129 NGOs seeking funding from state

In a year strapped for cash like no other in the history of Louisiana, 129 separate non-government organizations (NGOs) have requested funding totaling more than $106.25 million, according to legislative records.

More than one-fourth of that amount came in a request for more than $26 million from the Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education in New Orleans.

The foundation is a private, non-profit company established in 2006. With annual revenues of about $1.1 million, the foundation has two employees and operates the Sci High in New Orleans, an open enrollment school for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans also submitted a request for $27 million. Other requests that exceeded $1 million included the State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport, $12.6 million (two requests); Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans, $11.5 million; Friends of South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery in Houma, $9.875 million; Louisiana Children’s Museum in New Orleans, $6.5 million; the Louisiana Food Bank Association in Baton Rouge, $5 million; Teach for America, Inc. of New York, $5 million; Kingsley House, Inc., in New Orleans, $4.15 million; Dixie Business Center in Denham Springs, $4.1 million, and the New Orleans Museum of Art, $2 million.

Other requests included the St. Mary Council on Aging in Franklin, $100,000; the Terrebonne Council on Aging in Houma, $100,000, and the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, $20,000.

In the past, when the state was flush with revenue, the legislature was generous with its largesse. Lawmakers piled in requests from community centers, recreational districts, and other local projects and typically doled out hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Even last year, with the state’s revenue forecasts already warning of hard days ahead, nearly $500 million was spent on local projects across the state. Not all of those were NGOs, however. Many projects included local courthouses, jails, city halls, etc.

It appears that requests this year are considerably below the number and amounts of requests from past years.

With the state presenting facing a revenue shortfall that some say will reach $1.6 billion, it is highly unlikely that many of this year’s requests will be funded.