The Rapides Foundation is announcing the creation of two hurricane relief and recovery funds available to nonprofits, faith-based organizations and Long-Term Recovery Groups to address needs caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta within the nine-parish area served by the Foundation. This fund is not available to individuals.

The Rapides Foundation is offering the funding in response to back-to-back hurricanes, which brought catastrophic damage and flooding to Central Louisiana. “There have only been a few times in our history that the Foundation has gone outside its strategic grantmaking framework,” said Joe Rosier, President and CEO of The Rapides Foundation. “We are very focused and intentional as a grantmaker, but extraordinary events during 2020 have required us to respond to the needs of the communities we serve.”

The Central Louisiana Nonprofit and Faith-Based Hurricane Relief Fund and the Hurricane Disaster Recovery Fund will be open to eligible organizations operating and providing services within The Rapides Foundation’s service area, which includes Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes. An informational webinar was presented by the Foundation on Thursday, October 29 at 10 a.m. to fully explain details about the funds. Recordings of the webinar are available on the grants pages for these funds.

The Central Louisiana Nonprofit and Faith-Based Hurricane Relief Fund will reimburse eligible organizations for hurricane-related expenses associated with providing relief services to individuals and families between August 28 and November 1, 2020. Faith-based organizations and nonprofits who meet eligibility criteria can apply to the Fund. Organizations can receive only one award from the Fund, with a minimum amount of $500 and a maximum of $5,000. Applications to the Fund will be accepted on a rolling basis and approved monthly until January 29, 2021, or as long as funds are available.

Examples of hurricane-related expenses that can be submitted to the Nonprofit and Faith-Based Hurricane Relief Fund include, but are not limited to: food and water; tarps; gas; cleaning supplies; personal items; clothing; equipment; and facility sheltering costs such as utilities. Full details about the fund and eligible reimbursable expenses can be found in the Fund’s Request for Applications on the Foundation’s website. Click here for more information.

The Hurricane Disaster Recovery Fund will support the efforts of disaster Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRG) operating and serving individuals and households within the Foundation’s service area affected by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Applications to the Fund will be accepted until November 1, 2021. Funds can only be used to address documented unmet needs caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

A LTRG is a cooperative body made up of representatives from faith-based, nonprofit, government, business and community organizations working collaboratively to assist individuals and families with unmet needs during disaster recovery by identifying, pooling and coordinating resources. To be eligible to apply to the Fund, a LTRG must be classified as a 501(c)(3) organization or, if non-incorporated, may work through a qualified fiscal agent subject to an executed Memorandum of Understanding. Additional eligibility criteria are outlined in the Fund’s Request for Applications found on the Foundation’s website. Follow the link for more information. 

The Rapides Foundation’s Hurricane Disaster Recovery Fund is only to be used after all federal, local, state and personal resources have been exhausted and the LTRG has determined they do not have the resources to fully address the need. Funds can be used for items such as, but not limited to: building supplies; medical supplies; construction; contract labor; mental health counseling; convening and facilitating meetings; and reporting. Applications to the Hurricane Disaster Recovery Fund will be accepted until November 1, 2021.

Full details for both funds are available on The Rapides Foundation website at www.rapidesfoundation.org by clicking on the “Grants” tab. Applications must be submitted using the Foundation’s online application process found on the website. If you would like to speak to a Foundation Program Officer about either fund, please contact The Rapides Foundation at (318) 443-3394 or (800) 994-3394.