Louisiana AFN is a regional chapter of grantmakers who invest in opportunities for low and middle income individuals and families to build economic well-being. Members include private, public, corporate, and community foundations, public-sector funders, and financial institutions who want to help Louisianans secure economic stability, for now and for years to come. Louisiana AFN connects funders and their peers in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. Together they share promising programs and smart strategies, gather knowledge to make their grantmaking more effective, and work to increase investments in asset building.
Louisiana AFN was launched in April 2019 as a regional affiliate of national AFN. Membership is open to funders who invest in a range of initiatives that build assets for Louisiana, from early childhood education, college access, or workforce development to health, financial capacity, or micro-enterprise. Grantmakers investing in Louisiana should contact Abby Hughes Holsclaw or Kara Wilkins if interested in joining this chapter.
How We Work
- Connect: Louisiana AFN members support peer-to-peer learning and cross-sector collaboration. Members identify and leverage replicable and scalable high-impact strategies and innovative approaches to connect and inform influential funders of actionable investments. Members provide an insightful voice to inform both regional and national conversations.
- Build: Louisiana AFN works to increase the number of grantmakers and resources focused on strategies that help low and moderate income people build and protect assets. Members leverage one another’s interests and investments and actively look for additional funders willing to co-invest in Louisiana.
- Inform: Louisiana AFN members learn from one another and other stakeholders as they seek solutions to local challenges. The chapter hosts issue-based programming and calls-to-action that reflect research and philanthropic thought leadership that highlights actionable roles for philanthropy. While focusing on a variety of topics, the chapter gathers local leaders and national experts together to share data and ideas, promote innovative approaches, and help establish common language to build collaboration.
- Influence: Louisiana AFN is working to raise the visibility of asset-building strategies within the broader community of foundations, public-sector funders, and financial institutions. Members seek opportunities to accelerate economic prosperity while also reducing racial, ethnic, and gender wealth gaps in areas such as improved savings for low to moderate income families and increased Fintech opportunities.
Regional Focus Areas
- Financial technology
- Emergency savings
- Financial access
Chapter Highlights
A Financial Hardship Study
The Louisiana Association of United Ways released the latest version of the state’s ALICE report on August 6, 2020, with support and statewide sponsorship from Entergy and participation from Capital Area United Way and United Way of Southeast Louisiana, among others. The new report, which uses 2018 data, serves as a crucial benchmark for the challenges Louisianans faced before COVID-19, and provides additional context around why the pandemic is having such devastating economic effects on Louisianans. DOWNLOAD the full report or read the press release.
Upcoming Events
Contact
Are you a Louisiana grantmaker interested in joining this chapter? Contact us to learn more.
Abby Hughes Holsclaw, abby@assetfunders.org
Kara Wilkins, kara@assetfunders.org
Steering Committee
United Way of Southeast Louisiana
The Greater New Orleans Foundation
Louisiana Association of United Ways
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Capital Area United Way
United Way of Southeast Louisiana
Capital Area United Way
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Red River Bank
Foundation for Louisiana
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
United Way of Northwest Louisiana
United Way of Northwest Louisiana
Emergency Savings in the Face of COVID-19
On July 23rd, 2020, Louisiana AFN held a regional webinar: Emergency Savings in the Face of COVID-19. This discussion highlighted recent data on how ALICE has been impacted financially with insights into savings/lack of savings, as well as elevated realistic strategies for funders and nonprofits to explore with specific respect to the new realities that have been created by COVID-19. Learn more about the webinar
Fintech in the Face of COVID-19
On July 9, 2020, Louisiana AFN hosted Fintech in the Face of COVID-19, an online discussion around fintech investment approaches for supporting and rebuilding financial health for Louisianans, whose economic security has been disrupted by COVID-19. This regional funders-only event offered attendees the opportunity to learn more about the potential impacts of fintech and the importance of digital financial education in the current environment.
Learn more about the webinar
