments in programs, initiatives, collaborations, volunteerism, and advocacy aimed at tackling poverty. For more information, please visit UnitedWaySELA.org. Find us on social: @UnitedWaySELA.
About the Children and Youth Planning Board
The New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board (CYPB) is the local children’s cabinet serving Orleans Parish with 25 board member seats representing a variety of sectors that impact and seek to improve the lives of New Orleans children and youth.
In addition to the operating board, CYPB centers its efforts on youth and elevates the leadership, voices, and vision of young people through its Youth Advisory Board (YAB) where 25 young people, ages 14 – 24 years inform the vision, value, and accuracy of all CYPB youth-centered efforts.
The Board’s mission is twofold:
- encourage collaborative efforts among local stakeholders for assessing the physical, social, emotional, developmental, behavioral, educational, safety, and poverty impacts and needs of children, youth, and families in their communities across Orleans Parish
- share in the development AND implementation of comprehensive plans to address the needs of children, youth, and families in their communities across Orleans Parish
While a neutral operating board, CYPB exists as an unfunded legislative mandate issued by the State of Louisiana, ACT 1225, and ACT 555, which was operationalized by City Ordinance in 2004. CYPB remains a quasi-governmental, neutral entity responsible for its own leadership, work, and sustainability.