NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Mu Zeta Foundation, Inc.

The recipient entity's physical address:
           2021 Harding Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70807

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           2021 Harding Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70807

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  6257

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $300,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           President Bernestine McGee, PhD 11250 Foster Drive Baton Rouge, LA 708111
Financial Officer Lynda Batiste, 2347 Gracie Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Ex-Officio Rachel Thomas, PhD 1729 Greenwood Drive, LaPlace, LA 70068


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           On October 19, 1980, the Mu Zeta Foundation headquarters, which is property located at 2021 Harding Boulevard in Baton Rouge, Louisiana was constructed. The structure is 2200 square feet, featuring a foyer, large reception area, two full-size bathrooms, a fully furnished kitchen, a corridor, and three storage rooms. The Sorority House stands as a welcoming beacon to the campus of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College and is minutes away from interstate. The House also serves as home to many philanthropic endeavors such as assisting indigent women receive needed services to learn how to care for their impending infant, scholarship applications are received, reviewed, and processed, meals for the homeless and seniors within the community, as well as housing the history of African American life in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. The purchase of this property was truly historic, as it marked the first sorority house erected and owned by a Black sorority in Louisiana.
The land for the House was purchased in 1968 and the planning ensued on House construction in 1979. The Building Committee was able to retain the services of Mr. Henry Thurman, who was a notable architect in Baton Rouge. He was the first African American registered architect in Louisiana and was the founder of Southern University’s School of Architecture and College of Engineering.
While the House has greatly served the needs of Foundation since 1980, the House is limited in internal spacing for all of the endeavors that the Foundation undertakes. Therefore, additional funds are requested to augment the House for additional space to continue and expand the cadre of services offered to meet the needs of the clientele serviced by the Foundation.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $240,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $25,000
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $20,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The main public good associated with this project centers on increasing knowledge and services to vulnerable populations through rendering philanthropic services to the Greater Baton Rouge community to populations that are in dire need of services. At the inception of our application for non-profit status, which has been held since 1960, we sought to serve as an extension of services that uplift the community, that is most times unable to be served by the city and state, due to the expansive, ever-growing needs of the citizenry. We seek to serve as a means of mitigating public needs through our offerings to help enhance or improve the lives of the clientele we meet, who seek out our services. Our services are provided through member donations, so seeking additional funds to help in the expansion of the property would enable more people to be served.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The goals we seek to expand as a result of this project are as follows:
Goal:
Impart life-improving assistance to clients in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
Objectives:
Mu Zeta Foundation seeks to partner with the Department of Children and Family Services, specifically the Office of Economic Stability, TANF and WIC, to receive an increased amount of referrals of pregnant indigent women/families for prenatal supportive classes. Additionally, we seek to assist other vulnerable populations, such as the homeless and seniors through monthly feeding programs.
Rationale: Peer reviewed research from the March of Dimes attests to prenatal care being a major determining factor in reducing birth defects. In minority communities, this is especially critical, as minorities are more likely to not have access to prenatal care during pregnancy (Source: March of Dimes, 2020). We believe the expansion of the property will allow for an increase of 40% more clientele to be served at our location.
Goal: Increase development programming for K-12 youth in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
Objective: Mu Zeta Foundation seeks to host monthly life skills classes to include college preparation courses, tutoring, suicide prevention, cultural affairs, anti-bullying and scholarship writing to K-12 aged youth.
Rationale: As the crime numbers continue to climb in the Baton Rouge, our youth are increasingly involved in these criminal activities. Providing opportunities for constructive activities that extend the services of the local community centers is a goal we have to help reduce youth violence and assist Baton Rouge youth in becoming productive citizens within our community.


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           The philanthropic endeavors of this project are annualized. Therefore they are undertaken each year.

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 Dr. Barbara W. Carpenter, LA House of Representative District 63, 1975 Harding Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807
Regina Barrow, LA Sentate, District 15, 4822 Harding Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70811

    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Member

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               NA

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               NA

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                NA

          What is the nature of the relationship?  NA

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 NA

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               NA


Contact Information
name:  Rachel Thomas 
                                       address:  1729 Greenwood Drive LaPlace, LA 70068
                                       phone:  8502846185
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  1934muzeta@gmail.com
                                       relationship to entity:  Ex-Officio