SHREVEPORT – The Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research at LSUS has positively impacted the Ark-La-Tex and the entire state of Louisiana by building the capacity of nonprofit organizations.

The institute’s own capacity to do good expanded Wednesday with the opening of the Nonprofit Resource Center on LSUS’s campus.

The center provides nonprofit leaders spaces for meeting and research, which includes access to a national grant database and nonprofit publications.

“This is truly a moment of pride for our team and our university,” said Dr. Heather Carpenter, executive director of INAR. “This space has been years in the making in response to repeated requests from nonprofit leaders who needed help and resource guidance or just someone who understands the unique challenges they faced.

“We took note of the needs, gaps, and untapped potential. With support from our advisory board, LSUS leadership and partners across the state, we envisioned a physical and intellectual space where nonprofits could find support not just for today’s needs but for long-term sustainability.”

The center serves as a “home base” for INAR, which opened in 2001 and has grown from a local research initiative into a statewide powerhouse in the nonprofit world.

The physical location, rooms 116 and 118 in Bronson Hall, features free access to Candid’s Foundation Directory, a national grant database, along with a library of nonprofit books and resources.

Nonprofits can begin scheduling time in the center starting Aug. 1.

“As a pretty new nonprofit director, managing an organization can be pretty overwhelming because of all the hats you wear,” said Madison Poche, executive director of the Highland Center. “Nonprofit leaders can come to the center to get advice and resources as well as the benefit of an open ear to listen to our challenges.

“This is going to be really special for our community and for the leaders who do a lot with a little.”

Carpenter said there are more than 2,000 nonprofits in the Shreveport-Bossier area alone, assisting the underserved as well as providing a financial boon for the area.

Access to national grants could bring even more outside dollars to the local nonprofit ecosystem.

“For a small nonprofit like ours, having access to the grant database is crucial because it’d be pretty expensive on our own,” said Diane Libro, executive director of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana. “The resources surrounding board governance and template bylaws are important because these things aren’t necessarily intuitive.

“Resources are better absorbed in person, so to have physical space where you can have a real person to talk to and think out loud with is vital.”

INAR’s impact could be measured by the robust ribbon cutting, which drew more than 100 nonprofit, business and community leaders as well as both the Shreveport and Bossier chambers of commerce.

INAR’s annual reports, research and newsletters will be available in the center as well as opportunities to network with other nonprofit leaders.

Short nonprofit consultations are available by appointment.

The center will also offer fee-based services to include more in-depth consulting, research and workshops.

To learn more about INAR and its new Nonprofit Resource Center, visit its website.