FAQs

The Community Foundation serves the residents in a 14-parish area of North Louisiana:  Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, Sabine, Union, and Webster. Donors may designate a geographical area of interest, a specific nonprofit, or field of interest to be served when creating a fund.

Our seven member volunteer Board of Directors is made up of community members responsible for overseeing the funds, management, and policies of the Community Foundation.

Since 1961, the Community Foundation has granted over $130 million to support charitable causes that strengthen our region. Grants are made to a variety of organizations in areas such as education, youth, environment, health and social services. In 2023, the Foundation granted $10.7 million to 342 organizations. For more information about our grantmaking process, visit cfnla.org/grants.

Generally, nonprofit organizations raise and spend money for their own operations and programs. Our Foundation differs in that we operate like a savings account for the entire community’s benefit. In addition, our funds are consistently growing in an endowment account which earns interest. Distributions from our more than 200 funds support worthwhile charitable community causes, but the principle of the endowment remains intact to grow for future generations.

In recent years, the appeal to establish a private or family foundation has been minimized by significant limitations on charitable deductions available for gifts to private foundations. Further restrictions include administrative and reporting burdens, excise taxes, and required minimum annual payouts. Instead, many individuals are turning to community foundations to create a permanent philanthropic fund. A donor advised fund at the Community Foundation allows you and your family to continue directing grants to causes that you care about while we take care of administrative details.