Inside Northside Sep-Oct 2025

Northshare at 10

A Campus for Collective Good

Ten years ago, a bold idea took root in downtown Covington. What if nonprofits had a place to not only do their work, but to do it together? A place designed to foster connection, reduce barriers, and strengthen impact across the region?

That idea became Northshare.

Founded by the Northshore Community Foundation, Northshare was built on the belief that missiondriven work becomes more powerful when it happens side by side. Since opening its doors, it has become a hub for nonprofit collaboration across St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, and St. Helena parishes. Today, the campus offers affordable office space, educational opportunities, and a state-of-theart conference center, all designed to help nonprofits focus on what matters most.

From the start, every aspect of the space was intentional. Tucked next to the St. Tammany Justice Center, the campus was designed to feel like a bright spot against a backdrop of concrete. Its architecture creates a soft transition into nearby neighborhoods and reflects the Foundation’s commitment to thoughtful placemaking.

“The vision was to create a welcoming environment where nonprofits could work alongside each other with the Foundation as the convenor,” said Kelly Rabalais, who has been involved with Northshare since its earliest planning stages. “When you learn of the many different groups who meet, share ideas, and collaborate here, you understand the real impact of what the space has become.”

One of the most significant features of the campus is the Coatney Center, a conference room made possible by the generosity of Doyle Coatney. It serves as a central meeting place for board retreats, planning sessions, and community-wide convenings. For many organizations, it removes one of the biggest obstacles to impact - access to functional, professional space.

That access matters. It allows nonprofits to invest more time and resources into their missions. It sparks the kind of informal connections that lead to big ideas. And it fosters a culture of collective good that strengthens the entire region.

Behind Northshare’s success is a unique alignment between philanthropy and public leadership. Parish President Mike Cooper has been a longtime supporter of initiatives like Northshare that strengthen the nonprofit sector and broaden community impact. This kind of public–private partnership ensures that good ideas have both the resources and the runway to take off.

For those who have been part of the journey from the beginning, the sense of pride is unmistakable. “We are proud to support initiatives like Northshare that give our local organizations the space and support they need to thrive,” says Cooper, “When our nonprofits succeed, our entire community benefits.”

As Northshare looks to celebrate its tenth anniversary, the Foundation is already looking ahead. Thanks to the generosity of so many supporters—honored on the donor wall affixed in the lobby—what once was only an idea has become a reality. With a proven track record and strong demand, leaders are focused on continuing this momentum in the years ahead. The goal is simple but ambitious: to welcome even more nonprofits into the fold and increase the region’s capacity to do good, together.

If you’re interested in learning more about Northshare, reach out to the Foundation at (985) 893-8757.

Highlighting Philanthropy on the Northshore

Our partners at the Northshore Community Foundation exist to make it easy for each of us to make a difference in our own backyard. Now in their 18th year, the Foundation has touched over $94 million dollars in philanthropic fuel, focusing on simplifying, organizing and magnifying philanthropy at every turn.

The Foundation has reached those remarkable numbers in three primary ways. First, they engage hundreds of individuals, families, companies and nonprofits in a membership model that promotes active connections and charitable work. Second, they take the paperwork out of “doing good” by administering funds that act as charitable checkbooks for any purpose. Last, they step into big roles when the need is great — especially in times of disaster. Through these three unique and critical roles, the Foundation uses its expertise and resources to magnify the incredible charitable work so prevalent in our region.

Everyone is a philanthropist. To Learn how you can do more in your own backyard, reach out to the Foundation at northshorefoundation.org