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

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

This over $1.2 million investment, in the Foundation’s 18th 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 $15 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.

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,” said “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 $1.2 million.”

Dana Peterson, the Chief Executive Officer of New Schools for New Orleans, said, “I want to thank the Pro Bono Publico Foundation for their continued investment in New Schools for New Orleans. At NSNO, we dream of a day when every child in New Orleans can attend an incredible public school that meets their unique needs and is filled with great educators supporting them to reach their dreams. We are grateful to have the Pro Bono Publico Foundation as a partner in helping to make that dream a reality. The incredible progress our schools have made over the past years would not be possible without the direct investment and support of the Rex Organization and its members. Through the PBPF support in New Schools for New Orleans, we can ensure young people in New Orleans can access strong schools and programs to support their learning, build a sustainable teacher workforce by growing the next generation great educators in New Orleans, and advocate for key policy solutions that keep kids and educators at the center. The commitment the PBPF is making to public schools and support organizations is a true testament to their motto, Pro Bono Publico, for the public good.”

2024-2025 Grants By the Numbers:

• 66 total grants, consisting of 64 operational grants, one strategic grant to New Schools for New Orleans, and one strategic grant to the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
• $984,300 will fund 64 annual operational grants.
• $241,667 will fund the third year of a multi-year strategic grant to the Greater New Orleans Foundation and New Schools for New Orleans; the first- and second-year commitments to these two organizations funded over the last two years totaled $483,334.
• $1,225,967 total of 2024-2025 grants.
• More than $15 million in total giving through 18 grant cycles.
• Tenth 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 2024-2025 Grantees

1. 18th Ward
2. Agenda for Children
3. alingnED New Orleans
4. Audubon Charter School
5. Belle Chasse Academy
6. Benjamin Franklin High School
7. Breakthrough N O (fiscal agent: Isidore Newman)
8. Bricolage
9. Café Reconcile
10. Citizens’ Committee for Education dba Homer A. Plessy
11. City Year
12. Clover
13. College Beyond New Orleans
14. Collegiate Academies (Sci Academy)
15. Crescent City Schools
16. Discovery Schools
17. Early Partners
18. Educare
19. Education Pioneers
20. Education Reform Now Louisiana
21. Elan Academy Charter School
22. First Line Schools
23. Foundation for Science and Math Education
24. Greater New Orleans Foundation**
25. Greater New Orleans STEM Initiative dba Core Element
26. Hynes Charter Schools
27. InspireNOLA Charter
28. Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy
29. KID smart
30. KIPP New Orleans
31. Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
32. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children
33. Lake Forest Charter
34. Live Oak Wilderness Camp
35. Louisiana Charter School Alliance (GNO Collaborative of Charter Schools)
36. Lycée Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans
37. Morris Jeff Community School
38. New Harmony High
39. New Orleans Career Center
40. New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA)
41. New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy
42. New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute
43. New Schools for New Orleans*
44. Raphael Academy
45. Rivet School
46. ReNEW Charter Management
47. Son of a Saint
48. Special Education Leadership Fellowship (SELF)
49. St. Augustine
50. St. Mary’s Academy
51. St. Michael Special School
52. St. Stephen’s
53. Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR)
54. STEM Library Lab
55. Success Preparatory Academy
56. TFA Teach for America – GNO
57. The Bright School
58. The Good Shepherd School
59. The Posse Foundation
60. The Roots of Music
61. Tulane University Cowen Institute
62. Warren Easton Charter High School
63. Young Audiences
64. Youth Empowerment Project
65. Youth Force NOLA
66. Youth Run NOLA

* New Schools for New Orleans is receiving the third fulfilment of a performance-based, multi-year, strategic grant pledge in support of NSNO’s teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
** The Greater New Orleans Foundation is receiving annual fulfilment of a performance-based, multi-year, strategic grant pledge to support charter board member training and development.

Since its Inception in 2006, the Foundation Has Made Grants Totaling More Than $14 Million

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 ninth 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, in the Foundation’s 17th 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 $14 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.

An impactful and exciting addition for this year is a new strategic grant to New Schools for New Orleans to sponsor a two-day event for local and national funders and educators to be held here in New Orleans. This event will provide an opportunity to update all stakeholders on the progress of our all-charter public school system in assuring an excellent education for every student in New Orleans, to celebrate our successes, and to demonstrate a path to continued progress. National and local funders have made significant and generous investments in New Orleans public charter schools; this event will be an opportunity to show the return on their investment and encourage their continued support.

“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 nearly $1,300,000.”

On behalf of Andy Kopplin, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Kellie Chavez Greene, the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Vice President for Programs and leader of the Foundation’s Charter School Governance initiative, said, “I want to thank the Pro Bono Publico Foundation for their investment and partnership. 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 the Greater New Orleans Foundation and partnering with the Pro Bono Publico Foundation to ensure our City’s public charter school boards are always well-led and well-governed.”

By the Numbers:

• 72 total grants, consisting of 69 operational grants, two strategic grants to New Schools for New Orleans, and one strategic grant to the Greater New Orleans Foundation
• $993,000 will fund 69 annual operational grants.
• $242,000 will fund the second year of two multi-year strategic grants to the Greater New Orleans Foundation and New Schools for New Orleans; first year commitment funded last year was $241,000.
• $54,000 will fund an additional strategic grant to New Schools for New Orleans to sponsor the two-day event for local and national funders and educators described above.
• $1,288,167 total of 2023-2024 grants.
• More than $14 million in total giving through 17 grant cycles.
• Ninth consecutive year of grants totaling more than $1 million.

A listing of the 71 institutions receiving a total of 72 grants from the Foundation’s 2023-2024 giving cycle appears below. Of the 72 grants, two are to New Schools for New Orleans, thus 71 institutions are receiving grants.

Pro Bono Publico Foundation 2023-2024 Grantees

1. 18th Ward
2. 826 New Orleans (formerly Big Class)
3. Agenda for Children
4. Algiers Charter School Association
5. Audubon Charter School
6. Belle Chasse Academy
7. Breakthrough N O (fiscal agent: Isidore Newman)
8. Bricolage
9. Center for Resilience
10. Citizens’ Committee for Education dba Homer A. Plessy
11. City Year
12. College Beyond New Orleans
13. College Track
14. Collegiate Academies (Sci Academy)
15. Crescent City Schools
16. Discovery Schools
17. Early Partners
18. Educare
19. Education Pioneers
20. Education Reform Now Louisiana
21. Elan Academy Charter School
22. First Line Schools
23. Foundation for Science and Math Education
24. Greater New Orleans Foundation**
25. Greater New Orleans STEM Initiative dba Core Element
26. Hynes Charter Schools
27. InspireNOLA Charter
28. International High School of New Orleans
29. International School of Louisiana
30. Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy
31. KID smART
32. KIPP New Orleans
33. Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
34. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children
35. Lake Forest Charter
36. Live Oak Wilderness Camp
37. Louisiana Charter School Alliance (GNO Collaborative of Charter Schools)
38. Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans
39. Morris Jeff Community School
40. New Orleans Career Center
41. New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA)
42. New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy
43. Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning
44. New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute
45. New Schools for New Orleans*
46. Raphael Academy
47. ReNEW Charter Management
48. RoboRecovery
49. Rooted School
50. Son of a Saint
51. Special Education Leadership Fellowship (SELF)
52. St. Augustine
53. St. Mary’s Academy
54. St. Michael Special School
55. St. Stephen’s
56. Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR)
57. STEM Library Lab
58. STEM NOLA
59. Success Preparatory Academy
60. T F A Teach for America – GNO
61. The Bright School
62. The Chartwell Center
63. The Good Shepherd School
64. The Posse Foundation
65. The Roots of Music
66. Tulane University Cowen Institute
67. Warren Easton Charter High School
68. Young Audiences
69. Youth Empowerment Project
70. Youth Force NOLA
71. Youth Run NOLA

* New Schools for New Orleans is receiving two strategic grants. One is annual fulfilment of a performance-based, multi-year, strategic grant pledge in support of NSNO’s teacher recruitment and retention efforts. The other is a new strategic grant to sponsor the two-day event for local and national funders.
** The Greater New Orleans Foundation is receiving annual fulfilment of a performance-based, multi-year, strategic grant pledge to support charter board member training and development.

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 16^th 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:

*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.