Katrina@20 and GNOFN@10: A Moment to Remember and Recommit

Dear Friends, Partners, and Community Members,

As we approach the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Greater New Orleans Funders Network (GNOFN), we find ourselves in a moment of reflection, remembrance, and renewed commitment. The devastation of Katrina laid bare the deep inequities that shape life in South Louisiana. Many of you reading this letter are survivors of that storm. We honor the strength, grief, and leadership you carry, and the extraordinary work you’ve done to build something better in the years since. 

That spirit of rebuilding with power, resilience, and imagination also gave rise to GNOFN. Formed in 2015, GNOFN is a network of philanthropic organizations working together to support systemic change in Louisiana by leveraging and optimizing philanthropic relationships and investments. We’re guided by the belief that the local communities most impacted by injustice are best positioned to lead the solutions. Our members are committed to moving resources in alignment with equity, justice, and local leadership.

For example, GNOFN members have committed $170,000 to support the Katrina@20 Week of Action, a series of community-led events honoring the lessons of Katrina and building the foundation for long-term resilience. We've also contributed $100,000 to The Data Center's New Orleans Index at Twenty and the creation of the K20 Index, a powerful research tool providing critical data and analysis on the state of our philanthropic and nonprofit ecosystem. And through our Black Men and Boys Action Table, we awarded a grant to the New Orleans Children & Youth Planning Board to support young black men in shaping the future of the city. This effort is rooted in listening, healing, and creating new possibilities for leadership.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch the GNOFN Wellbeing Fund this November. This new, trust-based resource is designed to meet the urgent and evolving needs of our nonprofit organizations, as they respond to climate disasters, political uncertainty, economic shocks, and the often unforeseen pressures of sustaining their missions. It reflects a shift in philanthropy that many of us have long been working toward: one that centers speed, trust, flexibility, and accountability to community.

As we look ahead to the next decade of GNOFN’s work, we invite you to recommit with us. The challenges and opportunities before us call for continued collaboration, trust, and bold investments rooted in equity. Together, we can honor the lessons of the past twenty years and co-create a more just and thriving future for South Louisiana.

With appreciation and resolve,

Alicia Oliver

Managing Director, Greater New Orleans Funders Network

www.gnofundersnetwork.org