The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) recently published Advocating for Federal Spending: A Practical Guide for Nonprofits.
This guide is designed to help nonprofits understand how to effectively advocate for the federal resources that matter most to the people and communities they serve. It includes key information on how Congress enacts federal funding, where there are opportunities for advocacy, and more.
Use this guide to protect the critical federal resources you/your organizations use to serve your communities.
Build Capacity | Grow Impact | Strengthen Louisiana Communities
Across Louisiana, nonprofits, public schools, community organizations and grassroots groups are carrying big missions with small teams. Since 1991, Serve Louisiana has worked alongside organizations like yours helping grow capacity and deepen impact.
What you get: When you partner with Serve Louisiana, you welcome a full-time AmeriCorps Member to serve with your team for 11 months. September 1- July 31 40 hours a week
What members do: Our emerging leaders bring energy, skill, and a passion for service. They support your mission through:
The goal? Stronger systems that last beyond their service term
Focus Areas: We partner with organizations working to build healthier Louisiana Communities by addressing:
Investment: Cash Match: $16,000 per member Mentorship: Your organization provides a fulltime supervisor/mentor Your investment supports the member's:
Priority Deadline: March 31st Virtual Info Session: Friday March 13th at 12pm (email Lisa@ServeLouisiana.org to RSVP)
Learn more and apply at ServeLouisiana.org
The National Council of Nonprofits | March 9
The General Services Administration has proposed significant changes to the System for Award Management (SAM), the online portal nonprofits, state, local, and tribal governments, and other entities use to do business with the federal government. Organizations have until March 30 to submit public comments in opposition to the proposed changes.
Bayou Community Foundation is pleased to announce three grant tiers for its 2026 “Growing Good” Nonprofit Grants Program:
Initial Grant Requests are NOW OPEN, with a submission deadline of 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12!
After evaluation by Grants Committee, selected applicants will be invited to participate in the next phase of the application process in May. Grants will be announced in August.
Grant Funding Period: August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027
READ FULL GRANTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES HERE
APPLY HERE
For many nonprofit leaders, board engagement has become harder to sustain, and more important to get right. Today’s CEOs are navigating intense funding pressure and organizational strain while working with boards whose expectations were often shaped for a very different era. To help our members navigate these challenges, the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits is sharing an upcoming 75-minute webinar from the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
This session features two nonprofit leaders with extensive experience as both executives and advisors. They will explore why board engagement often slips—citing unclear roles and misaligned expectations—and share the tactics currently helping leaders make the board-CEO relationship more productive and supportive.
Participants will gain practical insights into:
Identifying Red Flags: How to recognize the early signs of disengagement before they lead to organizational strain.
Role Clarification: Strengthening the board-CEO relationship by aligning expectations and decision-making boundaries.
Navigating Complexity: Strategies for building a board that effectively supports leadership during moments of public scrutiny or financial pressure.
Professional Credits: This session qualifies for 1.25 CFRE credits.
Whether you are looking to re-engage a board that has drifted or want to prevent challenges from taking hold in the first place, this session offers realistic approaches you can apply right away.
Click Here to Register Directly with the Chronicle of Philanthropy
Please note: This is an external resource hosted by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Registration is required through their platform.
Shared from our friends at the National Council of Nonprofits:
Are you looking for data sources on the nonprofit sector but not sure where to start? This Library of Congress research guide offers a comprehensive roadmap for understanding the nonprofit landscape in the United States. It provides curated links to essential data sources, including IRS Form 990 filings, grantmaking directories, and professional associations. The guide is meant to help nonprofit staff and researchers effectively navigate the legal, financial, and organizational complexities of the charitable sector.
2026 AARP Community Challenge Grants: Apply by Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT
AARP invites eligible organizations to apply for funding to support tangible improvement projects that help make communities more livable for all residents – especially those age 50 and older.
Applications are being accepted through March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT for projects that enhance:
Three funding opportunities are available:
Since 2017, AARP has invested $24.3 million through 2,100 projects across all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Visit AARP.org/CommunityChallenge to learn more and apply if eligible.
Serve Louisiana is excited to share that they are now opening the application for partner organizations to host full-time, 6-month AmeriCorps Members serving February 15th- August 15th. These members will serve 40 hours a week and will participate in Serve Louisiana's trainings and other programming alongside their full-term members who started in September.
Members provide capacity building services to their partner organizations in one of four areas (or a combo):
The Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research at Louisiana State University Shreveport seeks to gather insights from nonprofit leaders and stakeholders in Louisiana about the impacts of public policies on nonprofit operations, funding, community services, and organizational capacity.
The goal is to share the combined results and data with key leaders, policymakers, and funders about the support needs of the nonprofit sector in Louisiana.
Therefore, you are invited to complete an anonymous online survey that will take approximately 7-10 minutes. The survey includes questions about experiences with nonprofit funding, policy impacts, organizational challenges, and community needs in Louisiana. The deadline to complete the survey is November 20th.
If you have questions about this research, please contact Dr. Heather Carpenter at (318) 795-2391 or email: heather.carpenter@lsus.edu.
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Nonprofit Board Chair Fellows Program, a six-session leadership development experience designed to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of current and incoming nonprofit board chairs across the Greater Baton Rouge region.
Through a mix of expert-led sessions, peer learning, and strategic discussions, Fellows will explore practical tools to elevate their leadership and governance, from managing meetings and committees to advancing board recruitment, fundraising, and executive leadership transitions.
Who Should Apply: Current or incoming nonprofit board chairs from any professional background who are eager to strengthen their leadership and build connections that amplify their organization’s mission.
Program Schedule:January 14 • February 11 • March 11 • April 8 • May 6 • June 3, 2026 Sessions will take place in person from 8:30–10:30 a.m.
Application Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
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