Family Support for Early Learning and Development Program Grant

Through this Request for Proposal, The Rapides Foundation seeks to improve school readiness by supporting efforts to equip parents or caregivers with evidence-based knowledge, skills, resources, and connections to strengthen their child’s development and learning. This funding opportunity is designed to take the Foundation’s early childhood work beyond the early childhood centers and Pre-K classrooms into the community and family homes.

The program will support coordinated evidence-based efforts in the Foundation's nine parish service area that includes, but is not limited to, addressing two or more of the following for expecting families or families with children birth through 3:

• Parenting and responsive interactions to support learning
• Awareness of best practices to support healthy childhood development
• Family resource navigation
• Parent/family goal setting and planning for economic stability
• Maternal mental health education and referrals

Successful proposals will provide at least three points of connection with the families annually.

One-time events will not be considered.

Applicants may request up to $100,000 per year for up to a three-year period with a maximum request of $300,000. The Foundation will consider large and small grants.

The Foundation will consider only one application per organization; however, it is permissible for an organization to be listed as a partner in multiple applications. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to secure matching funds and/or in-kind support.

All programs must be implemented in the Foundation's nine parish service area; Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes.

Applicants should thoroughly review the Request for Proposals and other key documents included in the Key Materials section (in right column) to see full details, including what grant funds may be used for, application process and proposal requirements. 

Primary applicants (grant fiscal agent) must meet all of the following requirements:

• Classified as a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code or a governmental entity. 
• Cannot be a private foundation under Section 509(a).
• Must be an organization within The Rapides Foundation Service Area or seeking funding support for projects restricted to the Foundation's nine parishes.

Family Support for Early Learning & Development Program Grant consists of a two-stage submission process. The first stage is submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) using The Rapides Foundation's online application process. Use the button in the right panel to “Start a Letter of Intent”. Letters of Intent that are approved by the Foundation's Board of Trustees at its December 2026 meeting will then be invited to submit a Full Proposal. To see full details of the LOI, please refer to the Request for Proposals in the right panel. Additional information on the Full Proposal will be shared at a later date and sent to those invited to submit a Full Proposal.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact The Rapides Foundation for guidance before submitting their proposal package. Contact information is located in the right column.

• Letter of Intent Submission Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026 no later than 4:00 p.m. CT
• LOI Notification of Selection: Friday, December 11, 2026
• Full Proposal Submission Deadline for selected applicants: Wednesday, January 18, 2027 no later than 4:00 p.m. CT
• Notification of Selection: Monday, March 1, 2027
• Grant Start Date: Thursday, April 1, 2027