Entergy Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$12-18 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 8-12 weeks (rolling); 3 months (Foundation Grants)
• Grant Range: $1,000-$160,000
• Geographic Focus: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas (Entergy service territory only)

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.entergy.com/communities/grants
• Phone: 504-576-6116
• Address: 639 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
• Grant Portals:
  • Micro Grants: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/programs/fd5946d8-56eb-4cdc-9363-4a6654bc95df
  • Open Grants: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/programs/a03148a5-cbbb-4e18-9cf1-03e9eb40fec2
  • Foundation Grants: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/programs/14aa7e31-1ea1-4818-ba46-fca8c6d26171

Overview

The Entergy Charitable Foundation is a corporate foundation established in 2000 and based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Funded through shareholder contributions from Entergy Corporation, the foundation holds approximately $32 million in assets and distributed $12.1 million in grants in 2024. In peak years, combined corporate and foundation giving has reached $18.2 million (2021), supporting over 1,500 nonprofit organizations. The foundation's mission focuses on creating and sustaining thriving communities across Entergy's four-state service territory, with particular emphasis on education and workforce development, poverty solutions, and environmental stewardship. This geographic focus reflects the economic realities of its service area, which includes some of the highest poverty rates in the nation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Foundation Grant: Up to $160,000 (focus on low-income populations and education; deadlines Feb 1 and Aug 1)
• Open Grants: $25,000-$160,000 (arts, community improvement, healthy families; rolling basis except MS with April 1 deadline)
• Micro Grants: Up to $1,000 (all program areas; rolling basis year-round)

Priority Areas

1. Education and Workforce Development - Quality education access and skills development for children and young people
2. Poverty Solutions - Innovative and measurable solutions to intergenerational poverty, including financial literacy and homeownership preparation
3. Environmental Programs - Environmental restoration, stormwater management, education, community resilience, and climate mitigation
4. Arts and Culture - Supporting cultural institutions and programming
5. Healthy Families - Health and wellness initiatives
6. Community Improvement - Broader community enrichment efforts
7. Disaster Relief - Emergency response and recovery

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations without 501(c)(3) or equivalent status
• Utility bill payments (except through The Power to Care program)
• Political candidates or groups
• Gala events, testimonial dinners, fundraising meals
• Advertisements in programs
• School uniforms, equipment, or trips
• Religious-specific activities
• Grants to individuals or personal loans
• Organizations owned by Entergy employees

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board drawn from Entergy Corporation's senior executive team:

• John Hudson - President (also SVP External Affairs, Entergy Corporation)
• Kimberly Fontan - Treasurer
• Rod K. West - Director
• Marcus Brown - Director
• Haley Fisackerly - Director
• Kimberly Cook-Nelson - Director
• Laura Landreaux - Director
• Chris Bakken - Director

Patty Riddlebarger, VP of Corporate Social Responsibility (2021-2023), stated: "Everyone deserves an opportunity to be successful" and "Giving back is central to Entergy's mission. Our shareholders exemplify this commitment through their generous contributions."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through three separate grant portals depending on grant type. The browser-based system is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Applicants should create an account to save and return to applications before submission.

Required documentation:

• W-9 form (if not auto-verified)
• Evidence of 501(c)(3) or equivalent status

Organizations with eligibility questions should contact their local contributions coordinator before applying.

Decision Timeline

• Foundation Grant: Two annual deadlines (February 1 and August 1); submit within one month before deadline; notification in approximately 3 months
• Open Grants: Rolling basis; 8-12 weeks for review (Mississippi: April 1 annual deadline)
• Micro Grants: Rolling year-round; 8-12 weeks for review

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation supported approximately 1,500 organizations with $18.2 million in 2021, 565 organizations with $7.9 million in first half 2022, and 467 organizations with $6.4 million in first half 2023.

Reapplication Policy

No explicit waiting period documented. Organizations may reapply at the next available cycle. Contacting local contributions coordinator for feedback after unsuccessful application is advisable.

Application Success Factors

1. Geographic alignment is critical - Must serve counties/parishes within Entergy's Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas service area
2. Choose the correct program - Foundation Grant for low-income and education; Open Grants for arts/community; Micro Grants for smaller requests
3. Demonstrate measurable innovation - Foundation seeks "innovative and measurable" solutions, particularly for poverty alleviation
4. Focus on low-income populations - Over half of recent grants serve underrepresented or low-income communities
5. Established organizations have advantage - Foundation "tends to support larger, well-established organizations" per Inside Philanthropy
6. Frame around shareholder giving - Emphasize that funding comes from shareholders, not customer bills
7. Submit well in advance - Allow three months before funds are needed
8. Use local coordinator resources - Foundation encourages pre-submission contact with local contributions coordinators

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable - must serve Entergy's specific service area counties/parishes
• Two Foundation Grant deadlines annually (Feb 1 and Aug 1) with one-month submission windows
• Three distinct programs with different focuses and amounts - apply to the right one
• "Innovative and measurable" impact language is consistently used - align your outcomes framework
• Larger, established organizations have competitive edge for major grants, but Micro Grants offer opportunity for smaller groups
• Contact local contributions coordinator before submitting - this is actively encouraged
• All funding is shareholder-based - align narrative to corporate community value proposition

References

• Entergy Charitable Foundation grants overview: https://www.entergy.com/communities/grants (accessed February 2026)
• Entergy grant application process: https://www.entergy.com/communities/apply (accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Entergy Charitable Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/710845366 (accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/entergy-charitable-foundation (accessed February 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-e/entergy-charitable-foundation (accessed February 2026)
• Entergy 2023 contribution announcement: https://www.entergy.com/news/entergy-contributes-6-4m-toward-community-improvement-initiatives-in-first-half-2023 (accessed February 2026)
• Entergy 2022 grants blog: https://www.entergy.com/blog/we-ve-partnered-with-560-local-organizations-in-2022-build-stronger-more-diverse-communities (accessed February 2026)
• Entergy 2021 grants summary: https://www.entergy.com/blog/entergy-partners-with-1-500-community-organizations-awards-18m-in-grants-in-2021 (accessed February 2026)