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Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates Inc

EIN 20-0243438 · Fort Myers, FL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND INSPIRE AN INVENTIVE SPIRIT BY INTERPRETING AND PRESERVING THE INNOVATIONS, LEGACIES, ARTIFACTS, GARDENS, HOMES, LABORATORY, AND OTHER STRUCTURES OF THOMAS EDISON AND HENRY FORD, EMPHASIZING FLORIDA HISTORY, SCIENCE, HORTICULTURE, AND THE ARTS.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
105
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$191,686, president/ce

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $4.6 million spent. THE PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION IS THE CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM PRESENTED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE THOMAS EDISON AND HENRY FORD WINTER ESTATES WHICH INCLUDES 20 ACRES OF HISTORICAL GARDENS, 9 HISTORIC BUILDINGS, A MUSEUM AND THE ORIGINAL 1927 EDISON BOTANIC LAB. THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND WON THE TOP RESTORATION AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN 2008. IT HAS WON THE FLORIDA AWARD FOR LANDSCAPE RESTORATION FOR WORK IN THE HERITAGE GARDENS. THE SITE IS ALSO A FLORIDA HISTORIC LANDMARK, AN ORIGINAL SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURES AND A RESTORE AMERICA PROJECT OF THE NATIONAL TRUST. THE PROPERTY IS OPEN DAILY YEAR-ROUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING TOURS, LECTURES, CLASSES, RESEARCH AND OTHER PROGRAM EXPERIENCES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SCHOOL AND SPECIAL GROUPS. THE ANNUAL VISITATION IS APPROXIMATELY 250,000. ALL REVENUES ARE DIRECTED TO THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 100 PAID PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND 150 VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP CARRY OUT THE EDUCATIONAL AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION. IN 2014 THE EDISON BOTANIC RESEARCH LABORATORY WAS DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEMICAL LANDMARK BY THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. THE PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION IS THE CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM PRESENTED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE THOMAS EDISON AND HENRY FORD WINTER ESTATES WHICH INCLUDES 20 ACRES OF HISTORICAL GARDENS, 9 HISTORIC BUILDINGS, A MUSEUM AND THE ORIGINAL 1927 EDISON BOTANIC LAB. THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND WON THE TOP RESTORATION AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN 2008. IT HAS WON THE FLORIDA AWARD FOR LANDSCAPE RESTORATION FOR WORK IN THE HERITAGE GARDENS. THE SITE IS ALSO A FLORIDA HISTORIC LANDMARK, AN ORIGINAL SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURES AND A RESTORE AMERICA PROJECT OF THE NATIONAL TRUST. THE PROPERTY IS OPEN DAILY YEAR-ROUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING TOURS, LECTURES, CLASSES, RESEARCH AND OTHER PROGRAM EXPERIENCES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SCHOOL AND SPECIAL GROUPS. THE ANNUAL VISITATION IS APPROXIMATELY 250,000. ALL REVENUES ARE DIRECTED TO THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 100 PAID PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND 150 VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP CARRY OUT THE EDUCATIONAL AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION. IN 2014 THE EDISON BOTANIC RESEARCH LABORATORY WAS DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEMICAL LANDMARK BY THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.