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Foundation for Louisiana

EIN 20-3399944 · New Orleans, LA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA IS THE PEOPLE'S FOUNDATION. WE EXPAND OPPORTUNITY AND WELLBEING ACROSS THE STATE BY INVESTING IN LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE CONDITIONS THAT HELP EVERY LOUISIANAN LIVE A SAFE, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) STABLE, CONNECTED, AND DIGNIFIED LIFE.

Income
$7.4 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
29
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$278,906, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $4.3 million spent. FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA WAS BORN IN 2005 IN THE TUMULTUOUS DAYS FOLLOWING HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA. FOUNDED AS THE LOUISIANA DIASTER RECOVERY FOUNDATION, OUR INITIAL WORK WAS TO INVEST IN AND SUPPORT THE IMMEDIATE RECOVERY OF LOUISIANA'S COMMUNITIES FOLLOWING THE STORMS. OUR FOUNDERS KNEW THAT A FULL AND RESPONSIBLE RECOVERY WOULD ENTAIL FAR MORE THAN REBUILDING WHAT WAS LOST. IT WOULD REQUIRE ADDRESSING THE MANY WAYS THAT LONGSTANDING DISPARITIES HAVE BEEN WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF LIFE FOR TOO MANY IN OUR STATE. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT COMMUNITIES ACROSS LOUISIANA HAVE THE STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP TO SHAPE THEIR OWN FUTURES. OUR FOCUS AREAS SUPPORT THE CONDITIONS THAT HELP THAT FUTURE BECOME REAL. OUR WORK DEEPENNS COMMUNITY WELLBEING, NURTURES MEANINGFUL (CONTINUED ON SCH O) OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE LOUISIANANS, SUPPORTS LOCAL LEADERSHIP, AND CULTIVATES THE CONDITIONS WHERE DIGNITY, HEALTH, AND THE CREATIVITY THAT MAKES OUR STATE UNIQUE CAN THRIVE. WE CALL THIS FREEDOM WORK, AND WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT IT STATEWIDE. FFL FOCUSES ON RACIAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE JUSTICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND TRANSFORMAION, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, GENDER JUSTICE, AND SUPPORT FOR LOUISIANA'S VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURE BEARERS VIA: (1) INVESTMENT: AS A PHILANTHROPIC INTERMEDIARY, WE REDISTRIBUTE RESOURCES TO ON THE GROUND PROJECTS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA, THROUGH GRANTS, AND REGRANTING TO ON THE GROUND PROJECTS MANY OF WHOM CAN'T ACCESS TRADITIONAL PHILANTHROPY. EACH YEAR, FFL REDISTRIBUTES APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA IN OUR KEY PROGRAM AREAS. (2) POWER BUILDING: WE BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OUR PARTNERS AND GRANTEES TO EFFECT CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS, LEAD AND TOGETHER, CONVENE EMERGING AND EXPERIENCED COMMUNITY LEADERS TO PROVIDE TRAINING RELATED TO ORGANIZING, ADVOCACY, POLICY CHANGE, LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND GROUP FACILITATION THAT INCREASES THEIR CAPACITY TO TACKLE ISSUES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH DISPARITIES, HOUSING ACCESS, AND MORE. (3) COLLABORATION: WE DEVELOP COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES THROUGH LEVERAGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO IMPACT CHANGE, SUPPORT PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY INITIATIVES, AND PROVIDE CRITICAL FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TO EXTERNAL PROJECTS AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.