MONROE, La. (December 8, 2025) — The Monroe Garden Club, Inc. is now accepting applications for its 2026 Beautification Grant Program, designed to enhance the community and support conservation efforts throughout Ouachita Parish.
The program provides financial assistance to projects that promote beautification, environmental stewardship, and community improvement. Eligible applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a government entity, including schools and educational institutions. Organizations that previously received a Monroe Garden Club grant may reapply for 2026, provided they submit documentation showing completion of their 2024–2025 funded project.
Applicants are required to submit proof of nonprofit status, along with a description of their organization’s mission and purpose. The maximum grant award is $1,000. Each application must include a detailed project budget outlining all funding sources and expenditures, including wages and equipment purchases. Grant recipients must agree to allow publicity of their projects and provide before-and-after photographs. Final funding decisions will be made by the Monroe Garden Club Grant Committee.
Recipients of the 2026 beautification grants will be announced on February 10, 2026, during the Monroe Garden Club’s annual business meeting.
Applications and grant guidelines are available by contacting Sue Nicholson at (318) 614-2833 or by email at snicholson54@outlook.com. The application deadline is January 16, 2026.
Organizations that received Monroe Garden Club beautification grants in 2025 include Choices Mentoring Community Garden, Kiroli Park Foundation, Monroe Symphony League, Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, Ouachita Green, and The Givers Club of Neville High School.
In addition to its grant program, the Monroe Garden Club actively supports beautification efforts across the community, including projects at the Carolyn Rose Strauss Senior Center, Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, Monroe Historic Corridor Project, Forsythe Park, the Masur Museum of Art, and the Dorothy Graves Breard Memorial Gardens.