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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Federated Giving Programs, Philanthropy
Mission: Lauw's mission is to integrate action and resources for the common good. Significant activities include statewide coordination of la 2-1-1 and service as the principal combined fundraising organization (pcfo) for the louisiana state combined charitable campaign and the alice project (asset limited income constrained employed).
Programs: Lauw created the louisiana united way flood fund to give donors a way to help louisiana united ways respond to the communities impacted by the august 2016 floods. As a result of the generous donations to the louisiana united way flood fund, grants will be made available to all louisiana united ways responding to federally-declared flooded areas in louisiana. Thus far, louisiana association of united ways (lauw) has provided 2 phases of grants: lauw phase i grants for relief and immediate aid to flood survivors and lauw phase ii grants for long-term recovery and unmet needs of flood survivors.
as per act 501 of the 2012 la legislative session (lac 4: iii chapter 11), lauw serves as the principal coordinating fundraising organization (pcfo) for the louisiana statewide combined charitable campaign (la sccc). Launching in september 2014, this annual campaign reaches more than 35,000 state employees and provides employees options to give through payroll deductions. Approved health and human service charities are eligible to receive these designated donations. Lauw works closely with the office of uniform payroll in the la division of administration to carry out this campaign.
louisiana 2-1-1 is a statewide collaboration providing free information and referral to louisiana citizens, 24-7, including during times of disaster. During this fiscal year, more than 170,000 citizens were helped through louisiana 2-1-1. Calls to louisiana 2-1-1 are serviced by licensed 2-1-1 providers and regional centers in louisiana. La 2-1-1 services are financially supported in large part by louisiana united ways. The la 2-1-1 coordinating council provides advisory support to lauw for this statewide initiative.
lauw works with the national alice project to coordinate the united way alice project in louisiana. In this role, lauw also arranges for the production of the united way alice report for louisiana in collaboration with louisiana united ways. The united way alice report: a study of financial hardship in louisiana gives an identity and voice to people who work hard yet still struggle to make ends meet -- people we call alice: asset limited, income constrained, employed. Alice lives in every parish in louisiana. The 2016 report shows us that 42 percent of all louisiana families are alice or live below the alice threshold. Thus means that 42 percent of all louisiana families are not earning enough to "get by" based on a household survival budget that uses conservative estimates of monthly expenses for housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and taxes. These alice families are working hard, but are one small emergency away from a major financial crisis. The organization also has service contracts with the cdc and processes donations from the louisiana check-off box elections on state tax returns.