2027 Grants & ScholarshipsLeading From The Heart Awards
Supporting Women Who Strengthen Our Community
Great communities are built by women with ideas, determination, and the courage to make things happen.
Through our annual Leading from the Heart Awards, Les Dames d’Escoffier New Orleans invests $7,500 in grants and scholarships supporting women pursuing culinary education, building hospitality businesses, and strengthening Louisiana agriculture.
Because when women succeed, our entire community benefits.
2027 Grants & Scholarships
Business Development Grant
$2,250 • 1 recipient
Supporting women entrepreneurs in hospitality and hospitality-adjacent industries. Funding can help purchase essential equipment, cover eligible startup expenses, or expand an existing business.
Women in Agriculture Grant
$2,250 • 1 recipient
Supporting women cultivating Louisiana’s agricultural future. This grant helps women-owned agricultural operations invest in equipment, eligible startup expenses, and business expansion.
NOCHI Culinary Scholarship
$1,500 • 1 recipient
Administered directly by NOCHI. For eligibility and application details, please contact NOCHI.
Delgado Community College Culinary Scholarship
$1,500 • 1 recipient
Administered directly by Delgado Community College. For eligibility and application details, please contact Delgado.
How to Apply
Applications for the Business Development and Women in Agriculture grants open November 15 and close December 15, 2026. Please review the eligibility requirements below before selecting an application.
Applications are evaluated by a grants committee. Selected finalists may be invited to a brief interview. Culinary scholarships are administered separately by NOCHI and Delgado.
FAQs
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Women who own Louisiana-registered businesses in hospitality or hospitality-adjacent industries within the eligible ten-parish region. Examples include restaurants, bakeries, bars, cafés, hotels, catering, food and beverage manufacturing, event services, and businesses that support hospitality. Current LDEI members are not eligible.
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Women who own Louisiana-registered agricultural businesses or operations in the eligible ten-parish region. Current LDEI members are not eligible.
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Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and St. Charles.
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Equipment, eligible startup expenses, or business expansion.
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Applications open November 15, 2026, and close December 15, 2026.
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Applications are reviewed using a standardized scoring rubric based on financial need, project feasibility, and anticipated impact on the business and local community. Finalists may be invited to interview with the grants committee.
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Not at all. We welcome clear, thoughtful answers in your own words. Tell us about your work, your goals, and what this grant could make possible.
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The grants committee may contact you to arrange a brief interview about your business, proposed project, and anticipated impact.
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[Announcement date to be confirmed.]
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Contact NOCHI [contact/link] or Delgado Community College [contact/link]. Scholarship applications are not accepted through this website.
Questions?
Contact Chaya Conrad at philanthropy@lesdamesnola.org.