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Bayou Community Foundation

EIN 83-2205950 · Houma, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Bayou Community Foundations strengthens Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish and Grand Isle, LA through philanthropic leadership to create a vibrant and diverse community where all can thrive.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$107,850, executive director

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 87% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $3.8 million spent. Bayou Community Foundation continued its innovative Rebuild South Lafourche and Rebuild Grand Isle Hurricance Ida housing recovery programs in 2024 to provid home repairs and new home construction to under-resourced, income-restricted residents in these rural storm-damaged communities. Volunteer rebuilding groups provided labor and philanthropic gifts funded the purchase of building materials, delivering 29 storm-fortified new homes built for impacted families in South Lafourche and Grand Isle, and the completion of 138 home repairs through two building seasons.
  2. $502,358 spent. In 2024, Bayou Community Foundation awarded grants to 30 nonprofits working in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Grand Isle as part of the Foundations Annual Nonprofit Grants Program to fill critical needs such as food, housing and behavioral health services. In addition, the Foundation awarded grants to eight local nonprofits after Hurricane Francines landfall here on September 11, 2024, to support local relief and recovery efforts, and fund repairs to nonprofit facilities damaged in the storm. Bayou Community Foundation also provided grants to local nonprofits requested by donors through Donor Advised Funds and donor-directed gifts to the Foundation.
  3. $18,749 spent. In 2024, Bayou Community Foundation conducted to host opportunities to strengthen the capacity of local nonprofit organizations, including the Annual Nonprofit Bus Tour, the Bayou Region Nonprofit Conference attended by 100 local nonprofit leaders, and workshops on digital marketing, volunteer management and grant writing. The Foundation also established its Working Group on Behaviora Health, conducted a Behavioral Health Summit and convened local nonprofits and government leaders throughout the year to identify and develope solutions to increase access to behavioral health care in our community. Through its Working Group on Hunger, Bayou Community Foundation created a digital food bank map for residents to locate distribution locations.

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 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 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 May 2019.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Inc (Tampa, FL), EIN 59-3001853. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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