The Helis Foundation Partners with LEH to support the Louisiana Culture Care Fund
The Helis Foundation has joined forces with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities to help protect New Orleans’ critical cultural institutions and organizations by contributing a major gift to the LEH’s Louisiana Culture Care Fund.
The fund provides emergency relief grants to humanities organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with awards ranging between $3,000 and $20,000 and designated for operational expenses.
The Helis Foundation’s gift will support organizations with a strong humanities focus in the greater New Orleans area. According to recent data collected by the LEH, cultural organizations in the greater New Orleans area—hit hardest by the pandemic—are facing over $17 million in lost revenue as a result of closures, loss of donations and more.
The initial funding for the Louisiana Culture Care Fund was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the federal CARES Act. To date, the LEH has awarded more than $375,000 in grants to 42 humanities organizations in 18 parishes, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis to provide funds as quickly as possible.
Louisiana Culture Care Fund grants supported by The Helis Foundation’s gift are available to 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural organizations in the New Orleans area with a strong humanities focus, such as museums, historic sites and archives, as well as the city’s diverse array of humanities-focused media, festivals and more. For more information about how the humanities are defined, visit www.neh.gov/about.
The funds are designated for operational expenses, including but not limited to: staff retention (payroll and benefits), rent, mortgage and utilities. Awards are based on the annual operating budget of the applicant organization. Applications will be accepted through June 30, or until funds are expended. A sample application may be found here. All Louisiana Culture Care Fund applications are subject to the same rigorous review process—details on criteria are available here.
For more information about the Louisiana Culture Care Fund, including eligibility requirements, click here.
LEH Seeks Additional Donors for Louisiana Culture Care Fund
The LEH is seeking to grow the Louisiana Culture Care Fund. Should you wish to contribute, please contact Michael Bourg, vice-president of institutional advancement, at [email protected] or (504) 620-2482.
About The Helis Foundation
The Helis Foundation is a Louisiana private foundation, established and funded by the William Helis Family. The Helis Foundation’s resources and objectives are divided into twoareas: the general fund, and the Diana Helis Henry and Adrienne Helis Malvin Art Funds. The general fund focuses on community needs primarily within the Metropolitan New Orleans area by granting funds to numerous local nonprofit organizations. The Art Funds were established exclusively by bequests from Diana Helis Henry and Adrienne Helis Malvin upon their deaths. The Art Funds make grants to sustain operations, to provide free admission to, and to acquire significant art works on behalf of major institutions and cultural organizations within the Metropolitan New Orleans area. Learn more at www.TheHelisFoundation.org.
