2026-2027
Community Partnership Grants
Application deadline is
July 8, 2026, at 11:00 pm CT.
Jazz & Heritage Presenting
Jazz & Heritage Presenting provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations to facilitate the hiring of Louisiana-based performers for festivals and public cultural events within the state. Eligible organizations for this funding are limited to nonprofits located in Louisiana.
Media: Documentation & Creation
Media: Documentation & Creation supports the creation, documentation, or exhibition of artworks that reflect, interpret, document, or preserve Louisiana’s indigenous culture. Open to nonprofit organizations. Priority will be given to Louisiana-based applicants.
Louisiana Cultural Equity Arts & Creation
Louisiana Cultural Equity Arts & Creation supports all individuals engaged in creating, documenting, or exhibiting artwork that reflects, interprets, documents, or preserves Louisiana’s many cultures. All individuals based in Louisiana are welcome to apply. We also encourage applications from ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, & Native American) individuals and historically underrepresented groups who are driving positive and transformative social change within Louisiana culture and traditions.
Education In-School
Education In-School supports music and arts education in Louisiana K-12 schools by funding instruction during the regular school day or after school. Schools (public or private) may apply for money to pay for instruments, instrument repair, sheet music, visual art supplies, or other needed materials to support arts instruction as part of the school’s curriculum.
Education After-School
Education After-School supports after-school and summer educational arts programs offered by nonprofit organizations. Organizations may apply for funding only to pay the professional teaching fees of the artists or educators who provide arts instruction. Only Louisiana-based nonprofit organizations may apply.
Eligibility
Community Partnership Grants are available to the following groups:
- 501c3 nonprofit organizations and registered Louisiana nonprofit organizations
- Individuals (may only apply in the Louisiana Cultural Equity Arts + Creation category)
- Institutions of higher education located in Louisiana
- K-12 public, private, or parochial schools located in Louisiana
- Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes located in Louisiana
- For-profit businesses are not eligible for this program. Additionally, For-profit organizations cannot serve as fiscal agents for recipients.
- Expenses related to suit-making (including carnival, parading, second line, or masking groups) are not eligible for funding under this program.
Resources
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation uses a web-based grant application from Go Smart. Go Smart is a user-friendly system used by organizations around the country. Applicant Help Tutorial Videos are available for applicants. It is highly recommended that all applicants review the videos before beginning a new application. You can also review a PDF of the Applicant Tutorial.
You can always access the grant portal by using this link: https://jazzandheritage.gosmart.org/
Application Assistance
Our team will be happy to answer questions or explain the grant process. Questions should be directed to grants@jazzandheritage.org or by calling 504-302-1804, Monday through Friday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Community Partnership Grants program offers grant awards of up to $7,500 to support music and art education programs, cultural events, new artistic works that interpret Louisiana culture, and other projects that support the Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s mission. Activities funded by these grants must occur between Sept. 1, 2026, and Aug. 31, 2027, and take place in Louisiana.
- Applicants may only submit one CPG application – in one of the five grant categories – per grant cycle.
- Online Applications Only: We only accept applications through our online application portal. We do not accept paper applications.
- To access the application, first read through the guidelines for the grant category that interests you. If you are eligible, view the online application form through the application portal here: https://jazzandheritage.gosmart.org/
2025-2026 Grant Recipients by Category
During each grant cycle, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation carefully evaluates numerous funding requests and offers grants of up to $7,500 to support a diverse range of initiatives. These include music and arts education programs, cultural events presented by Louisiana-based nonprofit organizations, the development of new artistic works from individuals that showcase and interpret Louisiana’s cultural heritage, and various other projects that align with the Foundation’s mission. The Foundation remains committed to bolstering the local creative economy and arts education across five categories, providing funding to hundreds of individuals and organizations across the state.
$20 Million+ awarded
More than $17 million has been invested in Louisiana communities through the Community Partnership Grants.
5 Grant-Giving Areas
The Foundation gives in five areas, including schools, artists, and arts-based nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
600+ Grantees awarded in 2025
In 2025, the Foundation had a 84% applicant award rate, with the majority of eligible applicants receiving grant funding.
