Grants Made Possible Through Five Affiliate Foundations
LAFAYETTE, LA – Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) is proud to announce that $161,100 in grants are being awarded to 34 community-based projects through its Affiliate Grants Program, launched this year. The projects span education and youth development; health and human services; arts and culture; and community development.
“We are incredibly excited to deploy competitive grants like these for the first time in CFA’s history,” said Missy Bienvenu Andrade, President & CEO of Community Foundation of Acadiana. “This marks a significant milestone in using unrestricted funds while empowering our local communities to address their unique challenges and quality of life opportunities. We are so grateful to the many generous donors who have made these grants possible. Our gratitude also goes out to the dedicated chairs and board members of all five Affiliate Foundations, it’s through their leadership and commitment that this impact is possible.”
The Affiliate Grants Program is made possible by charitable funds established by individuals, families, and businesses who have contributed gifts to CFA and believe in creating lasting local change. These funds have created the Evangeline Affiliate Foundation, the Iberia Affiliate Foundation, the St. Mary Affiliate Foundation, the St. Landry Affiliate Foundation, and the Vermilion Affiliate Foundation.
Awards of up to $5,000 were made, reflecting each affiliate’s commitment to supporting local solutions by 501c3 organizations. Each affiliate’s competitive process involves due diligence by staff and review of grant proposals by affiliate board members.
Grants from the Evangeline Foundation, A Fund of CFA
- Evangeline Parish School District’s Evangeline Reimagine Academy
- Gifting Grace Project’s Pack the Backpack Initiative
- South Louisiana Community College’s Ville Platte Future Fund
Grants from the Iberia Foundation, A Fund of CFA
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana’s Teen Center for Brighter Futures in Iberia Parish
- CASA of the 16th JDC’s Volunteer Recruitment, Screening, and Retention Initiative
- Healing House’s Iberia Parish School-Based Grief Support Groups
- Iberia Performing Arts League’s 2025-2026 Season
- Solomon House’s Nutritional Supplements for the Elderly Initiative
- St. Edwards and St. Jude Parish’s Structural Repair
- Unexpected Pregnancy Center’s Baby Steps Initiative
Grants from the St. Landry Foundation, A Fund of CFA
- CASA of St. Landry’s Repairs to 205 W. St. Landry
- Hope for Opelousas’ Safe Shelter and Storytime Project
- LSU Eunice’s STEAM Improvements Project
- Opelousas Area Cerebral Palsy Clinic’s Speech Therapy Services
- Second Harvest Food Bank’s Improving Food Security in St. Landry Initiative
- Thensted Center’s Empowering Seniors & Veterans Program
- The Refinery Mission’s The Rig Project
- Town of Washington’s Rehabilitate Recreational Resources Initiative
Grants from the St. Mary Foundation, A Fund of CFA
- CASA of the 16th JDC’s Setting Children Up For Success (School Ready) Program
- Foster the Love Louisiana’s Bring Foster the Love to St. Mary Foster Families Initiative
- Gifting Grace Project’s Pack the Backpack Initiative
- It Takes a Village: SMP’s Community Outreach
- St. Mary Community Action Agency’s The Dad Lab – Engineering Fatherhood Initiative
- The Purple Lemon – Grace at 300 Washroom upgrades
Grants from the Vermilion Foundation, A Fund of CFA
- Behold Catholic Ministries’ Hopeful Hearts – Life After Loss Initiative
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana’s Next Level Youth Development Program
- Christian Services Center’s Utility Assistance Program
- Community Wellness Inc’s Community Wellness Program
- Creative Arts Momentum’s Community Works of Louisiana Initiative
- Faith House’s Vermilion Parish Office
- Gifting Grace Project’s Pack the Backpack Initiative
- LSU Eunice’s STEAM Improvements Project
- Operation Warm’s New Shoes for Vermilion Parish School Students
- Professionals of LAGCOE’s Little Energizers Program
The next Affiliate Grants Program cycle is slated to open in spring of 2026. Learn more about CFA’s Affiliate Grants Program at cfacadiana.org/affiliate-grants.
Community members who wish to support future grant cycles and strengthen local philanthropy can make a donation to an Affiliate Foundation at cfacadiana.org/funds-and-impact/affiliate-foundations or to the Permanent Fund for Acadiana.
About the Community Foundation of Acadiana
CFA is one of south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations benefiting our region, with a focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. Since its inception in 2000, CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $406 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $235 million. You can learn more at www.cfacadiana.org.
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