PLATINUM2024

UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST LOUISIANA

LIVE UNITED

Shreveport, LA   |  www.unitedwaynwla.org

Mission

United Way of Northwest Louisiana fights for the health, education, financial stability and essential needs of every person in our ten-parish footprint. Our mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities across Northwest Lousiana. We serve parishes Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Webster, and Winn.

Ruling year info

1956

President and CEO

LaToria Thomas

Main address

820 Jordan Street Suite 370

Shreveport, LA 71101 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

72-0503930

NTEE code info

Human Service Organizations (P20)

Personal Social Services (P50)

Community Health Systems (E21)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

People look to United Way for lasting solutions to local problems. We are a vehicle for volunteers, donors, and advocates who seek to change lives and communities through service, collaboration, and impact. We connect people and companies with the causes that matter to them. In 2021, with community support, we changed more than 100,000 lives by raising $2.2 million with an impact of $6 million. We are a platform for social change. We are the problem-solvers for those issues that are difficult to face and hard to ignore. We surround a community's most critical problems, and we fight. We fight for the health, education, financial stability, and essential needs of every person in Northwest Louisiana. Change begins when we LIVE UNITED, and building a better tomorrow starts today. How do we make our mark? By facing problems head-on, galvanizing communities around important issues, and forging unlikely partnerships for innovative solutions.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Provides free books to children from birth to age five to enhance early childhood education. The program is currently offered in the following zip codes: 71103, 71106, 71109, 71111, 71112, 71006, and 71064 of Caddo and Bossier Parishes; and all of Desoto, Red River, Sabine, Natchitoches, and Webster Parishes.

Population(s) Served
Infants and toddlers

Works to reduce the barriers to banking and increases access to the financial mainstream. Programs are voluntary and provide low-income un- and underbanked individuals with free or low cost starter or "second change" bank accounts and access to financial education.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people

Actively engages companies and individuals in volunteerism in Northwest Louisiana by providing Corporate Volunteerism, volunteer referral, volunteer management, and volunteer recognition. United Way of Northwest Louisiana's annual volunteer opportunities include Day of Caring, Day of Service, and Fill the Bus.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people

Provides FREE federal and state tax preparation and filing for qualified individuals through www.myfreetaxes.com.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people

IRS-certified volunteers provide assistance with preparing basic tax returns with electric filing for low to moderate-income individuals.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people

211 is an easy-to-remember phone number linking people in need to relevant information. When you call 211, you will speak with a trained Information and Referral Specialist who will help you access the exact service you need.

By maintaining an accurate database of public and community-based resources, United Way 211 connects you to essential services, even at times of disaster. You can also use the online Service Directory to search for resources near you.

United Way of Northwest Louisiana is a proud partner of Louisiana 211 and works closely with the Louisiana Association of United Ways to bring this service to our area.

Population(s) Served
Caregivers
Families
Parents
Economically disadvantaged people
Victims and oppressed people

Through a partnership with the City of Shreveport and United Way of Northwest Louisiana, the Shreveport Financial Empowerment Center (SFEC) provides professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a free public service to local residents. At the SFEC, professionally trained SFEC counselors help individuals and families manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Adults

The SingleCare Prescription Assistance Program saves an average of 45% on prescriptions for anyone, insured or not, living in Northwest Louisiana through the mobile app or discount card.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Adults
Adults
Adults
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of books distributed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Parents, Economically disadvantaged people, Victims and oppressed people

Related Program

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total number of counseling sessions performed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Parents, Victims and oppressed people, Economically disadvantaged people

Related Program

Shreveport Financial Empowerment Center (SFEC)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of phone calls/inquiries

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Parents, Victims and oppressed people, Economically disadvantaged people

Related Program

United Way of Northwest Louisiana 211

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Calls from individuals in a crisis needing to be connected to resources.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

United Way of Northwest Louisiana fights for everyone in every community, including ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and individuals. These are hard-working, low-wage individuals that struggle to afford the basic cost of living even though they fall above the Federal Poverty Line. United Way of Northwest Louisiana, in partnership with the Louisiana Association of United Ways, releases a study every two years called the ALICE Report. The report focuses on the households of these disadvantaged individuals and families, and in 2020, the report stated that 55 percent of individuals in Northwest Louisiana are ALICE and poverty households. At United Way of Northwest Louisiana, it is our goal to provide access to every person in our community with the resources they need to make ends meet through our programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

Provide access to prescription savings.
Provide programs for children to enter kindergarten at reading level.
Provide financial stability programs that move individuals and families out of poverty with financial literacy, access to safe banking needs
Connect individuals and families to services during times of crisis.

We have a strong Board of Directors that are committed and rooted in our community; a staff that are experts in their field; and community volunteers that provide oversight within committees and lend their expertise to advance the strategies and goals for assisting ALICE families.

Saved Northwest Louisiana more than $2 million in prescription costs.
More than 40,000 books have been mailed to children to improve early childhood education.
Reduced client debt by more than $967,000 and increased client savings by more than $637,000 for families struggling with financial management.
Answered more than 47,000 calls, connecting individuals to resources.

Financials

UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST LOUISIANA

Board of directors
as of 03/21/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Darrin Dixon

Southern University at Shreveport Louisiana

Term: 2020 - 2023

John Adams

Marketplace Chevrolet Buick

Mark Snow

Aillet Fenner Jolly McClelland, Inc.

Keith Carter

Always Best Care

Darrin Dixon

Southern University at Shreveport, LA

Brittney Dunn

Brittney Dunn, CPA LLC

Stormy Gage-Watts

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport

Lyndon Johnson

Calumet Shreveport Refinery

Wayne Lancaster

Coca Cola Bottling Company United Shreveport

Don Olson

Hunt, Guillot & Associates (Retired)

Christopher Poplawski

Sam's Town Shreveport

Malcolm Smoak

AEP-SWEPCO

Greg Lott

Progressive Bank

John Tuggle

Shreve Memorial Library

Rodney Ellis

Southern University at Shreveport, LA

Suyi Georgewill

Cintas

Thomas O'Brien

Raymond James

Ron Stamps

Ron Christopher Stamps, LLC, Caddo Parish, & the City of Shreveport

Mary Webber

OMNI, L&R Human Resource Consulting

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/7/2024
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 09/30/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.