United Way for South Louisiana
United Way for South Louisiana is a public charity based in Houma, Louisiana. It raises and distributes funds to support programs focused on literacy and education, health and daycare, and youth development, with a stated aim of helping residents access education, income, and health—the building blocks of a better life.
United Way for South Louisiana at a glance
In short: United Way for South Louisiana gave $517K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in Louisiana. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $517,261
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,863
- -1.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $24,648
- Total assets
- $2,440,205
- +1.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (2 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to United Way for South Louisiana
- Contact
Mailing address: 600 Academy Street, Houma, LA 70360
Phone: (985) 879-2461
Website: https://uwsla.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who United Way for South Louisiana funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Haven ($55K). Together the top 10 received $388K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 97 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization says it serves Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, and Terrebonne parishes. In 2024, 92% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Louisiana and 8% to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is United Way for South Louisiana open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 20 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $474K (2023) to $703K (2021). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $517K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Haven Houma, LA | Financial Support | $55,000 |
| St Vincent de Paul Tri-Parish Community Pharmacy Houma, LA | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Chez Hope Inc Thibodaux, LA | Financial Support | $40,992 |
| Arc of Assumption Napoleonville, LA | Financial Support | $40,071 |
| Terrebonne Churches United Foodbank Inc Houma, LA | Financial Support | $40,000 |
| St Jude Children's Hospital Memphis, TN | Financial Support | $38,837 |
| St Mary Council on Aging Franklin, LA | Financial Support | $37,306 |
| Emergency Aid Center Franklin, LA | Financial Support | $36,000 |
| Bayou Council Behavioral Health Services Thibodaux, LA | Financial Support | $25,000 |
| St Mary Outreach Morgan City, LA | Financial Support | $24,944 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,440,205 | $918,297 | $835,632 | $517,261 | 20 | $34,995 |
| 2023 | $2,403,594 | $841,991 | $990,004 | $474,164 | 18 | $18,897 |
| 2022 | $2,388,888 | $1,474,431 | $1,249,637 | $533,450 | 18 | $4,400 |
| 2021 | $2,132,375 | $1,141,103 | $776,675 | $703,129 | 22 | $1,210 |
| 2020 | $1,797,731 | $1,148,747 | $816,708 | $483,847 | 19 | $3,020 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to “raise, collect, and distribute funds.” Its program areas are literacy and education, health and daycare, and youth development. It describes its work as bringing together community members, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to address underlying community needs.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations serving people facing needs related to medicine, domestic violence, food insecurity, and aging. For example, St. Vincent de Paul Tri-Parish Community Pharmacy says its mission is to provide prescription medicines free of charge to people who are poor, homeless, or elderly and unable to pay. Terrebonne Churches United Foodbank says it works to feed people experiencing hunger in Terrebonne Parish and engage the community in that effort. Chez Hope describes its mission as providing battered-person and child intervention services, while St. Mary Council on Aging says it delivers services to older residents of St. Mary Parish.
Grantmaking
In 2024, United Way for South Louisiana reported 20 grants totaling $517,261. Grants ranged from $5,673 to $55,000, with a median grant of $24,648. The largest awards included $55,000 to The Haven in Houma, $50,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Tri-Parish Community Pharmacy in Houma, $40,992 to Chez Hope in Thibodaux, $40,071 to Arc of Assumption in Napoleonville, and $40,000 to Terrebonne Churches United Foodbank in Houma. The reported purpose for each of these grants was “Financial Support.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alina Merlos as Executive Director; Courtney Alcock as Secretary; David Boudreaux as Vice President at Large; and Darlene Rodrigue as Treasurer. It also lists Kim Elfert, Timothy Emerson, Earl Eues, Mike Fakier, Garett Hohensee, and Paul Labat as board members.
United Way for South Louisiana is led by Alina Merlos, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 26 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alina Merlos
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$58K (2020) → $61K (2024)
Joellen Marcel
Board President
Board Member → Board President, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elmy Savoie
Campaign Chair
Board Member → Campaign Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arlanda Williams
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryce Ledet
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Alcock
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darlene Rodrigue
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Boudreaux
Vice President at Large
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diane Yeates
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Earl Eues
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Garett Hohensee
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Palmer
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Stock
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harvey Authement
Vice President at Large
Board Member → Vice President at Large, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Clune
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Ledet
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Elfert
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristine Strickland
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Mickie Rousseau
Board Member
Board Member → Fund Distribution Chair, 2021
Fund Distribution Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Fakier
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Labat
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Szush
Past President
President → Past President, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Emerson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vernon Bourgeois
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brett Duthu
Fund Distribution Co-Chair
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carlo Gagliano
Fund Distribution Co-Chair
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Al Richard (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Herb Ledet (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Lisa Schilling (2020–2021) — Terrebonne Vice President
- Former: Suzette Thomas (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Reckert (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Travis Lavigne (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $61K, to Alina Merlos (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about United Way for South Louisiana
How much does United Way for South Louisiana give each year?
United Way for South Louisiana gave $517K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $474K across 18 grants.
What is United Way for South Louisiana's typical grant size?
United Way for South Louisiana's median grant in 2024 was $24,648, and its average grant was $25,863, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way for South Louisiana that year got $7K on average.
Where does United Way for South Louisiana give grants?
United Way for South Louisiana gives mostly in Louisiana: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houma, LA (4 grants), Thibodaux, LA (3 grants), Franklin, LA (2 grants) and New Orleans, LA (2 grants).
Does United Way for South Louisiana give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on United Way for South Louisiana's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (20 grants).
Who are United Way for South Louisiana's largest grantees?
United Way for South Louisiana's largest 2024 grantees include The Haven ($55,000), St Vincent de Paul Tri-Parish Community Pharmacy ($50,000) and Chez Hope Inc ($40,992), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is United Way for South Louisiana?
United Way for South Louisiana reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $918K.
What does United Way for South Louisiana fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to “raise, collect, and distribute funds.” Its program areas are literacy and education, health and daycare, and youth development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way for South Louisiana?
United Way for South Louisiana has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check uwsla.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Way for South Louisiana's EIN?
United Way for South Louisiana's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-0867661. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 30, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way for South Louisiana funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-for-south-louisiana-morg_e1ab7e7282d844c2a8edf1ae5ad90876
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_720867661_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way for South Louisiana funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-for-south-louisiana-morg_e1ab7e7282d844c2a8edf1ae5ad90876},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from United Way for South Louisiana's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
United Way for South Louisiana down — hundreds of funders to go?