Baton Rouge Area Foundation
A nonprofit community foundation that mobilizes philanthropy and civic leadership to improve quality of life in the Baton Rouge region and across South Louisiana.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) is a nonprofit community foundation established in 1964 by a group of civic leaders in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and serves a regional population of more than 1.5 million people across multiple South Louisiana parishes. Rather than functioning as a conventional commercial brand, BRAF is an institutional platform for philanthropy, nonprofit support, civic planning, and long-term regional problem-solving. BRAF's work is organized around three broad functions. First, it helps individuals, families, companies, and organizations establish and manage charitable funds. These include donor-advised funds, unrestricted funds, field-of-interest funds, designated funds, organizational funds, and scholarship funds. The structure allows donors to direct resources toward particular causes while benefiting from the foundation's administrative, grantmaking, and charitable infrastructure. Second, BRAF strengthens nonprofit organizations through grants, strategic consulting, capacity-building programs, and other forms of institutional support. Third, it acts as a civic convener and project catalyst, bringing together public agencies, universities, businesses, residents, and other philanthropic organizations to address regional challenges. The foundation was initially created to raise money and acquire land for the Gulf South Research Institute, which planned to establish offices in Baton Rouge. Under its first full-time president and chief executive officer, John Davies, BRAF developed from a comparatively small local institution into a major regional foundation. Davies led the organization for 33 years. During that period, the foundation's assets grew from approximately $5 million to more than $700 million, according to the organization's historical account. BRAF's civic portfolio has expanded well beyond traditional grantmaking. Its projects have addressed downtown revitalization, public health, environmental restoration, education, economic mobility, public safety, data-informed decision-making, literary recognition, and regional resilience. Through its property affiliate, Commercial Properties Realty Trust, the foundation has also played a role in downtown Baton Rouge real estate, including ownership and development associated with the IBM Building. BRAF later moved its offices into the renovated Watermark Centre. Notable initiatives include Plan Baton Rouge, a long-running downtown planning and revitalization effort; the Baton Rouge Health District, which seeks to connect medical, research, educational, residential, and community assets; the LSU Lakes Revitalization, an environmental and flood-resilience project around Louisiana State University's lake system; and Baton Rouge City Stats, a quality-of-life indicator project focused on East Baton Rouge. The foundation also supports the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, an annual prize for an emerging African-American fiction writer, and works with Common Good Labs on the Opportunity Data Project. In 2022, BRAF introduced the Opportunity Agenda after extensive community engagement involving more than 300 residents. The agenda established six focus areas: economic prosperity, excellent education, healthy families, quality of life, safer neighborhoods, and regional resilience. These priorities provide a framework for directing grants, partnerships, research, and civic initiatives toward more equitable access to opportunity. The foundation is led by Chris Meyer, formerly chief executive of New Schools for Baton Rouge. BRAF also supports affiliated community foundations, including the Northshore Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana. These affiliates operate independently while sharing a broad commitment to improving quality of life through philanthropy and community leadership.
History
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation was created in 1964 by 12 civic leaders in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Its earliest purpose was specific and practical: to raise funds and acquire land for the Gulf South Research Institute, which intended to establish offices in the city. From that initial effort, the organization developed into a permanent community foundation serving the broader Baton Rouge region and South Louisiana. BRAF's model combines charitable asset management with civic leadership. It provides a structure through which donors can establish charitable funds, while also directing grants and institutional support toward community needs. Over time, its work expanded from fundraising for a single research-related objective to a broad portfolio covering education, health, economic development, public safety, environmental quality, arts and culture, and nonprofit effectiveness. John Davies became the foundation's first full-time president and chief executive officer. He remained in that role for 33 years and oversaw a period of substantial institutional growth. The foundation's historical materials describe an increase in assets from approximately $5 million when he began to more than $700 million by the time of his retirement. His tenure helped establish BRAF as a major philanthropic and civic institution in the capital region. The foundation also developed a real-estate and downtown-development role through Commercial Properties Realty Trust. The affiliate built and owned several properties in downtown Baton Rouge, including the IBM Building. BRAF subsequently moved its offices from the IBM Building to the basement of the renovated Watermark Centre. This property activity complemented, but did not replace, the foundation's central philanthropic and civic mission. Beginning in the late 1990s, BRAF became closely associated with coordinated urban planning through Plan Baton Rouge. The first plan grew out of a week-long 1998 charrette involving planners, architects, developers, property owners, civic groups, neighborhood representatives, and residents. Influenced by New Urbanist ideas, the process sought to make downtown more active, walkable, mixed-use, and connected to the Mississippi River. Plan Baton Rouge II, launched in 2009, continued the effort by emphasizing public space, Third Street, downtown safety and cleanliness, riverfront improvements, and coordinated parking. Projects associated with the broader revitalization effort included the Main Street Market, the renovation of the Heidelberg Hotel into the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, and the Shaw Center for the Arts. In 2025, BRAF selected Sasaki to lead Plan Baton Rouge III, with a renewed focus on housing, placemaking, connectivity, economic development, the riverfront, and cultural identity. BRAF also became involved in regional health planning. The Baton Rouge Health District concept emerged in 2011 after the South Baton Rouge medical corridor was identified as a strategic area in the East Baton Rouge Parish comprehensive plan known as FuturEBR. BRAF issued a health district master plan in 2015. The initiative envisions a connected district of medical institutions, research organizations, educational facilities, residences, and public amenities across more than 1,000 acres. Environmental and quality-of-life initiatives form another important part of the foundation's civic work. BRAF underwrote the master plan for the LSU Lakes Revitalization, a project to restore the six-lake system around Louisiana State University. A coalition involving LSU, the State of Louisiana, the City of Baton Rouge, BREC, and BRAF formed in 2019, with LSU's real-estate and facilities foundation overseeing implementation. The project has included dredging, shoreline improvements, water-quality work, flood-risk reduction, and recreational enhancements. The foundation launched Baton Rouge City Stats in 2008 to track 50 indicators relating to quality of life in East Baton Rouge, including economic conditions, education, public safety, and health. It later partnered with Common Good Labs on the Opportunity Data Project, applying data analysis to issues such as education, public safety, and economic mobility. In 2022, BRAF used community input from more than 300 residents to launch the Opportunity Agenda. Its six priorities—economic prosperity, excellent education, healthy families, quality of life, safer neighborhoods, and regional resilience—now provide a strategic framework for civic and philanthropic activity. BRAF's cultural work includes support for the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. The annual award honors an emerging African-American fiction writer and recognizes the legacy of Louisiana author Ernest J. Gaines. The recipient receives a $15,000 prize. The foundation also supports affiliated community foundations, including the Northshore Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, which operate independently while pursuing related regional philanthropic goals. Chris Meyer, formerly chief executive of New Schools for Baton Rouge, succeeded the organization's long-serving earlier leadership and serves as BRAF's current chief executive officer. Today, the foundation combines donor services, nonprofit strengthening, grantmaking, research, and civic project development across South Louisiana.
- 2025
Plan Baton Rouge III planning begins
[2]BRAF selected Sasaki to lead a new downtown planning phase centered on housing, placemaking, infrastructure, connectivity, and the riverfront.
- 2022
Opportunity Agenda launched
[1]BRAF adopted a six-part regional framework addressing economic prosperity, education, family health, quality of life, neighborhood safety, and resilience.
- 2019
LSU Lakes coalition formed
[1]LSU, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, BREC, and BRAF formed a coalition to advance restoration of the LSU lake system.
- 2015
Health District master plan released
[1]BRAF published a master plan focused on infrastructure, mixed-use development, and collaboration among health-care and research institutions.
- 2011
Baton Rouge Health District concept initiated
[1]BRAF began developing the concept of a coordinated health district around the South Baton Rouge medical corridor.
- 2009
Plan Baton Rouge II launches
[1]The second phase renewed efforts to make downtown Baton Rouge more livable, active, walkable, and connected to the riverfront.
- 2008
Baton Rouge City Stats launches
[1]The foundation introduced a quality-of-life indicator project using 50 measures covering areas such as education, health, public safety, and the economy.
- 1998
Plan Baton Rouge begins
[1]BRAF facilitated a collaborative downtown planning charrette that became the first phase of Plan Baton Rouge.
- 1964
Foundation established
[1]Twelve Baton Rouge civic leaders established the organization to raise funds and acquire land for the Gulf South Research Institute.
Products and positioning
A regional philanthropic intermediary and civic problem-solving institution that connects donors, nonprofits, public agencies, researchers, and community leaders to improve South Louisiana.
Philanthropic fund
Donor-advised funds
Charitable accounts that allow donors to recommend grants to eligible nonprofit organizations while BRAF provides administrative and philanthropic infrastructure.
Philanthropic fund
Field-of-interest funds
Funds directed toward a defined issue or community interest, enabling donor resources to support organizations working within a selected field.
Philanthropic fund
Scholarship funds
Charitable funds established to provide educational scholarships according to donor-defined or foundation-managed criteria.
Grantmaking
Competitive grants
Grant programs that distribute philanthropic resources to nonprofit organizations addressing community needs and regional priorities.
Literary award
Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
An annual award recognizing an emerging African-American author of fiction and honoring the legacy of Louisiana writer Ernest J. Gaines. The award includes a $15,000 prize.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Opportunity Agenda
Baton Rouge region · South Louisiana
A strategic framework developed with broad community participation to guide BRAF's work on systemic inequity and access to opportunity.
Outcome. The framework established six priority areas used to organize philanthropic investments, civic partnerships, and regional initiatives.
- 2019LSU Lakes Revitalization
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
A coalition-led environmental and infrastructure project to restore the interconnected LSU lakes, improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and enhance recreation and shoreline access.
Outcome. The project entered phased implementation involving dredging, shoreline improvements, habitat work, and related infrastructure upgrades.
- 2011Baton Rouge Health District
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
A regional development initiative intended to connect health-care providers, research institutions, educational facilities, residences, and wellness-oriented public amenities.
Outcome. BRAF produced a master plan in 2015 and continued supporting the district as a long-term health, innovation, and quality-of-life project.
- 2008Baton Rouge City Stats
East Baton Rouge Parish
A data and civic engagement project measuring regional quality of life through indicators covering the economy, education, public safety, and health.
Outcome. The project created a shared evidence base for residents and civic leaders discussing regional priorities.
- 1998Plan Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
A long-term downtown revitalization and planning initiative addressing walkability, mixed-use development, public spaces, riverfront connections, safety, and economic activity.
Outcome. The initiative contributed to downtown investments and continued through later planning phases, including Plan Baton Rouge II and Plan Baton Rouge III.
- Opportunity Data Project
Baton Rouge region
A partnership with Common Good Labs using data science to understand community needs and inform work involving education, public safety, and economic mobility.
Outcome. The project supplied analytical insights for civic initiatives and opportunity-focused planning.
Brand decisions
2025
Commissioning of Plan Baton Rouge IIIStrategyBackground
Downtown Baton Rouge faced continuing needs involving housing, connectivity, riverfront access, infrastructure, business development, and cultural placemaking.
Action taken
BRAF selected Sasaki to lead the third generation of downtown planning, with an emphasis on community engagement and a renewed long-term vision.
Aftermath
The planning process was positioned to guide future downtown development and public-realm improvements.
2022
Adoption of the Opportunity AgendaStrategyBackground
BRAF sought a clearer strategic response to systemic inequities and unequal access to opportunity in the Baton Rouge region.
Action taken
The foundation launched a six-priority framework covering economic prosperity, education, healthy families, quality of life, safer neighborhoods, and regional resilience.
Aftermath
The agenda became a framework for BRAF's philanthropic investments, civic partnerships, and community initiatives.
2019
Participation in LSU Lakes restoration coalitionOtherBackground
Sedimentation, declining water quality, limited lake depth, and flood concerns created a need for coordinated restoration of the LSU lake system.
Action taken
BRAF joined LSU, state and local authorities, and BREC in a coalition and underwrote the project's master plan.
Aftermath
The project proceeded in phases involving dredging, shoreline improvements, habitat protection, and infrastructure work.
Recent events
Entergy Louisiana launches Fueling the Fight initiative[3]
Reported:
Entergy Louisiana launched the Fueling the Fight in the Capital Region initiative in partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, ExxonMobil, LMOGA Foundation, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, and Humana. The initiative provides up to $290,000 in relief funds for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sources3 sources
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