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.