Organizational Structure

Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt not-for-profit corporation based in New Iberia, Louisiana. It is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors composed of leaders who reflect the diversity of the area in which Southern Mutual works. The SMHA board appoints the President/Executive Director who is the organization's chief executive officer. Currently Lorna Bourg, one of the original co-founders of SMHA, serves in this position.

In addition, Southern Mutual has created Southern Mutual Financial Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary which is referred to as an "affiliate" under non-profit law. SMFS was certified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a nine-parish (county) rural Community Development Financial Services Institution (CDFI) in 2000 and has begun making loans. It has its own Board of Directors, but Southern Mutual, as the parent corporation, has veto authority over who is selected to serve on the board. At this time, SMHA provides staff services for this affiliate.





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