Mental Health Associations of Southwest Florida Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 114 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. (MHASWFL) IS A NON-PROFIT, NON-GOVERNMENTAL VOLUNTARY CITIZEN ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT. SINCE 1957, MHASWFL HAS SERVED AS A CATALYST TO HELP PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS ACHIEVE POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH. OUR MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL WELLNESS THROUGH EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND SUPPORT.
- Income
- $113,702
- Spending
- $226,393
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 13.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 72%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 25
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 99% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 114 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $24,234 spent. POSITIVE AGING INITIATIVE: MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE THE POSITIVE POTENTIAL OF LATER LIFE BY DISCOVERING AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS. THE THREE PRIMARY GOALS SHOULD BE:- TO ENABLE OLDER PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS TO LIVE WHERE THEY PREFER, GENERALLY IN THE COMMUNITY - TO "AGE IN PLACE."- TO ASSURE ACCESS TO CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE, CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT CARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN CONGREGATE LIVING SETTINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED MORE HELP AS THEY GROW OLDER.- TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO AGE WELL BY HELPING THEM TO PRESERVE THEIR MENTAL AS WELL AS GENERAL HEALTH AND SENSE OF VITALITY AND FULFILLMENT AS THEY AGE.
- $78,440 spent. CHILDREN'S MENTAL WELLNESSGOLLEE GATOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM: OUR MASCOT FOR THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM, GOLLEE GATOR, WILL BE TRAVELING THROUGHOUT OUR REGION INFORMING CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ABOUT MENTAL WELLNESS TO SUBSIDE FEARS AND STIGMATIZATION. PART OF THIS WILL INCLUDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS TO SPEAK ON SUCH TOPICS AS BULLYING, STRESS, ETC. TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. FURTHERMORE, GOLLEE GATOR WILL DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS/CARETAKERS. TODAY'S CHILDREN REALIZE THAT LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. PRESSURE TO WIN, TO BE LIKED, TO GET ALONG WITH YOUR FAMILY, OR TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL MAY CAUSE A YOUNG PERSON TO EXPERIENCE STRESS. THE GOLLEE GATOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY CHILD'S MENTAL WELLNESS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN AND DEFINE MENTAL HEALTH, TEACH CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THEIR FEELINGS, PROVIDE CHILDREN AN INTRODUCTION TO PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO TALK WITH TRUSTED ADULTS.SHOOTING FOR THE STARS BASKETBALL CLINIC: TODAY, MENTAL FITNESS IS AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL FITNESS. IN FACT, THEY GO HAND-IN-HAND! AS SUCH, THE NONPROFIT MHASWFL IS PASSIONATELY DEVOTED TO HELPING OUR YOUTH BECOME MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY FIT SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY BALANCED, HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN HAVE A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER, AND ONE IN TEN CHILDREN HAVE A DISORDER OF SUCH SERIOUSNESS THAT IT INTERFERES WITH THEIR FUNCTIONING AT HOME, AT SCHOOL, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. EACH CLINIC WILL ACCOMMODATE UP TO 100 KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 8-17. ANY CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE, BUT WE ARE TARGETING CHILDREN FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED HOMES, KIDS WITH EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL DISTURBANCES, FOSTER KIDS, AND KIDS FROM MULTI-CULTURAL HOMES. WALI JONES (FORMER PHILADELPHIA 76ER'S) CONDUCTED THE CLINICS FEATURING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT TRAINING EMPHASIZING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, PROBLEM-SOLVING, REFUSAL SKILLS, INCREASING SELF-CONCEPT AND SELF-ESTEEM AND PROMOTING TEAMWORK. KIDS ALSO WORKED ON FUN AND EXCITING FUNDAMENTAL ATHLETIC SKILLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF BASKETBALL DRILLS, VIEWING OF FILMS, FOULD SHOOTING CONTESTS AND MORE!CHILDREN'S DIVORCE EDUCATION PROGRAM: PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST; MHASWFL HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING THE COURT MANDATED PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST (PCF) PROGRAM FOR DIVORCING PARENTS. THE PCF PROGRAM IS A FOUR HOUR CLASS DESIGNED TO RAISE PARENTS' AWARENESS OF THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN OF BREAKING UP THE FAMILY. PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN EFFECTIVE CO-PARENTING SKILLS TO MINIMIZE THE FALL-OUT ON THEIR CHILDREN. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT WAYS TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AS WELL AS COPING STRATEGIES FOR ADJUSTING TO THE CHANGED FAMILY STRUCTURE. BOTH PROGRAMS FOCUS PRIMARILY ON THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN DIVORCING FAMILIES AND ARE LEAD BY TRAINED FACILITATORS.ONE CHILD AT A TIME: THIS PROGRAM IS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO AFFORD MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE CHILD WILL RECEIVE AN INITIAL EVALUATION SESSION AND IF NEEDED UP TO TWELVE COUNSELING SESSIONS. OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO EXTEND THEIR PRO BONO SERVICES IF THE CHILD SHOULD NEED MORE THAN TWELVE SESSIONS.
- $78,440 spent. REFERRAL/INFORMATION/EDUCATION: THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (MHASWFL) ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS NEEDING REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SERVICE, AS WELL AS, TO OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE WORKPLACE WELLNESS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE A MENTALLY HEALTHY WORKSITE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THE MHASWFL HELPS EMPLOYEES AND SUPERVISORS BETTER DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH AT THE WORKSITE BY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED TO MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS OF THE WORKPLACE. ALL MATERIALS ARE PRESENTED FREE OF CHARGE BY THE PRESENTER. MHASWFL IS AUTHORIZED TO FACILITATE PROGRAMS AND SYMPOSIUMS WHICH ARE QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS TO LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND PSYCHOLOGISTS. CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINARS ARE BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY, AND ARE OFFERED 4-6 TIMES A YEAR. SUPPORT GROUPS MEET WEEKLY AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM CONFLICTS IN THEIR LIVES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1958.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.