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The Pro Bono Publico Foundation Announces Grants Totaling More Than $1.3 Million to Support Greater New Orleans Schools and Education

January 10th, 2026

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 eleventh consecutive year, it has awarded grants and fulfilment of installments of multi-year strategic commitments in excess of $1 million.

This $1.3 million investment, which is the Foundation’s 19th 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 $16 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.

Several years ago, 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. The Foundation’s strategic investments are designed to help New Orleans’ school children reach their full educational potential. Examples of the Foundation’s larger, strategic, multi-year commitments include grants to New Schools for New Orleans to assure our city’s charter schools attract and retain excellent leaders and teachers, Manning Family Children’s Hospital/ThriveKids to expand access to behavioral and physical health services across our public schools, and Lift All Boats to train school leaders and to develop sustainable leadership development opportunities.

Merritt Lane, a member of the Foundation’s board, said, “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. 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, for the public good, and for the benefit of New Orleans’ school children, we are very pleased this year to make grants and multi-year commitments totaling over $1.3 million.”

Emily Wolff, Vice President for Community Impact at Manning Family Children’s said, “The Pro Bono Publico Foundation and Manning Family Children’s have a shared vision that in order to build a thriving school system, we need to invest in essential supports that keep our students healthy. With the Foundation’s support, we have been able to understand gaps in care and create a roadmap to scale school-based health services and mental health support across all New Orleans Public Schools – ensuring that every student has access to quality care. Manning Family Children’s is grateful for the Foundation’s strategic investment, and we look forward to our continued collaboration to change the health and academic outcomes of a generation, together.”

2025-2026 Grants by the Numbers:

  • 77 total grants, consisting of 74 operational grants and three strategic grants to Manning Family Children’s Hospital/ThriveKids, New Schools for New Orleans, and Lift All Boats.
  • $1,059,500 will fund 74 annual operational grants.
  • $250,000 will fund three strategic grants: $50,000 in funding the second year of a two-year $125,000 strategic grant to Manning Family Children’s Hospital/ThriveKids; $100,000 in funding the first year of a $300,000 three-year strategic grant to New Schools for New Orleans; and $100,000 funding the first year of a $400,000 three-year strategic grant to Lift All Boats (the purpose of each of these strategic grants are described above).
  • $1,309,500 in total 2025-2026 grants.
  • More than $16 million in total giving through 19 grant cycles.
  • Eleventh consecutive year of grants totaling more than $1 million.

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’s supporters 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.

Pro Bono Publico Foundation 2025-2026 Grantees

  1. 18th Ward
  2. Agenda for Children
  3. alingnED New Orleans
  4. Bayou District Foundation (Educare)
  5. Belle Chasse Academy (Military)
  6. Ben Franklin Elementary/Middle Math & Science School
  7. Ben Franklin High School (Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education)
  8. Breakthrough NO (Fiscal Agent Isidore Newman)
  9. Bricolage Academy
  10. Café Reconcile
  11. Children’s Bureau of New Orleans
  12. City Year New Orleans
  13. Clover
  14. College Beyond New Orleans
  15. Collegiate Academies (Sci Academy)
  16. Community Academies (Choice/Foundation Prep)
  17. Community Works
  18. Crescent City Schools
  19. Discovery Schools
  20. Early Partners
  21. Education Pioneers
  22. Education Reform Now Louisiana
  23. Educators for Quality Alternatives (Bridge School)
  24. Elan Academy Charter School
  25. FirstLine Schools
  26. Foundation for Science and Math Education – High School
  27. Greater New Orleans STEM Initiative (dba Core Element)
  28. Homer Plessy Community Schools
  29. Hynes Charter Schools
  30. InspireNOLA Charter Schools
  31. Institute for Academic Excellence (Sophie B Wright High School)
  32. Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy
  33. KID smART
  34. KIPP New Orleans
  35. LA Association of Public Charter Schools
  36. LA Policy Institute for Children
  37. Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
  38. Lift All Boats
  39. Live Oak Wilderness Camp
  40. Louisiana Charter School Alliance (GNO Collaborative of Charter Schools)
  41. Lycée Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans
  42. Manning Family Children’s Hospital/ThriveKids
  43. Morris Jeff Community School
  44. New Harmony High School
  45. New Orleans Career Center
  46. New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA)
  47. New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy (NOMMA-Military)
  48. New Orleans Youth Alliance (NOYA)
  49. NOCHI
  50. NSNO (New Schools for New Orleans)
  51. Opportunities Academy
  52. Raphael Village
  53. ReNEW Charter Management
  54. Rivet School
  55. Roots of Music Inc., The
  56. Son of a Saint
  57. Special Education Leadership Fellowship (SELF)
  58. St. Augustine High School
  59. St. Mary’s Academy
  60. St. Michael Special School
  61. St. Stephen Catholic School
  62. Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR)
  63. STEM Library Lab
  64. STEM NOLA
  65. Success Preparatory Academy
  66. TFA Teach for America – GNO
  67. The Bright School
  68. The Chartwell Center
  69. The Good Shepherd School
  70. The Posse Foundation, Inc.
  71. Tulane University Cowen Institute
  72. Warren Easton Charter High School
  73. Xavier University of LA
  74. Young Audiences Charter (YACA-YACS)
  75. Youth Empowerment Project
  76. Youth Run NOLA
  77. YouthForce NOLA