The Pro Bono Publico Foundation Announces Grants and Strategic Commitments Totaling $1.6 Million to Support Greater New Orleans Schools and Education

January 14th, 2023

Since its Inception in 2006, the Foundation Has Made Grants and Multi-Year Strategic Commitments Totaling More Than $13 Million

(New Orleans, Louisiana) Continuing its ongoing investments in New Orleans public schools and high-quality public education, today, the Pro Bono Publico Foundation (PBPF) announced that, for the eighth consecutive year, it has awarded grants in excess of $1 million. In addition, nearly $.5 million has been added to the Foundation’s Strategic Innovation Fund to fulfill performance-based, multi-year, strategic grant pledges. This $1.6 million investment, in the Foundation’s 16th grant cycle, represents the sustained commitment of Rex members in support of Greater New Orleans students and educators. Since its founding in 2006, the Pro Bono Publico Foundation’s giving exceeds $13 million, making the Foundation one of the key local funders of efforts to support and improve our public schools. Today’s annual Foundation announcement at the Rex Den on South Claiborne Avenue included representatives from the PBPF’s board, schools and organizations receiving grants, and members of the Rex Organization.

Most of the Foundation’s giving has been focused on operational grants that serve to support the important work being done in our schools. These grants provide school leaders additional funds to do what they would not otherwise be able to do, allowing them to further enrich their students’ experience.

More recently, the Foundation created a Strategic Innovation Fund designed to make larger strategic investments aimed at addressing some of our more pressing challenges and high-leverage opportunities. Examples of the Foundation’s larger, strategic, three-year commitments include a grant to New Schools for New Orleans to assure our city’s charter schools attract and retain excellent leaders and teachers and a grant to the Greater New Orleans Foundation to support charter board training and development. Multi-year commitments are reviewed annually for performance, and the Foundation anticipates a shift to making more strategic investments in the coming years to help New Orleans’ school children reach their full educational potential.

“The Pro Bono Publico Foundation’s donors, as well as other local foundations we partner with, recognize the importance of this investment in our children and our future,” said Merritt Lane, a member of the Foundation’s board. Lane continued, “We have made tremendous progress, but we recognize there is much work still to do to ensure excellence in all of our schools. Consistent with the Rex Organization’s motto Pro Bono Publico, and for the benefit of New Orleans’ school children, we are very pleased this year to make grants and multi-year commitments totaling over $1,600,000.”

“I want to thank the Pro Bono Publico Foundation for their investment and partnership,” said Andy Kopplin, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “Since Hurricane Katina, the Pro Bono Publico Foundation has led the way in supporting our community’s public schools and students, making a sustained commitment to ensuring all New Orleans children have access to high-quality schools. We are thrilled to help advance this legacy by building on an area of strength at GNOF and partnering with them to ensure our City’s public charter school boards are always well-led and well-governed.”

Also during the announcement today, Tanya Bryant, the CEO of ReNEW Schools, discussed the impact the foundation’s support has had for the students her organization’s schools serve.

By the Numbers:

  • $913,000 will fund 65 annual operational grants.
  • $725,000 will fund two multi-year strategic grants; first year commitment totals $241,000.
  • $1,154,665 total of 2022-2023 grants.
  • $483,000 added to the Foundation’s Strategic Innovation Fund to fulfill performance-based, multi-year, strategic grant pledges.
  • $1.63 million in total grants and multi-year pledges.
  • More than $13 million in total giving through 16 grant cycles.
  • Eighth consecutive year of grants totaling more than $1 million.

Pro Bono Publico Foundation 2022-2023 Grantees:

18th Ward Sports Club
826 New Orleans
Agenda for Children
Algiers Charter School Association
Audubon Schools
Belle Chasse Academy
Breakthrough New Orleans
Bricolage Academy
Center for Resilience
City Year New Orleans
College Beyond
College Track
Collegiate Academies
Community Academies
Crescent City Schools
Discovery Schools
Early Partners
Educare
Education Pioneers
Education Reform Now Louisiana
Elan Academy Charter School
First Line Schools
Greater New Orleans Foundation*
Homer Plessy Community Schools
Hynes Charter Schools
InspireNOLA Charter Schools
International High School of N.O.
International School of Louisiana
Jefferson Chamber Found. Academy
KID smART
Kingsley House
KIPP New Orleans Schools
LA Assoc. of Public Charter Schools
LA Charter Schools Alliance
Lake Forest Charter School
Live Oak Wilderness Camp
Louisiana Policy Institute for Children
Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans
Morris Jeff Community School
New Orleans Career Center
N.O. Military and Maritime Academy
New Schools for New Orleans*
NOCCA Foundation
Raphael Academy
ReNew Charter Management
RoboRecovery
Roots of Music
Son of a Saint
Special Education Leader Fellowship
St. Augustine High School
St. Michael Special School
St. Stephen’s School
STAIR, Start the Adventure in Reading
STEM Library Lab
STEM NOLA
Success Preparatory Academy
Teach for America – GNO
The Bright School
The Chartwell Center
The Foundation for Science & Math Education
The Good Shepherd School
Tulane University – Cowen Institute
Warren Easton Charter Foundation
Young Audiences Charter School
Youth Empowerment Project
Youth Force NOLA
Youth Run NOLA

*Organizations designated for performance-based, multi-year, strategic grant pledges.

 

About the Pro Bono Publico Foundation

Responding to the community’s needs during the difficulties of Reconstruction, the Rex Organization was founded by a group of civic-minded individuals in 1872, over 150 years ago. Responding to the community’s needs during the difficulties of recovery from Hurricane Katrina, the Pro Bono Publico Foundation was founded by members of the Rex Organization in 2006. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the foundation has been able to make a sustained and meaningful investment in support of our community’s public schools and its students. The foundation’s grants and commitments show the determined efforts of Rex members and the foundation to ensure all of New Orleans’ children can attend excellent schools. These schools, and organizations supporting their important work, have been the focus of the foundation’s investment, as well as the commitment of dozens of Rex members serving on their boards.