Entergy’s Open Grants Program Guidelines and Application

Before applying for an Open Grant, please read the following guidelines and instructions.

Entergy’s Open Grants Program focuses on improving communities as a whole. We look for giving opportunities in the areas of arts and culture, community improvement/enrichment, the environment and healthy families. Educational initiatives are funded mainly through the Entergy Charitable Foundation. Proposals that primarily benefit low-income populations should be submitted to the Entergy Charitable Foundation, regardless of the program area.

In considering requests for grants, priority is placed on programs in specific counties/parishes. Please check the following links to determine if your project is located in an area where Entergy has operations: Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, and Vermont. If you have questions about this, please contact the Entergy contributions coordinator in your area:

Open Grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. If you are starting a new application, click here to access and submit an online application form. We strongly suggest that when filling out the application you take advantage of the option to create a personal account so that after you’ve submitted your application, you can access it and make changes if necessary.

Please make sure to submit your application at least three months prior to the time the requested funds are needed. We receive many applications throughout the year, and we need to allow sufficient time to review each request carefully. Once you have submitted your application online, please allow at least 6 (six) to 8 (eight) weeks for review and notification of the result of your request. If by that time you have not been contacted by Entergy, please feel free to contact the appropriate contributions coordinator for your geographic area. (See above list.)

If you have already started an application, saved it and created an account, please click here to access your application.

Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to the time the funding is needed.

Applications are approved or denied based on application criteria and Entergy’s available resources.

Arts and Culture

The arts are expressions of ourselves – our heritage, feelings and ideas. To cultivate that, we support a diverse range of locally based visual arts, theater, dance and music institutions. Our long-term goal is to increase the access to contemporary art for a wider public, including children and the financially disadvantaged.

Community Improvement/Enrichment

Entergy supports community-based projects that focus community enrichment and improvement. A few examples include civic affairs, blighted housing improvements, and neighborhood safety. By giving to communities in this way, we actually help them become more self-sufficient.

Healthy Families

Children need a good start to grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults. With that in mind, we give to programs that have a direct impact on children educationally and emotionally. We’re also interested in family programs, like those that better prepare parents to balance the demands of work and home.

Eligibility and Preferences

Grants from Entergy will only be made to the following types of organizations:

• Non-profit organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Tax Code"), or

• Schools, hospitals, governmental units and religious institutions that hold nonprofit status similar to that of 501(c)(3) organizations, which may therefore be eligible.

• Volunteer fire departments that are 501(c)(4)

NOTE: Due to changes in tax reporting requirements, if your organization does not hold 501(c)(3) tax status, you will have to attach the organization's W-9 form to the application. You can access a blank W-9 form at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf?portlet=103.

Entergy will NOT fund:

• Groups without 501(c)(3) or similar non-profit status

• Capital project funding (i.e., building campaigns)

• Political candidates or groups

• Purchase of uniforms or trips for school-related organizations

• Amateur sports teams

• Activities whose sole purpose is promotion or support of a specific religion, denomination, or religious institution

• Grants to individuals or loans of any type

• Any organization owned or operated by an employee of Entergy

For more information please call 504-576-6980.