Louisiana Community Marketplace

Louisiana Community Marketplace (LCM) is an online shopping mall hosted and sponsored by Louisiana nonprofit organizations for the purpose of raising funds for sponsoring nonprofit organizations.

How does LCM work?

LCM is an affiliate of various online stores. When you make a purchase at any of the online stores featured on LCM, the online store pays LCM a commission for referring you to the store. The revenues generated by these commissions are then distributed to the nonprofit organization you chose before making your purchase. If you were referred to LCM by a particular nonprofit organization by email, you were directed to a particular website landing page which automatically tracks your purchase to the referring nonprofit organization.

Why should I buy through LCM?

There are three reasons to buy through LCM:

1. Every purchase you make through the LCM puts dollars right back into your local community. Agencies and organizations like the Red Cross, Boy and Girl Scouts, Catholic Charities and many others that provide vital services to make Louisiana a great place to live will benefit every time you make any purchase through this site. This means that a portion of the money you spend online stays local.

2. Feel confident purchasing products through this website endorsed by national organizations and local businesses. Agencies like the United Way, LANO and others benefit from your purchase, allowing these organizations to be more flexible in their distribution of funds, and providing much needed programs and services to your community.

3. Every online store listed on LCM is prescreened and verified to be a trusted site. All purchasing transactions take place over a secure connection. Your payment information is encrypted with the highest standards possible and latest technologies.

What portion of my purchase goes to the nonprofit organization that referred me?

The amount of commission LCM receives varies with each online store and product. Generally, the commission LCM receives is between 3% - 10%, but in some cases can be as high as 50%. A portion of this commission is used for LCM operating costs, but the majority of the commission is paid to the sponsoring nonprofit organizations.

Will I have to pay more for my purchases?

No. The price of any product you buy through LCM is the same price you would pay if you bought directly through the particular online store without going through LCM.

Are my purchases tax deductible?

No. Although commissions paid to LCM directly benefit nonprofit organizations, your purchases are considered the same as if you purchased directly through an online store.

How often should I purchase through this site?

The more your purchase through LCM, the more you are helping your community. We recommend that any online purchase you make is made through LCM.

I would like to purchase through LCM, but I can't find my favorite store listed. How can I recommend a store to be listed on LCM?

If your favorite online store is not listed on LCM, or if you would like to make purchases though an online store that is not listed, please let us know via our contact page. We will then make sure that the store you recommend is listed on LCM.

Can I specify a specific nonprofit organization to benefit from my purchases?

Yes. You may choose the organization to benefit from your purchase by clicking the particular organization on our sponsoring organizations page.

I have a question that is not listed here. How do I contact LCM?

Please send us a message via our contact page and we will answer your question as soon as possible.