Empower Grant is sponsored by Huey And Angelina Wilson Foundation. The Empower pillar is a place-based initiative that invests in under-resourced neighborhoods in North Baton Rouge to improve outcomes for children and families. Funding supports projects in four priority areas: Housing (creation and preservation), Education (neighborhood student supports), Community Wellness (facility access and crime reduction), and Economic Vitality (employment and small business growth). The foundation funds direct services, capacity building, systems change, and capital projects.

Geographic focus: North Baton Rouge, Louisiana (ZIP codes 70802, 70805, 70806, 70807, 70811, 70812)

Focus areas: Housing, Education, Community Wellness, Economic Vitality, Human Services

Whether place is defined as a block, neighborhood, or community, the Foundation will serve as a catalyst for place-based collaboration to help residents create and sustain opportunities to thrive. To inform this work, a focus on the data in our 10-parish service area has led us to prioritize s ix ZIP codes in the area typically referred to as North Baton Rouge.

Over 124,000 residents live in these neighborhoods that are rich with history and culture and comprise a significant portion of the regional population. T hey are also areas where social and economic challenges are concentrated with respect to transit, crime, and income as a result of disinvestment.

Through the Empower pillar, Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation will focus on improving outcomes for children and families residing in North Baton Rouge.

Empower focus areas include: * **Housing**: Programs that create and preserve housing opportunities that serve residents at various income levels; * **Education**: Programs that establish neighborhood supports for student growth, learning, and achievement for students of all ages and backgrounds; * **Community Wellness**: Programs that increase access to facilities, programs, goods and services that reflect the needs and priorities of residents, promote healthy lifestyles, and reduce crime; and * **Economic Vitality**: Programs that support resident employment, increase community investment, and promote the start-up and growth of small businesses.

#### APPLICATION INFORMATION The Empower application cycle opens in January of each year and supports projects that serve individuals and families in ZIP codes _70802, 70805, 70806, 70807, 70811, and 70812,_ with priority given to projects and programs being implemented directly in the neighborhoods and schools located in our 70802 **NBR place-based focus area****. The 2026 application cycle opens January 26th.

** The application cycle has a two-step application process as outlined below: 1. **Prospective program partners are invited to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) online. ** Please fully review the **Empower Grant Guidelines**prior to submission.

Providing a summary of your request will allow Foundation staff to determine if your program or project is in line with Empower goals before you complete a full application. 2. **Organizations that successfully submit an LOI and are selected to submit a full grant application will be notified electronically.

**These organizations will submit a full grant application by the submission deadline. #### APPLICATION TIMELINE **Spring 2026 Application Timeline** January 26th: **Letter of Intent** Opens​ (See **Applicant Guidance)** February 3rd-5th: **Q & A sessions** by appointment only _(link goes live January 26th)_ February 6th: Letters of Intent due by 5:00 p. m.

CST February 13th: Invitations for full applications sent March 6th: Full applications due by 5:00 p. m. CST March 25th-April 2nd: Site visits Grantees notified of award early May 2026 Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation will support programming that serves residents of North Baton Rouge and centers their voice and vision in approach and outcomes.

We will support grantees that help residents and communities get the support they need to achieve long-term, sustainable change. The Foundation will make four types of investments within the Empower pillar: Direct Service, Capacity & Collaboration Building, Systems Change, and Capital. 1.

**Direct Service (Program Support)**: New or existing programs that make positive gains for individuals and/or families in North Baton Rouge. 2. **Partnerships & Collaborations**: Formalized partnerships, coalition building efforts and/or continuums that strengthen the collaboration of organizations to achieve enhanced results.

3. **Systems Change**: Awareness, research and advocacy efforts addressing community issues of concern that result in changes to policy or practice. 4.

**Capital**: Building purchase, construction, expansion, renovation, and/or land acquisition. ###### PLACE-BASED APPLICATIONS Place-based philanthropy describes an approach that targets a specific location-be it a community, neighborhood, or ZIP code-upon which to focus resources to make a transformative impact. Successful applicants for this pillar will: 1.

**Serve participants who reside in the communities of focus. **Organizations will have programming that is intentional in outreach and implementation for residents in these specific ZIP codes. 2.

**Value community engagement. ** Organizations must demonstrate they are prioritizing resident voice and doing projects “with” rather than “to” the community they serve. 3.

**Demonstrate effectiveness. ** Organizations will have the capacity to carry out the proposed work and have the appropriate evaluation measures in place (or are willing/able to establish those measures) to determine success in contributing to positive outcomes. **Programs must address one or more of the Empower focus areas of Housing, Education, Community Wellness, and Economic Vitality as outlined in the Empower Grant Guidelines.

** If you believe your project aligns with the Foundation’s funding priorities and values but need more information or are a first-time applicant, please contact Ebony Starks.