Louisiana has a dense network of charities, foundations, youth programs and relief groups, and our directory lists 158 of them across the state. They range from the Salvation Army on Broad Street in Lake Charles to the Make A Wish Foundation office on Severn Avenue in Metairie. Each one follows different rules, depending on whether it gives direct help, makes grants or represents an industry. This page explains how that work is organised, how metro and rural areas differ, and how to check an organization before you call, donate or apply.

Who Oversees Charities and Nonprofits in Louisiana

A nonprofit in Louisiana starts as a corporation. Organizers file articles of incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The organization is then governed by the state's nonprofit corporation law, found in Title 12 of the Revised Statutes. The Secretary of State keeps the public record: legal name, registered agent, officers and whether the filing is active. Nonprofit corporations must also file periodic reports to stay in good standing.

Tax-exempt status is a separate layer. The Internal Revenue Service decides whether a group qualifies as a 501(c)(3) charity or belongs to another category, such as a trade association or social club. Many entries in our listings are not walk-in charities at all. The Offshore Marine Service Association in Elmwood and the Tangipahoa Home Builders Association in Hammond are industry-focused associations. The Greater New Orleans Dart Association in Harvey is a recreational group. Knowing which kind of organization you are calling saves a wasted trip.

Fundraising is regulated too. Louisiana has a charitable solicitation law, and organizations that ask the public for money may need to register with the state. The Louisiana Attorney General's office is the place to take complaints about misleading appeals or sham charities. State tax questions sit with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Sales-tax treatment is not automatic just because the IRS has approved an organization, so groups usually have to deal with the state separately.

A listing in this directory is a starting point, not an endorsement. Addresses and phone numbers can change, especially after storm damage. Confirm hours and eligibility before you travel.

Charity Nonprofit Services in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport

New Orleans has the largest share of listings, and its city limits match Orleans Parish. You can browse those entries on our Orleans County page. The recovery after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 reshaped the city's nonprofit sector, and many groups there still focus on youth, housing and education. One example is the APEX Youth Center at 4360 Washington Avenue, reachable at 504-358-2739. Neighborhood organizations like this one often run on grants and volunteers, so hours can be limited.

Baton Rouge, the state capital, is the second major cluster. Its listings are grouped under East Baton Rouge Parish County. Because state government is based here, statewide associations and foundations often keep an office in the city. A local example is the Baton Rouge Soccer Association at 142 Lobdell Avenue, 225-924-2157. Youth sports leagues usually run seasonal registration, so ask about deadlines and whether fee assistance is available.

In the northwest corner of the state, Shreveport anchors the listings in Caddo Parish County. The Alliance For Education at 820 Jordan Street, 318-424-0599, is one of them. Across the Red River sits Bossier City in Bossier Parish. The Multicultural Development Center at 935 Eatman Street, 318-741-5941, is listed there. Residents of the Shreveport-Bossier metro area often use organizations on both sides of the river, so check both lists.

The suburbs west and south of New Orleans form their own cluster. Jefferson Parish County includes the Make A Wish Foundation at 3340 Severn Avenue in Metairie, 504-846-9474. It also includes the Greater New Orleans Dart Association at 840 Farrington Drive in Harvey and the Offshore Marine Service Association at 990 North Corporate Drive in Elmwood. Many Jefferson Parish residents work or study in Orleans Parish, so a service you need may be closer to your job than to your home.

Central and southwest Louisiana have fewer, more widely spaced organizations. Alexandria has the Christus St Frances Foundation at 3330 Prescott Road, 318-448-6580, and the Catholic Foundation at 302 Jackson Street, 318-487-9222. Both show how hospital and church-linked foundations anchor the Rapides Parish area. In Monroe, the Southern Acres Care Center at 4600 Reddix Lane, 318-322-3100, serves the Ouachita Parish area. Lake Charles, in Calcasieu Parish, lists the Salvation Army at 418 Broad Street, 337-497-0762.

Rural Louisiana: Parishes, Churches and Community Foundations

Louisiana is the only state organised into parishes rather than counties, a tradition rooted in its colonial Catholic church districts. Our web addresses use the word County for consistency across all states, so Orleans Parish appears as Orleans County. In practice, you will deal with parish governments and parish offices, not county ones. When you call, say parish.

Outside the big metros, help often arrives through churches and small local foundations. The Help Center Of Churches at 946 Ellis Street in Franklinton, 985-839-2541, is a clear example of congregations pooling resources in Washington Parish. In Amite City, Power House Charity operates from 61569 U.s. 51 and can be reached at 985-748-3877. Tangipahoa Parish also includes Hammond, where the Tangipahoa Home Builders Association is based at 109 West Minnesota Park Road.

Along the coast and in bayou country, groups tend to focus on storms, education and military families. The Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence at 7910 West Main Street in Houma, 985-868-5881, supports local schools. The World Of Hope Foundation at 3607 West Main Street in Gray, 985-851-2500, is also in Terrebonne Parish. Hurricane Ida in 2021 hit the Houma area hard, and local groups continue to organise around recovery needs. In Belle Chasse, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society at 400 Russell Drive, 504-393-6825, serves service members and their families.

Smaller towns have their own anchors. The Zigler Foundation at 324 North Broadway in Jennings, 337-824-2413, is in Jefferson Davis Parish, which is separate from Jefferson Parish near New Orleans. The Buoyant Foundation in Breaux Bridge, 504-717-5098, and Jennifer Rice Charity in Covington, 985-892-1478, show how small organizations are spread across St. Martin and St. Tammany parishes.

Rural offices often keep part-time hours and take calls before walk-ins. Some serve several parishes at once, and the nearest office may be a long drive away. Phone first, ask whether an appointment is required, and ask which parishes the organization covers.

Checking a Louisiana Nonprofit Before You Call or Give

A few minutes of research prevents most problems. These steps work for any organization in the directory:

These checks take little time and give you facts you can rely on. If an organization avoids basic questions about how it spends money or who it serves, treat that as a warning sign and try another listing.

Nonprofit organizations operating in Louisiana must register with the state attorney general's charitable trust section and comply with state solicitation licensing requirements in addition to meeting federal IRS requirements for tax-exempt status. Louisiana's charity registration process helps protect residents from fraudulent fundraising operations.

Charity Nonprofit locations are available in 39 cities across Louisiana. They are spread across 26 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, which typically host large concentrations of nonprofits serving regional populations across health, human services, education, and arts sectors.

Donors in Louisiana can verify that a charity is properly registered with the state by contacting the Louisiana Attorney General's office or searching the state's online charity registration database before making a contribution.

Charity Nonprofit by Counties

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Nonprofits seeking grant funding in Louisiana should explore state-level grant programs administered through the Louisiana Department of Health, Department of Education, or community services block grant programs. Many Louisiana foundations also fund local nonprofits through competitive grant cycles that typically open annually.

Browse Charity Nonprofit by county across Louisiana to find the nearest location.

Giving and Getting Help in Louisiana After a Storm

Hurricane season runs from June through November, and it shapes how Louisiana nonprofits plan their year. Many groups raise money, collect supplies and recruit volunteers around storm events. Memories of Katrina in 2005 remain strong in St. Bernard County, where the Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation at 417 Friscoville Avenue in Arabi, 504-279-6559, and the St Bernard Economic Development Foundation at 100 Port Boulevard in Chalmette, 504-277-4009, are listed. In Acadiana, the Recycling Foundation at 500 Guidry Street, 337-234-0066, appears under Lafayette County. If you want to help after a storm, give to established local organizations and ask what they need, since unrequested donations can create storage and sorting burdens.

Start with the Louisiana Secretary of State's business search to confirm the organization is registered and active. Then check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to see whether it holds 501(c)(3) status. Its Form 990 shows how much money it takes in and how it spends it. If it solicits donations from the public, ask whether it is registered under Louisiana's charitable solicitation law. Complaints about deceptive fundraising can go to the Louisiana Attorney General's office. Finally, call the phone number in our listing and ask a few plain questions about services and leadership.

Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes, and the state has no counties. Our directory uses one URL format for every state, so each parish appears with the word County attached. That is why you see names such as East Baton Rouge Parish County or Caddo Parish County. The label is only a naming convention for the website. When you contact a government office, school board or sheriff, use the word parish. The organizations listed here are the same regardless of how the page title is worded.

Dial 211 first. It is a free referral line that connects callers with local food, housing and utility assistance. If you prefer a direct call, the Salvation Army at 418 Broad Street in Lake Charles can be reached at 337-497-0762. In Washington Parish, the Help Center Of Churches in Franklinton answers at 985-839-2541. Services vary by site, so ask what is offered, what ID and proof of residence you need, and whether you must make an appointment. Having your address, household size and income information ready speeds up the call.

You begin by filing articles of incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State. You will need a registered agent, a founding board and a clear statement of purpose. Next, obtain an employer identification number from the IRS and apply for federal tax-exempt recognition if you want 501(c)(3) status. Then ask the Louisiana Department of Revenue about state tax questions, and check whether public fundraising requires registration with the state. The Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations offers training and resources for new groups. Check parish and city permit rules before you open a physical location.

Orleans, East Baton Rouge and Caddo parishes lead, which matches the locations of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. Jefferson Parish follows with 9 listings, and Lafayette has 8. Smaller totals appear in Ouachita, Tangipahoa and Calcasieu parishes, including towns such as West Monroe, Hammond and Lake Charles. If your area shows few results, search the neighboring parish. Organizations often serve several parishes, and a foundation in Alexandria or Bossier may cover residents well beyond its own city limits.

Yes, but each organization sets its own process. The APEX Youth Center in New Orleans, 504-358-2739, and the Baton Rouge Soccer Association, 225-924-2157, both work with young people. The Make A Wish Foundation office in Metairie, 504-846-9474, coordinates volunteers for its mission. Expect to complete an application, and expect a background check for any role involving children. Ask about training, the time commitment and the age requirements. Seasonal programs such as youth sports often recruit coaches and helpers before the season begins, so call early.