Daily Featured Foundation - 12/13/25

12/13/2025

Here is today’s daily featured foundation.

The Rapides Foundation

Website: https://www.rapidesfoundation.org/

Mission & Purpose: To improve the health status of Central Louisiana. The foundation is a major philanthropic force in the region, focusing on three key pillars: Healthy People, Education, and Healthy Communities.

Broad Funding Guidelines: Grantmaking is strictly limited to a nine-parish service area in Central Louisiana (including Rapides, Natchitoches, and Vernon parishes). They utilize a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for most of their nonprofit funding. They look for projects that address systemic health issues, improve educational attainment, and increase economic opportunity. They do not typically accept unsolicited proposals outside of their specific RFP cycles.

Featured Opportunity: The "Healthy Communities" grants are a significant opportunity for local organizations. These grants fund initiatives that go beyond clinical care to address the social determinants of health, such as economic development, neighborhood safety, and civic engagement.

Recommendation: A school district, community coalition, or 501(c)(3) in Central Louisiana that is working on large-scale health outcomes (like tobacco cessation or obesity prevention) or economic development.