New Orleans, Louisiana · Est. 1949
A private charitable foundation dedicated to strengthening the Greater New Orleans community through thoughtful, consensus-driven grantmaking.
The Foundation awards grants to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits primarily in the Greater New Orleans region on a semi-annual cycle.
The Trustees of the Greg Keller Foundation have, from its inception, been most concerned with using its resources to help sustain and improve the Greater New Orleans community. With each change in membership of the Board of Trustees, the Foundation's direction and priorities change to reflect the input and priorities of the new members.
While the Foundation has no formal Mission Statement, the close relationships among the members of the Board give it a synergy that allows them to work by consensus — weighing each opportunity together with genuine care for the communities they serve.
The current Board has keen interests in four areas:
"The Foundation's primary region of interest is New Orleans, Louisiana and its surrounding communities."
The Greg Keller Foundation was originally formed as the Lincoln Foundation in 1949 by Charles Keller, Jr. and Rosa Freeman Keller with 10 shares of Coca-Cola Company stock. Mr. and Mrs. Keller made various additional contributions to the Foundation throughout their lives.
The Kellers were important and dynamic civic activists in New Orleans from the 1940s to the 1990s. They were instrumental, both as a couple and individually, in developing affordable housing for New Orleans' African American community and integrating the city's public libraries and swimming pools.
The Kellers received many civic awards, including Mr. Keller's Alexis de Tocqueville Society award from the United Way and Mrs. Keller's Times-Picayune Loving Cup.
The original mission of the Foundation reflected the Kellers' ideals and was not significantly different than the mission of the Foundation today. That mission has now been focused clearly on those issues the Trustees see as most critical for the region. The current Board of Trustees represents the third and fourth generations of Keller descendants to serve in that capacity — carrying forward a deep commitment to New Orleans and its people.
The Foundation considers grant proposals at its semi-annual meetings, usually held in April and November. All applications must be submitted through our online portal — hard copy submissions are not accepted.
No documents uploaded at this stage.
Submission DeadlinesOrganizations are notified by email no later than March 1 (spring) or September 3 (fall) whether they are invited to proceed to Stage 2. Please ensure your email contact information is current.
By invitation only — submitted via the same online portal.
Submission DeadlinesInterviews are conducted only at the invitation of the Foundation. Grant decisions are made at trustee meetings held in April and November.
Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a government agency.
Organizations primarily serving New Orleans and the Greater New Orleans region. Applications from outside the area are considered only if at least one Trustee has extensive knowledge of the organization.
Organizations devoted to education, civic affairs, and social services (others may be considered).
Grants to finance the education of a particular individual.
Grants for purely religious purposes.
Ticket purchases or participation in fundraising events such as galas.
A second application from any organization in the same calendar year — this applies to awarded grants and declinations at either stage.
Important: The Foundation will not consider another application from your organization in the same calendar year in which a previous application was submitted — regardless of whether that application was awarded or declined.
Mailing Address
Greg Keller Foundation
c/o CAPTRUST
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 1350
New Orleans, LA 70163
Phone: 504-207-8541
Info@KellerFamilyFoundation.orgBoard of Trustees
Luis C. Zervigon
President
Carlos L. Zervigon
Secretary
Thomas K. Loughlin
Trustee
Andres M. Zervigon
Trustee
Eli A. Zervigon
Trustee