2026 National Day of Racial Healing Grants
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Foundation for Louisiana is proud to launch a new grant opportunity for community-based organizations in New Orleans and Baton Rouge to deepen their approaches to racial healing.
In alignment with the National Day of Racial Healing in January 2026, we will award ten grants of up to $10,000 each to support organizations in strengthening their internal and/or external racial healing practices. Grantees will use the National Day of Racial Healing Conversation Guide and related resources as a foundation to design staff engagements, community events, or other healing-centered processes that reflect their unique histories, cultures, and lived experiences.
This opportunity is designed not just for public programming, but to support organizations in answering: What does racial healing look like for us? Whether focused on internal team-building or broader community work, the goal is to build lasting practices rooted in truth-telling, relationship-building, and visioning for a more just and liberated Louisiana.
Participating organizations will adapt and implement the National Day of Racial Healing tools effectively between January 16 and January 25, and attend a shared learning roundtable after their events to help inform Foundation for Louisiana’s future racial healing initiatives.
This grant opportunity is part of Foundation for Louisiana’s ongoing commitment to investing in truth-telling, movement building, and healing justice. We welcome applications from organizations deeply connected to their communities and committed to advancing racial equity and collective healing.
Timeline:
- October 16, 2025: RFP goes live
- October 28, 2025: RFP closes
- November 14, 2025: Award Announcement
- January 16 - 25, 2026: National Day of Racial Healing Events are held
Eligibility:
Eligible organizations must:
- Have 501c3 determination or a fiscal sponsor
- Be located and work in Baton Rouge, Louisiana or New Orleans, Louisiana
- Plan to implement the project between January 16–25, 2026
- Use the National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) tools to design and implement event
Selection Criteria:
Applications that meet eligibility requirements will be scored in the following areas:
1. Mission Alignment
We prioritize organizations whose mission and goals reflect a commitment to equity, justice, and the well-being of Louisiana communities, especially those most impacted by structural oppression.
2. Alignment with Racial Healing
We’re looking to partner with organizations that are actively engaging in racial healing. That might look like long-standing racial healing practices, newly emerging approaches, or thoughtful plans to integrate healing into your internal culture or community work. We welcome a wide range of interpretations of what racial healing looks like for your organization.
3. Community Connection & Engagement
Strong proposals will come from organizations that are deeply rooted in their communities. We value applications that show how you listen to and are guided by the people you serve, especially in the design and implementation of your programming.
4. Project Design & Use of National Day Of Racial Healing Tools
We’re excited to see how you make the National Day of Racial Healing conversation and event guides your own. We’re looking for proposals that reflect your community’s history, culture, and realities, and that use National Day Of Racial Healing tools as a framework for designing your National Day of Racial Healing event, staff engagements, or other racial healing-centered process.
5. Budget & Use of Funds
We ask that your budget clearly reflect the work you’re planning to do. We understand that organizations operate with different levels of infrastructure, so we’re not looking for perfection, just clarity and alignment between your intentions, your activities, and your use of funds.
More Information
We’re hosting a virtual info session on October 22, 2025 at 12pm. Email grants@foundationforlouisiana.org to RSVP.
A FAQ with more information about eligibility and funding range can be found here.
Resources and support for using our online application portal Submittable is available here.
Questions about this opportunity, eligibility, or how to prepare your application materials? Want to discuss accommodations for people with disabilities? Other questions or concerns? Email us at grants@foundationforlouisiana.org.