Discretionary grants provide limited support for funeral-related expenses for deceased individuals who have dedicated significant parts of their lives to practicing and/or perpetuating the music and cultural heritage of communities in Louisiana. 

Specifically, grants have been extended to members of the Music, Black Masking Indian and Social Aid & Pleasure Club, and other Indigenous Louisiana communities.

Discretionary Grants are quite limited and funds are not always available. 

Funeral Expenses: 

Only family members of the deceased may apply.

Discretionary Funeral Expense Grants are limited to a maximum of $2,500.

An invoice from the funeral/mortuary is required to accompany the application.

Discretionary Event Fund:
These grants are available only to the following:

• Organizations whose programs support the mission of the Jazz & Heritage Foundation
• Programs or projects that are not eligible for the Community Partnership Grants program or the Norman Dixon Sr. Annual Second Line Parade Fund
• Nonprofit organizations based in Louisiana

Discretionary Event Grants are limited to a maximum of $2,500.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation will consider only one grant request per fiscal year from any applicant. This includes Community Partnership Grants. So an applicant that has received funding through the Community Partnership Grants program is not eligible for Discretionary Grants funding, and vice versa.

To apply, download the form in the Downloads section below. If you need assistance completing the application, please contact our office at the number below. Completed applications may be submitted via email to this address, or may be sent to:

Discretionary Grant Fund
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc.,
1205 North Rampart Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
Phone: (504) 558-6109