Dear Friends, Thanks to the efforts of many, the region served by the Greater New Orleans Foundation has begun a journey up from hurricane-inflicted disaster toward hope. to improve the of It is not an easy path, nor is it for the faint of heart. At times it feels like a quality yearlong sprint or a marathon that will last many years. But signs are everywhere that you and the great people of southeastern Louisiana are more than able. In for all citizens of our area, this report you will see signs in the hands of children, who are the best reason for life imagining—and creating—a livable, economically strong community. When Hurricane Katrina’s wind and floodwaters subsided, it became clear that generations of leaders and supporters of the Greater New Orleans Foundation had now and for future generations put the organization in a unique position. Now, it would be called upon to play both traditional and completely unexpected new roles in the recovery. Thanks to that history of support, to more than $25 million in new gifts and this is where we belong we are pledges from organizations and individuals, and to the way political, business and nonprofit leaders turned to the Foundation for leadership, the Greater New Orleans Foundation is poised to lead in the years ahead. home to stay in New Orleans We believe that creating a dynamic future for the region depends on three key areas of focus: a skilled workforce; safe, affordable neighborhoods; and great pub- lic schools. Since Katrina, the Foundation’s Board and staff have embraced the role of devoting their efforts to achieving and measuring success in those areas. In addition, your Foundation has committed itself to helping the region address CONTENTS challenges of race and equity that permeate each of those cornerstones of success. As New Orleans and its neighbors work together, the Foundation’s staff, Board and Letter from the Chairman, Vice Chairman grants will reflect the communities we serve. Thanks in part to a $3.5 million grant and President & CEO . .......................... 1 from The Rockefeller Foundation, we are equipping ourselves to better serve those Following the Signs of Hope ...................... 2 communities, even as we respond to the most immediate needs of people. The New Orleans Community Support Foundation ..... 9 Thank you for sharing with us this historic journey. As you travel, and as you read the pages that follow, read the signs that tell you what is on the minds of Board of Trustees . ............................ 10 children. Our generation’s great calling is to create a future for this region worthy Partners in Philanthropy . 12 of their hopes and dreams. Contributors to Existing Funds . 14 Why Donors Choose GNOF . ..................... 20 Sincerely, Honor Roll of Advisors ......................... 22 Members of 1923 Society . ...................... 23 Grants Awarded .............................. 24 M. Cleland Powell III Gregory Ben Johnson Myron E. Moorehead, M. D. Funds at the Foundation . ....................... 30 Chairman President & CEO Vice Chairman Summarized Financial Statements . ................ 40 A Special Thank You: GNOF Staff ................................. 41 Due to the overwhelming response to our community after Hurricane Katrina, The beautiful children of New Orleans are courtesy of KID smART, the International School of New Orleans, Fischer the contributions to the Rebuild New Orleans Fund are listed on www.gnof.org. Elementary School and Communities in Schools. Special thanks to Echo Olander, Executive Director, KID smART Following the Signs of Hope The story of Hurricane Katrina has been told in countless ways: 24/7 news coverage, movies, books, official studies and more. But the story of August 29, 2005, was told best in simple signs written by people who experienced Katrina firsthand, and who now are rebuilding their communities. Before Katrina’s landfall, the grim humor of plywood signs 80 percent of the city flooded. braced windows: “Katrina go away!” When it would not, and ∑ A death toll over 1,450. the morning brought catastrophic winds, storm surge and ∑ 204,000 homes damaged. levee failures, came the desperate lettering of rooftop “Help!” ∑ 81,000 businesses ravaged. signs. Anxious families left “Please call us” notes in shel- ∑ 92 public schools severely damaged. ters. In the weeks that followed, there were the now-familiar ∑ The greatest dislocation of Americans since the 1930s. house markings by search teams. Who can forget the red- painted Xs and the news they told—and still tell? Initially, the storm displaced the GNOF family, too, driving the Foundation from its home in New Orleans and its staff Yet within days, when conventional communications members from their houses. Yet within days, the Foundation including mail, telephones, e-mail, and most local media had was back up and running, establishing a temporary head- failed, a curious phenomenon sprang up. Handwritten or quarters through the hospitality of the Baton Rouge Area quick-printed signs sprouted on roadsides, signifying that Foundation. From there, GNOF began to marshal resources friendships, neighborhoods, commerce and a city’s spirit for a marathon rebuilding effort. had not been washed away: After returning to its own offices, the Foundation experienced “Meet here Saturday at noon: bring a rake or broom.” dramatic growth: more than twice as many grants and triple “Now open for breakfast.” the total grant dollars have been allocated since Katrina. for the region will hinge on improvements in three key areas: “Enrolling students for January.” In the short term, GNOF focused the nation’s generosity safe, affordable neighborhoods; public education; and “Now hiring.” through the Rebuild New Orleans Fund. Through it and other workforce development. The Foundation’s Board and staff “We’ll be back.” efforts, the Foundation received gifts and pledges totaling have embraced the role of achieving success in those areas, “We are back.” more than $25 million, and directed 1,200-plus grants to with eyes wide open to the community’s concerns about organizations responding to storm victims’ needs. issues of race and equity. The Foundation Responds At the same time, GNOF continued to manage more than 700 Through the Louisiana Disaster Family Recovery Foundation, Twenty-two years before Hurricane Katrina, the Greater existing funds established by individuals, families and cor- GNOF has directed needed resources to nonprofits such as New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) was established as succes- porations. Among the gifts received after Katrina were new the Neighborhood Development Foundation, Neighborhood sor to the Community Chest. In the storm’s aftermath, the contributions from many existing supporters in the region, Housing Services, St. Bernard Parish Unified Schools and Foundation and its dedicated Board, staff and thousands of as well as support for Foundation operations that helped many others, to help care for people in need, and help re- supporters continue to make real progress toward improv- GNOF process and direct the unprecedented volume of con- turning residents find homes and schools. ing the quality of life—now and for future generations—for tributions from around the world. people throughout 13 parishes in southeastern Louisiana. In its grantmaking process, the Greater New Orleans The Foundation’s strength has been tested as never before Foundation is balancing immediate-response projects with by Katrina. The storm’s devastation included: strategic grants that will take years to show tangible results. GNOF believes that creating a sustainable, dynamic future Through grants from the Allstate Foundation’s Hurricane Recovery Fund, GNOF coordinated aid to displaced Louisianians, and assistance to low-income residents, through the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, Covenant House and others. Through Parkway Partners, people in neighborhood and civic groups are repairing trees, replanting grass and “re-greening” the city. To ensure that all voices are heard, GNOF has helped foster voter participation in cities through organizations such as the Advancement Project and the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation. To help build a better public school sys- tem, the Foundation has supported New Orleans Outreach, Greater New Orleans Afterschool Partnership, New Schools for New Orleans and others. The Road Ahead Generations of supporters built a strong Greater New The Foundation also played a key role in developing the Orleans Foundation that is now at the center of local, re- Unified New Orleans Plan (UNOP), the city’s comprehensive gional, national and international efforts to rebuild commu- recovery and rebuilding plan. UNOP is being implemented nities that work for everyone. Thanks to the generosity of under the auspices of the New Orleans Community Support many people and organizations, and the courage of people Foundation, a supporting organization of the Greater New living in southeastern Louisiana, there are signs of hope in Orleans Foundation. The Rockefeller Foundation, the Bush the region served by GNOF: Clinton Katrina Fund, and the Greater New Orleans Founda- ∑ tion are among the major supporters of UNOP. More than 50 percent of the area’s population has returned. ∑ 60,000 businesses have reopened. ∑ 25,000 students have enrolled in public schools. However, the extent of the damage is clear, and the journey will not be short or easy. Although roadside signs and tacked- up notes have been replaced again by modern communica- tion, the children