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The Community Foundation of North Louisiana
The Community Foundation of North Louisiana was formed in 1961 to pool charitable capital for Shreveport and the surrounding parishes. CEO Kristina Gustavson...
The Community Foundation of North Louisiana
The Community Foundation of North Louisiana was formed in 1961 to pool charitable capital for Shreveport and the surrounding parishes. CEO Kristina Gustavson oversees the entity, which functions as both a grantmaker and an asset owner—the foundation attracts donor-advised funds, administers supporting organizations, and manages a multi-asset portfolio shaped by local resources. The foundation deploys capital across secondaries, buyout, distressed debt, venture, natural resources, and timber. Its physical holdings illustrate the strategy: CFNLA Properties LLC and CFNLA Properties II LLC own mixed-use real estate in Shreveport, while the Annie Lowe Stiles Trust contributes mineral and real estate income. The endowment also participates in private-fund commitments and direct co-investments, though individual portfolio names remain undisclosed. Geographic concentration sits in North Louisiana, with exposure to energy and timber markets across the region. Alongside the $184M investment pool (Altss estimate), the foundation runs multiple philanthropic programs—Give For Good, Step Forward, and the Women's Philanthropy Network. Board members include Glenn V. Kinsey, a Junior Achievement laureate, and Treasurer Steve Walker. The United Way of Northwest Louisiana holds a beneficial interest in assets managed by CFNLA, confirming the foundation's role as a fiduciary hub for regional nonprofits. The team size and year-over-year deployment figures are not publicly tracked. CFNLA's differentiator is its embedded real-asset operating layer. Rather than simply allocating to external managers, the foundation directly holds mineral interests, timber sales, and a pair of LLC property portfolios—a structure that keeps both investment control and community-facing real estate development under one roof.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1961
AUM
$200M
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Shreveport
Corporate office
Shreveport, LA, United States
Principals
Kristina Gustavson
CEO
Glenn V. Kinsey
Board Member
Steve Walker
Treasurer and Board Member
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does CFNLA source its investment opportunities?
The foundation originates a portion of its deal flow through in-house real-asset operating companies—CFNLA Properties LLC and CFNLA Properties II LLC—which hold mixed-use real estate in Shreveport. For private-fund commitments, it relies on manager relationships, while mineral and timber income arrives through the Annie Lowe Stiles Trust, a supporting organization tied directly to the foundation.
What role do the CFNLA property LLCs play in the portfolio?
CFNLA Properties LLC and CFNLA Properties II LLC serve as the direct real-estate arms of the foundation, owning mixed-use properties in the Shreveport market. They allow the foundation to generate operating income and control physical assets without exclusively depending on third-party real estate funds.
Is the Annie Lowe Stiles Trust a separate entity?
The Annie Lowe Stiles Trust is a supporting organization that directs mineral and real estate income to the Community Foundation of North Louisiana. It is not a subsidiary, but the foundation benefits from a structural flow of assets generated by trust-managed land in North Louisiana.
Does CFNLA manage assets for other nonprofits?
Yes. The United Way of Northwest Louisiana holds a beneficial interest in assets managed by the foundation, which indicates CFNLA acts as a fiduciary manager for peer organizations in addition to managing its own donor-advised funds and endowment pools.
What is CFNLA's known posture on direct versus fund investments?
The foundation engages in both direct holdings—through its property LLCs, mineral interests, and timber sales—and private-fund commitments across buyout, venture, distressed debt, and secondaries. The exact split between direct and fund investments is not publicly disclosed.
Which philanthropic programs are operationally active?
Three named programs operate under the foundation: Give For Good, a community-wide giving day; Step Forward, focused on economic mobility; and the Women's Philanthropy Network, a collective giving circle. Each funnels grants into arts, education, and social services across North Louisiana.
How is the investment governance structured?
CEO Kristina Gustavson leads the foundation's staff, while a board that includes Treasurer Steve Walker and Junior Achievement laureate Glenn V. Kinsey oversees fiduciary decisions. The foundation has not published a separate investment committee roster or external CIO arrangement.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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