What is a Community Foundation?
We make it easier for philanthropists to manage and grow giving, and to make sure their generosity translates into enduring improvements for our communities.
We are an investment house for doing good for the world. Philanthropists open tax-free charitable accounts with us; we invest their assets for moderate-risk growth until grants from the funds are made to nonprofits.
Upon request, we offer advice about nonprofits and local issues so our donors can produce the highest return for the community with their charitable assets.
Community foundations provide services to philanthropists.
In the United States, there are more than 900 community foundations. Ours in Southwest Louisiana is overseen by an independent board of local residents. We are an affiliate of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, which is ranked among the top 35 community foundations in the country in assets. The affiliation enables us to reduce costs and operate across all of South Louisiana, while our local board ensures that the needs of our neighbors are met.
What We do
we work in two ways.
1. The Community Foundation connects people who care, whom we call philanthropists, with causes that matter. Supporting nonprofits and civic initiatives is provided to philanthropists through charitable accounts, a kind of savings account for doing good. Philanthropists distribute grants from their charitable accounts to the nonprofits they choose and ensure that their desired improvements happen and are enduring. Since 2008, the Community Foundation and our fund donors have granted over $20.3 million to nonprofits.
2. The Community Foundation collaborates with public agencies and private enterprises to conduct projects for civic improvement. Some of the projects solve fundamental problems in a particular sector, while others improve the quality of life for all people who live in our region. Projects include rebuilding Millennium park, partnering to build Bark du Lac dog park, championing bike lanes and pedestrian paths, planting trees, and helping Southwest Louisiana rebuild stronger after storms and other disasters.