NEW ORLEANS – Today, the Greater New Orleans Foundation opens its new Center for Philanthropy, a state-of-the-art, 22,000-square foot building in New Orleans on Lee Circle at 919 St. Charles Ave.
“The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s new Center for Philanthropy is the physical and symbolic home for strategic philanthropy in the Greater New Orleans region,” said Andy Kopplin, President and CEO. “It will house the offices of the Greater New Orleans Foundation and serve as the hub for developing effective community responses to opportunities and challenges facing the Greater New Orleans region.”
Board chair Cheryl Teamer said, “The Center for Philanthropy reflects the values of the Foundation. It’s a building with many open spaces throughout its three floors creating an atmosphere that invites public engagement and collaborations.”
An important feature of the building is the first floor’s Chevron Learning Center.
“Chevron is proud to support the Learning Center because it will allow the Foundation to significantly increase the number of workshops it can offer to nonprofits on such topics as advocacy, public policy, innovation and leadership,” said Leah Brown, manager of policy, government and public affairs for Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico business unit. “This is an investment in growing the capability of local nonprofit organizations, and ensuring they are well positioned for future success.”
In addition to providing resources to regional nonprofits, the Center for Philanthropy will welcome donors who want to make an impact, GNOF reps said. Currently, the Greater New Orleans Foundation administers more than 800 charitable funds established by individuals, families, corporations and national foundations. Last year alone, the Foundation, in partnership with its donors, granted nearly $30 million to nonprofit organizations in arts, education, environment and health and human services.
Local philanthropist Phyllis Taylor, who co-chaired the Imagine Greater campaign that helped raise funds for the construction of the building, said, “The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Center for Philanthropy is a place where we can come together to find solutions to our community’s greatest needs.”
The total cost of the project was $13 million.
“Entergy New Orleans is proud to be an investor in this community asset,” said Patty Riddlebarger, director of corporate social responsibility with Entergy New Orleans. “Entergy’s Nonprofit Resource Center within the Center is where the Foundation will host workshops to strengthen nonprofits, offer educational opportunities for donors on community issues and bring community partners together to address our region’s challenges.”
The building supports the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s commitment to environmental sustainability, GNOF reps said. The Waggonner & Ball architectural firm designed the building incorporating green infrastructure techniques such as rain gardens and an underground cistern that collects and stores 5,500 gallons of water for irrigation use.
Constructed by F.H. Myers, the building was built almost exclusively with locally sourced and designed materials. Institutions such as the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the Amistad Research Center have loaned works of art, in addition to private collectors who have shared pieces by local artists such as John Scott, Francis Pavy, Courtney Egan, Nicole Charbonnet and Fred Brown.
The Center for Philanthropy will house two tenants – the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and a coffee shop that will open in early 2017.
The building officially opens today, Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 4:30 p.m., with a dedication ceremony with nearly 1,000 guests expected to attend including business, nonprofit, community and political leaders.
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is a community foundation, serving a 13-parish area. Since its inception in 1983, the Foundation has invested more than $275 million in nonprofits organizations that represent arts and culture, health and human resources, environment and education.
