Central Louisiana in Focus

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Abstract

This series of fact sheets provides a quick overview of the nonprofit sector in each of the nine parishes that comprise Central Louisiana – Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn. Each fact sheet provides information on the number of nonprofits and congregations found in the parish; the types of services offered; basic financial measures, such as total revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities; sources of revenue; and a measure of fiscal health. The fact sheets also include basic demographic information for the parish, such as total population, median age, race-ethnic composition and median household income. A companion report, A Profile of Nonprofit Organizations in Central Louisiana, analyzes the size, scope, fiscal health, and other dimensions of the sector in detail.

Introduction

In 2006, Central Louisiana had 743 nonprofit organizations registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and 764 congregations. These organizations serve the region's 344,000 residents through a wide range of services from health care and housing to arts, recreation, and youth services and help address the needs of Central Louisiana residents.

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, about two in five (38 percent) nonprofits in Central Louisiana that file an annual financial return with the IRS are human service organizations such as soup kitchens, senior centers, job training sites, and day care centers. In addition, 14 percent of the region's nonprofits are arts and culture organizations, 12 percent are health-related, and 11 percent are education nonprofits.

Although relatively small in terms of their finances, the nonprofits in Central Louisiana are very robust. Median revenue for nonprofits in Central Louisiana was $167,100 in 2006, and median assets were $165,600. Still, nonprofits in Central Louisiana account for 3 percent of the total revenue generated by all nonprofits operating in Louisiana.

Overview

Central Louisiana in this report consists of nine parishes: Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn.

These fact sheets, one for each parish, provide an overview of the nonprofit sector, highlighting the number, types, and finances of nonprofits that are registered with the IRS. Demographic information such as population, age, and race are also provided.

Where the Data Come From

The information in the fact sheets comes from several sources:

The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) at the Urban Institute:

NCCS is a national clearinghouse of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. Financial information comes directly from the Forms 990 that nonprofits filed with the IRS in 2006.

American Church List (ACL):

Information on congregations and their members comes from the American Church List, 2006. The ACL maintains a database of churches and religious organizations in the United States and Canada.

U.S. Census Bureau:

Demographic information was obtained from the American Community Survey (ACS), an ongoing survey that collects population and housing information on communities with populations of 20,000 or more. For those parishes not covered by the ACS, estimates from the Population Estimates Division based on the 2000 Census were used. Data on household income and poverty come from the Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates Division.

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