NORD Self-Generated Revenue Falls Below Half
The New Orleans Recreation and Development Commission has raised $273,000 in self-generated funds so far this year, less than half of past years' totals.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Do you trust New Orleans to manage its public recreation money well?
The New Orleans Recreation and Development Commission (NORD) has raised $273,000 in self-generated funds so far this year. That amount is less than half of what was raised by this point in past years.
Why it matters
The self-generated fund makes up only a small portion of NORD's $22 million budget, but the shortfall highlights gaps in how fees are collected and priced. Residents who use city recreation facilities and athletic programs may see changes in fees as officials work to close the gap.
NORD raised $273,000 in self-generated funds so far this year, less than half of prior-year totals at this point. About 75% of teams did not submit registration fees in the first half of 2025, and uncollected fees amount to roughly $150,000 annually.
The players
New Orleans Recreation and Development Commission (NORD)
NORD is the city agency that operates New Orleans' parks, athletic programs and recreation facilities, and it sets its own self-generated revenue targets within a roughly $22 million budget.
Patrice Bell
Patrice Bell is taking over as NORD's chief executive officer on December 1, succeeding current leadership at the agency.
New Orleans Office of Inspector General
The Inspector General's office is the city watchdog that audits municipal agencies, and its September report identified NORD's failure to collect athletic registration fees.
The details
Revenue fell from athletic registration fees, food concessions and facility rentals, with lost opportunities at Morris F.X. Jeff Stadium in Algiers largely responsible for the drop in rentals. A September report from the New Orleans Office of Inspector General found NORD failed to collect registration fees across its athletic programs, and NORD's rental fees have not been changed since 2014.
Timeline
2014: NORD's rental fees were last changed.
2024: The self-generating revenue budget was first set at $1.6 million.
First half of 2025: About 75% of teams did not submit registration fees.
September 2026: The Inspector General report found failure to collect registration fees.
December 1, 2026: Patrice Bell starts as NORD CEO.
Market Landscape
The September audit by the New Orleans Office of Inspector General found NORD failed to collect athletic registration fees, and the current shortfall in self-generated funds follows directly from those collection problems. Rental fees that have not changed since 2014 add to the pressure on the agency's self-generated revenue.
Residents who sign children up for NORD athletic programs or rent city recreation facilities could see fee changes as the agency moves to a new rental fee schedule. Current fee structures have not been updated since 2014 for rentals, leaving the agency to adjust costs to close its revenue gap.
The takeaway
Fee collection and pricing practices directly determine how much self-generated revenue a city recreation agency can keep, and gaps in either can quickly erode budget plans. Readers who use NORD programs should watch for new rental and facility fee schedules in the coming year.
What happens next
Officials plan to finalize an increased rental fee schedule to go out next year and are considering increasing facility fees in 2027. Patrice Bell takes over as NORD CEO on December 1.
Further reading
For more on how nonprofit and public funding is directed in the city, see Philanthropy coverage for New Orleans.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NOLA.
Live Poll
Do you trust New Orleans to manage its public recreation money well?
