Cindy G. Foust has been named the new Executive Director of the ULM Foundation. Her hiring was approved by the ULM Foundation Board of Trustees on February 27, 2026. In her new role, Foust will oversee the ULM Foundation, as well as Advancement and Alumni Relations.
“In 2018, I landed on campus to begin my career with the ULM Alumni Association. My love affair with the university came quickly after I realized the impact ULM has on its students, faculty, staff, and community. I wanted to be a part of that impact, and with each opportunity that presented itself in my career here, I was able to create a formidable path to the role of Executive Director of the ULM Foundation,” said Foust.
“Cindy Foust’s selection as Executive Director of the ULM Foundation reflects the confidence we have in her leadership, integrity, and deep commitment to our university’s mission,” said ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille. “Throughout this process, Cindy distinguished herself not only through her experience and strategic insight, but through her clear vision for strengthening the Foundation’s partnership with ULM and advancing opportunities for our students, faculty, staff, and community. I am excited to work alongside her and have every confidence she will lead the Foundation with purpose, transparency, and momentum.”
Foust has served as the Interim Executive Director for four months and served as a Senior Development Officer prior to that. She holds two degrees from ULM, including a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in non-profit management.
“On behalf of the selection committee, I want to congratulate Cindy Foust on her appointment as Executive Director,” said Dr. Bill Graves, ULM VP for Business Affairs and Chair of the Selection Committee. “Our committee engaged in a thoughtful and comprehensive review process, carefully evaluating each candidate’s experience, leadership capacity, and alignment with the Foundation’s strategic direction. Cindy consistently rose to the top through both our scoring and our discussions, demonstrating the vision and collaborative spirit necessary to move the ULM Foundation forward. We are confident she is the right leader at the right time.”
Cindy is married to Scott Foust, and they share three children and one grandchild. Writing has always been important to Cindy. She is the owner of Alpha-Kidz, LCC, a children’s book publishing company, and she has also served as a featured columnist and copy editor for Bayou Life Magazine since 2013.
“The path to this role has had ups and downs, but at the end of each day, I leave campus feeling privileged that I get to work with people who love ULM as much as I do and who work alongside me to create resources that will support the university and its students,” said Foust.
Nonprofit leaders are facing difficult financial decisions right now. Do you invest in development capacity? Bring financial functions in-house? Pursue earned revenue or new government funding? Reduce programs, or expand strategically? Consider a merger?
When revenue is tight, it’s hard to know which moves are thoughtful recalibration and which are short-term fixes that create bigger problems later. Join the Nonprofit Financial Commons on April 14, 2026 for, Redesigning Your Nonprofit: Reimagining Your Operating Model in a Changing Environment!
This practical session will explore how to:
Organizational redesign conversations aren’t easy - but done well, they can lead to stronger alignment, smarter strategy, and greater clarity.
If you’re navigating change, this conversation is for YOU! REGISTER HERE.
The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) recently published Advocating for Federal Spending: A Practical Guide for Nonprofits.
This guide is designed to help nonprofits understand how to effectively advocate for the federal resources that matter most to the people and communities they serve. It includes key information on how Congress enacts federal funding, where there are opportunities for advocacy, and more.
Use this guide to protect the critical federal resources you/your organizations use to serve your communities.
Build Capacity | Grow Impact | Strengthen Louisiana Communities
Across Louisiana, nonprofits, public schools, community organizations and grassroots groups are carrying big missions with small teams. Since 1991, Serve Louisiana has worked alongside organizations like yours helping grow capacity and deepen impact.
What you get: When you partner with Serve Louisiana, you welcome a full-time AmeriCorps Member to serve with your team for 11 months. September 1- July 31 40 hours a week
What members do: Our emerging leaders bring energy, skill, and a passion for service. They support your mission through:
The goal? Stronger systems that last beyond their service term
Focus Areas: We partner with organizations working to build healthier Louisiana Communities by addressing:
Investment: Cash Match: $16,000 per member Mentorship: Your organization provides a fulltime supervisor/mentor Your investment supports the member's:
Priority Deadline: March 31st Virtual Info Session: Friday March 13th at 12pm (email Lisa@ServeLouisiana.org to RSVP)
Learn more and apply at ServeLouisiana.org
The National Council of Nonprofits | March 9
The General Services Administration has proposed significant changes to the System for Award Management (SAM), the online portal nonprofits, state, local, and tribal governments, and other entities use to do business with the federal government. Organizations have until March 30 to submit public comments in opposition to the proposed changes.
Bayou Community Foundation is pleased to announce three grant tiers for its 2026 “Growing Good” Nonprofit Grants Program:
Initial Grant Requests are NOW OPEN, with a submission deadline of 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12!
After evaluation by Grants Committee, selected applicants will be invited to participate in the next phase of the application process in May. Grants will be announced in August.
Grant Funding Period: August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027
READ FULL GRANTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES HERE
APPLY HERE
For many nonprofit leaders, board engagement has become harder to sustain, and more important to get right. Today’s CEOs are navigating intense funding pressure and organizational strain while working with boards whose expectations were often shaped for a very different era. To help our members navigate these challenges, the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits is sharing an upcoming 75-minute webinar from the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
This session features two nonprofit leaders with extensive experience as both executives and advisors. They will explore why board engagement often slips—citing unclear roles and misaligned expectations—and share the tactics currently helping leaders make the board-CEO relationship more productive and supportive.
Participants will gain practical insights into:
Identifying Red Flags: How to recognize the early signs of disengagement before they lead to organizational strain.
Role Clarification: Strengthening the board-CEO relationship by aligning expectations and decision-making boundaries.
Navigating Complexity: Strategies for building a board that effectively supports leadership during moments of public scrutiny or financial pressure.
Professional Credits: This session qualifies for 1.25 CFRE credits.
Whether you are looking to re-engage a board that has drifted or want to prevent challenges from taking hold in the first place, this session offers realistic approaches you can apply right away.
Click Here to Register Directly with the Chronicle of Philanthropy
Please note: This is an external resource hosted by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Registration is required through their platform.
Shared from our friends at the National Council of Nonprofits:
Are you looking for data sources on the nonprofit sector but not sure where to start? This Library of Congress research guide offers a comprehensive roadmap for understanding the nonprofit landscape in the United States. It provides curated links to essential data sources, including IRS Form 990 filings, grantmaking directories, and professional associations. The guide is meant to help nonprofit staff and researchers effectively navigate the legal, financial, and organizational complexities of the charitable sector.
2026 AARP Community Challenge Grants: Apply by Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT
AARP invites eligible organizations to apply for funding to support tangible improvement projects that help make communities more livable for all residents – especially those age 50 and older.
Applications are being accepted through March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT for projects that enhance:
Three funding opportunities are available:
Since 2017, AARP has invested $24.3 million through 2,100 projects across all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Visit AARP.org/CommunityChallenge to learn more and apply if eligible.
Serve Louisiana is excited to share that they are now opening the application for partner organizations to host full-time, 6-month AmeriCorps Members serving February 15th- August 15th. These members will serve 40 hours a week and will participate in Serve Louisiana's trainings and other programming alongside their full-term members who started in September.
Members provide capacity building services to their partner organizations in one of four areas (or a combo):
ABOUT US | OUR TEAM | HOW TO START A NONPROFIT
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