Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES USE OF GRASSROOTS ACTION IN ORDER TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS FREE FROM INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 16.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $169,395, executive director
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $841,744 spent. SUPPORTING FENCELINE COMMUNITIES: EARLY WARNING NETWORK - WE KNOW THAT OUR RESISTANCE IS STRONGER WHEN WE BEGIN EARLY. IN ST. JAMES PARISH, FOR EXAMPLE, WORK TARGETING THE ST. JAMES PLANNING COMMISSION INCLUDED AN OPEN MEETINGS LAWSUIT AND TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT CAUSED THE CANCELLATION OF THE BILLION DOLLAR WANHUA CHEMICAL PLANT. THE EARLY WARNING NETWORK WILL FOCUS ON THE AREAS OF THE STATE TARGETED FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION. IN CANCER ALLEY THESE INCLUDE ST. JAMES, ST. JOHN, AS WELL AS ST. CHARLES, ASCENSION, IBERVILLE AND JEFFERSON. THE EARLY WARNING NETWORK IS A PLAN TO DO THREE THINGS: 1/ BUILD OUT A BROADER RESISTANCE TO MORE FACILITIES WITH THE DEPTH ON EACH FACILITY NECESSARY TO WIN; 2/ CONNECT PEOPLE WHO ARE CHALLENGING LOCAL PROJECTS WITH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK; 3 / FIND OUT ABOUT PROJECTS AT THE EARLIEST STAGES OF PLANNING. THERE IS OFTEN INTERNAL INFORMATION IN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES - THE LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE GOVERNORS OFFICE, THE ASSESSORS FILES WHERE PROPERTY TRANSFERS ARE RECORDED - YEARS BEFORE A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE. OUR PLAN PROPOSES TO FIND THAT INFORMATION AND ACT ON IT. CURRENT STRATEGY INCLUDES THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF A PHYSICAL/DIGITAL TOOLKIT FOR CONCERNED RESIDENTS WITH ACTIONABLE STEPS.
- $481,177 spent. LNG GAS EXPORTS: THERE ARE CURRENTLY PLANS TO BUILD OR EXPAND TWELVE GAS EXPORT TERMINALS IN LOUISIANA - SEVEN IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND FOUR IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH. WHILE WE ARE SUPPORTING CONCERNED RESIDENTS IN PLAQUEMINES, OUR FOCUS IS ON CAMERON AND CALCASIEU PARISHES IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, WHERE WE ESTABLISHED A ROBUST CAMPAIGN BEGINNING IN EARLY 2022. OUR STRATEGY FOR DEFEATING THIS EXPANSION IS TO IDENTIFY LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO CAN ADVOCATE TO FEDERAL AGENCIES WHILE ALSO CREATING MORE VISIBLE LOCAL RESISTANCE - VIA EVENTS AND MEDIA - TO THE PLANNED EXPANSION. ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES INCLUDE: MAPPING BUILDOUT IMPACTS OF LOCAL FISHING GROUNDS; ACCIDENT AND OPERATIONS WATCH; COMPILING COMMENTS FOR VARIOUS REGULATORY AGENCIES; PARTICIPATION IN COALITION WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE INSURANCE AND FINANCIERS BEHIND PROJECTS; AND INTERNATIONAL COALITION BUILDING.
- $371,142 spent. STANDING WITH ST. JAMES: OUR SIX YEAR LONG COLLABORATION WITH FENCELINE COMMUNITIES IN THE MAJORITY BLACK 4TH AND 5TH DISTRICTS OF ST. JAMES PARISH IS WORK THAT WE CALL STANDING WITH ST. JAMES. THIS WORK IS ANCHORED BY OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF RISE ST. JAMES AND INCLUSIVE LOUISIANA, TWO LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS LED BY BLACK WOMEN AND LONG-TIME RESIDENTS WHOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS PRIME LOCATIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION. WITHOUT A DEDICATED CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THESE HISTORIC BLACK COMMUNITIES AND POINT OUT THE VERY CLEAR INJUSTICE, THEIR COMMUNITIES WILL BE DESTROYED BY THE EVER EXPANDING PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY. STANDING WITH ST. JAMES STRATEGIES INCLUDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, LEGAL ACTION, POLLUTION MONITORING, ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT.
- $264,842 spent. MOVEMENT BUILDING:DOWN BY THE RIVER BIKE RIDE - THE GOAL FOR OUR BIKE RIDE IS TO BUILD INSPIRATION AND POWER BY BRINGING THE POWER OF HISTORY TO TODAYS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT ALONG CANCER ALLEY. OUR STRATEGY IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND LANDSCAPES WHERE PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES ARE LOCATED SO THEY CAN SEE THE SCALE OF THE PLANTS, THEIR PROXIMITY AND THEIR IMPACT ON NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS FIRSTHAND. BY EXPLORING THE CONFLUENCE OF BLACK HISTORY IN THE RIVER PARISHES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT, AND ECOLOGY ON BIKES RATHER THAN CARS OR A BUS, WE ARE CREATING A DEEPER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - WE ARE IN THE DEEP SOUTH WHERE RESOURCES FOR FUNDING BLACK-LED GROUPS HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN SCARCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE. A CORE PART OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY IS CREATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT WHERE, RATHER THAN A SCRAMBLE FOR RESOURCES, GROUPS OF ALL SIZES HAVE THEIR FUNDING NEEDS MET. AS MORE MONEY COMES INTO THE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SPACE THAN EVER BEFORE, WITH NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS KEEN TO FUND BLACK-LED GROUPS, WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH GROUPS TO ENSURE THAT THIS MONEY IS SPENT WELL, WHILE ALSO MAKING A PLAN FOR HOW THESE GROUPS CAN RETAIN FUNDING WHEN THIS MOMENT HAS PASSED. IN ADDITION TO CO-FACILITATING A BIWEEKLY COHORT OF GRASSROOTS GROUPS, LABB ALSO PROVIDES STAFF TIME TO SUPPORT GROUPS TO DEVELOP BUDGETS, HIRING PROCESSES, AND BUILD OUT THEIR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES. THE LONG TERM GOAL FOR THIS WORK IS TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SIX BLACK-LED STAND-ALONE ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN LOUISIANA.
- $26,401 spent. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION: THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN TO CREATE A SHIFT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN REGIONS WHERE PLASTIC PRODUCTION AND GAS EXPORT ARE HEAVILY CONCENTRATED. CURRENTLY THAT INCLUDES THE RIVER PARISHES AS WELL AS CAMERON AND CALCASIEU PARISHES. CREATING AND PUBLICIZING NON- PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES AND THE RESULTING JOBS WILL FREE RESIDENTS AND LEADERS FROM THE ERRONEOUS ASSUMPTION THAT LOUISIANA NEEDS THIS INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO THRIVE. REFASHIONING THE ECONOMIC IDENTITY OF AREAS DOMINATED BY INDUSTRY IS A CRUCIAL STEP IN THE WORK TO PROTECT LOUISIANA FROM ACCEPTING ALL BAD IDEAS - INCLUDING MAMMOTH PLASTICS PLANTS AND GAS EXPORT TERMINALS - THAT COME OUR WAY. STRATEGIES TO DATE HAVE INCLUDED: JOB FAIRS ADVERTISING FILM AND ENVIRONMENTAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE RIVER PARISHES; GRANT WRITING WORKSHOPS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PROFICIENT FREELANCE GRANT WRITERS; CONNECTING PARTNERS TO SOLAR AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS; AND CONVENING A GROUP OF RESEARCHERS, PRESERVATION INSTITUTIONS AND NONPROFITS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING BLACK CULTURAL ECONOMIC DISTRICTS ALONG THE RIVER ROAD.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 October 7, 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.