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Baton Rouge Area Foundation

EIN 72-6030391 · Baton Rouge, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION UNITES HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, WE: SERVE DONORS TO BUILD THE ASSETS THAT DRIVE INITIATIVES AND SOLUTIONS; ENGAGE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES; PARTNER WITH ENTITIES FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR SERVICE AREA, AS WELL AS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, IN ORDER TO LEVERAGE OUR COLLECTIVE RESOURCES AND CREATE THE CAPACITY TO BE A STIMULUS OF POSITIVE REGIONAL CHANGE; AND EVALUATE OUR WORK AND SHARE THE RESULTS WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

Income
$56.9 million
Spending
$48.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
54.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
37
Volunteers
85
Highest pay
$718,318, executive vice president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $36.3 million spent. SERVING THE BATON ROUGE AND SOUTH LOUISIANA AREA BY FUNDING VARIOUS NONPROFITS, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS BENEFITTING THE NEEDY AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
  2. $6.7 million spent. SPONSORING AND ADMINISTERING A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS SUCH AS FACILITATING INVESTMENTS AND PARTERNSHIPS AND COORDINATING PROCESSES TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTH LOUISIANA; FACILITATING INVESTMENTS AND PARTERNSHIPS TO SUPPORT CITIES AND REGIONS CREATING POSITIVE IMPACT FOR PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS AND ECONOMIES NECESSARY TO BUILD SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES; SUPPORTING LIGO-LIVINGSTON (LASER INTERFEROMETER GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE OBSERVATORY) WHICH STUDIES AND DETECTS GRAVITATIONAL WAVES BY MEASURING DISTORTIONS IN SPACE AND TIME AND ITS SCIENCE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES; AND WORKING WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN BUILDING CLEAN ENERGY COMMUNITIES ACROSS LOUISIANA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1965.

    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 October 21, 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.