Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To prevent delinquency and develop lawful, resilient, and productive citizens.
- Income
- $20.9 million
- Spending
- $16.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 14.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 235
- Volunteers
- 1,367
- Highest pay
- $194,212, president
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 29% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $7.6 million spent. Residential ProgramsThe agency operated three residential group care facilities serving 71 youth from across the state of Florida. The Boys Ranch in Live Oak provides care in cottages in a campus setting and operates a working farm and an on-campus private school, providing youth with opportunities to learn vocational skills and improve their academic performance. The Youth Villa in Bartow provided two scholarship houses for young adults in independent living who were enrolled in college or vocational programs. Safety Harbor campus provided residential care for youth who were part of sibling groups removed from their homes. The residential program provides a safe, nurturing environment for these youth until they can be reunified with family members or placed with a foster home or adoptive family. All of the residential programs provide youth the opportunity to participate in work programs, attend an on-campus learning center or community school, engage in recreational activities, and participate in chapel services in accordance with the Organization's philosophy of "work, study, play, and pray."
- $3.0 million spent. Camping ProgramsCamping Services consists of three residential camp programs and a mobile day camp program. The camping programs provided residential camp experiences to 1,576 youth, mobile day camp services to 1,341 youth, and other school year, leadership, and team building services to 1,486 youth and adults. The residential camp programs are: Youth Camp in Pierson, FL, Caruth Camp in Inglis, FL, and Camp Sorensen in Hilliard, FL. Each residential camp provides a traditional summer camp experience free of charge to girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 15 who otherwise may never attend camp. Activities offered include arts and crafts, archery, swimming, canoeing, environmental education, challenge course, high ropes, group building, and team sports. The theme of summer camp is "Law Officers are Your Friends", and each group is assigned a Deputy Sheriff who participates in activities with the campers, giving them an opportunity to have a fun and positive experience with law enforcement. Camping Services also provides a mobile camp program known as Harmony in the Streets, which operates day camp sessions in various community centers, schools, and low-income housing areas for up to 60 youth between the ages of 6 and 12. This program brings the camp experience to the campers in their community and offers arts and crafts, team sports, challenge course, group building, archery, environmental education, and water games and includes participation from the local Sheriff's Office. During the school year, both camps offer leadership and team building retreats to community groups.
- $262,728 spent. Community Based CounselingThe agency provides four Family Engagement Specialists and a Family Engagement Director who answer inquiry calls and requests for service from the agency's residential programs. The agency provided these services to 2,016 families, with 322 families proceeding to the Request for Services stage. When parents call, they are often frustrated and seeking help dealing with their child's behavior issues. Family Engagement Specialists listen to the parents, provide counseling, and offer the appropriate assistance. When a youth's problems are too severe for the Organization's voluntary program, the parents are offered referrals to other programs and community resources. When the youth is a good candidate for the program, the Family Engagement Specialist assists the parents with the application and interview process until the youth can be placed. When youth are in residential placement, the Organization's Therapists and Unit Directors offer monthly family supportive counseling as the youth works on their goals. When youth are discharged from the program, the Family Engagement Specialist can provide aftercare at the family's request.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1973.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.