News & Publications

Baton Rouge civic leaders announced the planning firms shortlisted for the Plan Baton Rouge Phase III Master Plan, a comprehensive planning process aimed at revitalizing and enhancing downtown Baton Rouge. Community champions, the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge, Downtown Development District, Visit Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and Baton Rouge Area Foundation have partnered to sponsor Plan Baton Rouge III. The plan will focus on the […]

2023 Annual Report

Baton Rouge, LA – The Baton Rouge Area Foundation today announced that Aaliyah Bilal’s TEMPLE FOLK is the winner of the 17th annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. This prestigious award, presented to an emerging African American fiction writer, celebrates the enduring legacy of the late Ernest Gaines, whose narratives eloquently capture the voices of African […]

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation today announced they have released the next installment of the Opportunity Data Project focused on early childhood education. Analysis revealed that, despite near-universal access to Pre-K 4 programs, students in EBR are showing up unprepared for kindergarten. One third of economically disadvantaged EBR students scored a zero on the kindergarten readiness exam, while the national average is 13%. Of these students, over 60% were unable to read at a basic level by third grade.

25 leaders selected to receive training in the field of development  Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Baton Rouge Area Foundation today announced the 2024 cohort of Development Fellows, a program of the Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence. One of the Foundation’s signature programs, Development Fellows is a workshop series that teaches fundraising fundamentals to enhance […]

Baton Rouge, LA – The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) today announced the release of the 15th iteration of its CityStats report, a survey assessing key indicators to gauge quality of life and access to opportunity in East Baton Rouge Parish. This year’s report reveals that there has been a positive shift in the community’s […]

Baton Rouge, LA – The Baton Rouge Area Foundation today announced the inaugural cohort of its Nonprofit Board Fellows, a program of the Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence. The program provides aspiring nonprofit board directors with skills, insights, and tools to guide area nonprofit organizations effectively. A cohort of 30 potential board leaders have been […]

Baton Rouge, LA – The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) today announced the appointment of Eric Dexter as the first-ever Vice President of Civic Leadership effective August 21, 2023. In this newly created role, Dexter will join the senior leadership team and be responsible for coordinating the Foundation’s major projects. Dexter will report directly to […]