M4Louisiana is a group of Star Wars enthusiasts, local business owners, educators, and community leaders who created this annual festival to uplift students and schools in Terrebonne Parish through the power of the arts.
May The 4th Be With You – Louisiana
School Arts Program Application Guidelines
Mission
May the 4th Be with You – Louisiana, organized by M4Louisiana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, blends Star Wars fandom with Cajun culture to raise funds for local schools who offer or have the plan to develop music and/or art programs to their students. What began as a small gathering has grown into a full-day community festival that celebrates creativity, encourages expression, and supports the arts in our schools.
Who We Are
What We Do
Celebrate Local Culture: Showcase Cajun cuisine, music, crafts, and performances that highlight the unique character of Louisiana.
Foster Creativity: Encourage creative expression for all ages through activities such as Jedi Academy, The Empire Cooks Back Cook-Off, costume contests, the Kessel Run 5K, the Wookiee Calling Contest, and the Intergalactic Circus.
Give Back: A portion of the proceeds raised directly benefits the selected school’s music or arts program. Funds may be used for instruments, uniforms, art supplies, travel, and other eligible program needs.
Purpose
The purpose of this application is to select a Terrebonne Parish school to receive financial support during each grant cycle of the May the 4th Be With You – Louisiana Festival. Funding will be awarded to a program that demonstrates financial need, meaningful community engagement, and alignment with M4Louisiana’s mission to support and celebrate student creativity through the arts.
Eligibility Criteria
School Grant Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for consideration, an applicant school must:
Be located within Terrebonne Parish.
Be a public or private school serving students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade.
Offer, or have a plan to develop, a student music or arts program, including band, choir, visual arts, media arts, or performing arts.
Use all awarded funds to directly support students and the approved music or arts program.
Submit a clear plan explaining how the funds will be used and how students will benefit.
Demonstrate financial need.
Be willing to participate in reasonable publicity, promotional, and fundraising activities associated with M4Louisiana and May the Fourth Be With You – Louisiana.
Support the festival’s volunteer needs by:
Providing a reasonable number of student, staff, parent, or school-affiliated volunteers.
Assisting with volunteer recruitment within the school community.
Designating a school representative to coordinate volunteer participation with M4Louisiana.
Not have received the M4Louisiana school grant during the immediately preceding grant cycle.
Submit photographs and a brief summary explaining how the grant funds were used within 60 days of receiving the funds. M4Louisiana will provide the required final report form.
Submit a complete application, including all required documentation, by the published deadline.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award. Eligible applications will be evaluated according to the published selection and scoring criteria.
Scoring Criteria
Applications will be evaluated by the M4Louisiana Selection Committee made up of outside community leaders using the following criteria:
Evaluation Category | Weight |
|---|---|
Statement of Need | 40% |
Community Engagement | 30% |
Future Impact | 30% |
Total | 100% |
Statement of Need (40%)
- Describe the financial needs of your school’s program.
- Explain how funds will be used (e.g., equipment, supplies, program expansion, or travel).
- Include estimates for specific purchases or projects.
Community Engagement (30%)
- Share examples of your school’s involvement in the local community.
- Describe how your school will promote the festival and engage it’s school support network.
- Indicate a willingness to provide student/staff volunteers to support the event.
Future Impact (30%)
- Describe the anticipated short and long-term impact of receiving funding.
- Explain how this support will positively impact students.
- Confirm commitment to providing a written impact statement with stories, photos, or testimonials after the funding period.
application info
Submit Online: www.mayfourthfest.org
Deadline: September 30, 2026, by 5:00 PM CST
Ensure your application is complete and accurate.
Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Selection & Notification
The school(s) will be selected as the 2027 fundraising recipient(s) based on the highest score(s).
All applicants will be notified of their status by November 2, 2026
Upon acceptance, the selected school(s) will receive communication with the next steps.
Reach out to contact@mayfourthfest.org with any questions or concerns
Important
- Schools selected as recipients are ineligible for selection the following year to ensure equitable opportunities for others.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed.
- If a question does not apply indicate “N/A.”
- The maximum award available to a single applicant during each grant cycle is $10,000. The final award amount will be based on the financial success of that year’s May the 4th Be With You – Louisiana Festival and the funds remaining after festival expenses. Although the festival is held rain or shine, attendance, revenue, and fundraising may be affected by severe weather, acts of God, emergencies, economic conditions, vendor or sponsor participation, or other circumstances beyond M4Louisiana’s control. For this reason, M4Louisiana cannot guarantee a minimum award amount.