Foundation for Louisiana

What it reported doing in 2024

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.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 65.3%; rating input score 65
• Program expense ratio: 77.8%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $24.29 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 90.7%; rating input score 91; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 25.4%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.37; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.4%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.9% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.5% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings