(New Orleans, LA – April 2, 2018) The Greater New Orleans Foundation announced today that eight nonprofit organizations were named 2018 Freeman Challenges finalists. The finalists for the Endowment Campaign are the Bayou District Foundation and Boys Hope Girls Hope of Greater New Orleans; and for the Board Restricted Reserve Campaign are: Antenna/Press Street, Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, Upturn Arts, Southern Rep, and Youth Empowerment Project. Fundraising dollars they raise in 2018 will be matched one dollar for every two dollars up to $150,000, thanks to the generosity of the Freeman Family, which established the Freeman Challenges at the Greater New Orleans Foundation. The Freeman Challenges matching dollars are aimed specifically at helping nonprofits start or grow endowments or build a “rainy day” fund.
“This program was started by our parents to honor the legacy of our grandfather Richard West Freeman who believed in the importance of nonprofit organizations building long-term financial stability and independence,” said Dr. Laura Freeman, family member and committee chair.
Since its inception in 1999, the Freeman Challenges have helped establish endowments at over 25 nonprofits in education, the arts, the environment, and health and human services.
“The eight selected nonprofits have a wonderful opportunity ahead of them,” said Andy Kopplin, President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. He continued, “There is a lot of preparatory work that goes into a fundraising campaign of this magnitude. We work with the nonprofits to make sure they have the knowledge and direction to be successful.” Interested nonprofits must first attend a half-day mandatory workshop and complete a readiness checklist before they can apply to the Freeman Challenges.
“The workshops and support that we received from the Foundation helped us determine whether or not we were ready to mount an endowment campaign,” said Chuck Roth, executive director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of New Orleans. He continued, “This experience gave us confidence that we will achieve our fundraising goal allowing us to provide support to Boys Hope Girls Hope’s college students on an annual basis.”
The finalists will also continue to benefit from additional learning opportunities throughout the year offered at the Foundation through the Organizational Effectiveness initiative.
The Freeman Challenges is held every other year. It will re-open in 2019. For more information and for additional resources on whether it’s the right time for your organization to build an endowment or establish a reserve “rainy day” fund, visit www.gnof.org/program/the-freeman-challenge.org.
The 2018 Freeman Challenges Finalists are:
Endowment Campaign
- Bayou District Foundation: Goal is to raise $100,000 for a $50,000 match
- Boys Hope Girls Hope of Greater New Orleans: Goal is to raise $150,000 for a $75,000 match
Board Restricted Reserve Campaign
- Antenna/Press Street: Goal is to raise $10,000 for a $5,000 match
- Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights: Goal is to raise $10,000 for a $5,000 match
- Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival: Goal is to raise $10,000 for a $5,000 match
- Upturn Arts: Goal is to raise $10,000 for a $5,000 match
- Southern Rep Theatre: Goal is to raise $30,000 for a $15,000 match
- Youth Empowerment Project: Goal is to raise $30,000 for a $15,000 match