Veterans Council of St Johns County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Primary Exempt Purpose of the Veterans' Council is to be the voice of Veterans in and for St. Johns County, FL. The objective of the Veterans Council of St. Johns County, Florida is to be of assistance to all Veterans who have served in any of the military branches of service of the United States of America. In recent years, this assistance has expanded exponentially with the Veterans' Council working with other local public charities and government agencies to provide housing resources for those Veterans and families at risk of becoming homeless.
- Income
- $143,295
- Spending
- $139,900
- Reserves
- 15.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
- $95,049 spent. Since COVID-19's effect on the economy, the program costs resulting from requests from qualifying Veterans and other referring social service agencies continued to grow substantially (from $29,786 in 2021, $53,123 in 2022, $83,232 in 2023, and $104,745 in 2024, including those incurred to support the St. Johns and Putnam Counties' Veterans' Treatment Court). Part III Line 30 separately reports on the Veterans' Treatment Court program. The Veterans' Council also partnered with St. Johns Care Connect, Inc. dba Flagler Health+ Care Connect (now a part of the University of Florida Health System), accepting referrals from Care Connect to provide a Continuum of Care to Veterans and their families. Efforts focus upon Homeless Prevention, including transitional housing. See Schedule C to Form 990-EZ for subsequent events which may reduce the daily cost incurred by the Veterans' Council to provide Temporary Lodging Assistance to Veterans. The Veterans' Council made more than 290 separate disbursements to assist Veterans in 2024, providing $53,570 in shelter aid (Rental Assistance ($36,970); Temporary Lodging Assistance ($12,494); Mortgage Assistance ($2,326); Purchase a house trailer for a formerly homeless Veteran ($1,600) and Housing Repair & Maintenance ($180)). Other assistance to Veterans and their families included Transportation & Motor Vehicle Repair Assistance ($8,562); Utility Assistance ($4,416); Miscellaneous Aid < $150 each ($3,159); Residential Substance Abuse Treatment ($2,875); Direct Food Aid ($2,687); Medical Assistive Devices ($115) and Medical Assistive Device Storage ($2,726). In early 2025, these Medical Assistive Devices were transferred to a facility which does not charge for storage. Furniture donated in advance of Home Again St. Johns, Inc. completion of their family transition shelter on State Road 16 (estimated occupancy Summer, 2025) was stored at a donated cost (donation in kind) ($6,348). When a disabled Marine needed to move from St. Augustine to Massachusetts to receive specialized treatment from the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs which was not offered elsewhere, he sought the assistance of the local Marine Corps League. When the Veterans' Council received a request to coordinate moving the disabled Marine, his household goods and medical equipment, and to manage reimbursement donations received from multiple Florida and Massachusetts donors, the Veterans' Council negotiated with a LTL shipper to promptly and expeditiously move his household goods, negotiating a discount of $5,372 from the gross invoice of $6,650, for a net cost of $1,278. The Veterans' Council purchased new cabinets and counter-tops for the common area at Veterans' Village ($3,000); local contractors provided labor at no cost (value undetermined) to renovate, paint and install these and other improvements. As noted in the comments for Schedule C, Veterans' Village is managed and operated by Home Again St. Johns, Inc. and serves more than twenty formerly homeless Veterans at that facility. Costs of local travel to provide timely assistance and payments to forestall creditors ($2,218). The above donated costs were included in gross revenues as gifts in kind, totaling $11,721. Storage costs were also reported on Form 990-EZ Line 14, treated as program expenses (i.e., not G&A), totaling $9,074.
- $25,497 spent. The Veterans' Council, in conjunction with the Ancient City Chapter, Military Officers' Association of America, sponsors patriotic events throughout the year, emphasizing National VietNam War Veterans' Day (end of March), Memorial Day (end of May), Veterans' Day (Nov. 11) and Wreaths Across America events (mid-December). In 2024, the Ancient City Chapter also sponsored a Military Ball. These observances usually occur at the St. Augustine National Cemetery, the exceptions being Veterans' Day, which is a major event held at Anastasia Baptist Church, and the Military Ball which was held at the Mark Lance Armory. Attendance at these events ranges up to 1,200 in the audience. Most expenses relate to the Nov. 11 event. The National VietNam War Veterans' Day commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the war. Any costs associated with the event at the St. Augustine National Cemetery may have been paid by other patriotic organizations, including the Leo C. Chase Chapter of the VietNam Veterans of America in St. Augustine. More than 100 attended this event. For the Memorial Day observances, also at the St. Augustine National Cemetery, the Veterans' Council made a grant to the Ancient City Chapter ($500). Approximately 300 attended this event. Nov. 11 Veterans' Day observances were held at the Anastasia Baptist Church, with about 1,200 attending. The VietNam Travelling Wall was rented from the Patriot Guard Riders, which received a grant of $1,600. Anastasia Baptist Church received a grant of $1,000 for the use of their facilities. An honorarium of $1,000 was presented to Lieutenant Commander Vann Morris, USN (ret.) for his "Old Glory" presentation. The grant to the St. Johns County Center for the Arts' Chorus for the 2023 event was delayed until 2024 and included in this report (two $500 grants were presented). Technical support was provided by Anastasia Baptist staff. The Ancient City Chapter also sponsored a Military Ball as a fund-raiser to benefit local JROTC students, Young Marines and Sea Scouts youth organizations. The Veterans' Council received a $10,000 grant which was forwarded to the Ancient City Chapter ($10,000), and also sponsored one table ($1,200). Other expenses relate to the Wreaths Across America events in December and January. Expenses are reported only for the January 2024 cleanup and December 2024 installation. The Veterans' Council solicits donations on behalf of the national Wreaths Across America organization; these donations are made through the WreathsAcrossAmerica.Org website and/or checks made payable to Wreaths Across America and mailed to the Veterans' Council. The Veterans' Council then remits funds received by making payments through the Wreaths Across America website, eliminating the previous year's extremely long delay in processing and depositing checks by Wreaths Across America headquarters. In 2024, these grants totaled $9,197.
- $9,696 spent. January 18, 2025 marked the eighth anniversary of the St. Johns & Putnam County Veterans' Treatment Court ("VTC"). 2024 Grants made by the Veterans' Council to the VTC, agencies contracted by the VTC, and VTC Participants for the following: $2,000 in direct incentives to Participants; $1,479 for DUI retraining and monitoring, including SCRAM device rentals for participants' vehicles, $2,526 for temporary lodging while awaiting transfer to more permanent residences; $1,050 to purchase gas and supermarket food gift cards; $2,633 to pay Court Fees for indigent Participants; there was no need to replenish the Court's inventory of VTC Challenge Coins or provide Mentors with uniforms. Motivational incentives are issued to VTC participants as they demonstrate progress. Each VTC Participant is matched with a Veteran "Battle Buddy" who serves as a Mentor, and is available 24/7 should a Participant need support. The Veterans' Council provides a Mentor Coordinator and cell phone plans for Participants who require them as a condition of enrollment in the Court. The Veterans' Council provides incentives administered by the Veterans' Treatment Court: Every participant is promoted through five phases. Participants are awarded a dog tag tied to each phase promotion. Challenge coins designed and created for VTC, are awarded at graduation. Gift cards awarded for achieving program goals and special accomplishments. Participant Financial Aid: Veterans Council assists Participants in financial need. All Participants were evaluated for substance abuse disorder and/or mental health and received recommended treatment. All Participants who were recommended for inpatient treatment received effective and timely treatment, either through VA or through community providers. Homeless or quasi- homeless Participants were secured housing either through VA HUD-VASH, or at appropriate sober living facilities. The expenses itemized above do not include grants or benefits paid to, or on behalf of, VTC graduates. Those expenses are reported on Part III Line 28. In 2024, those eligible to choose to enter the Veterans' Treatment Court diversion programs were expanded to include those non-Veterans who are current military contractors. Since inception, 186 participants have entered this program, 118 successfully completed meeting the Court's stringent requirements in a timely manner while 25 "aged out" of the program, failing to complete their required steps before the Court's jurisdiction expired. At December 31, 2024, there were 43 active participants.
- $5,000 spent. Projects not specifically assigned to a Specific Program, are treated as Generally Unrestricted Expenses, included Grants of $5,000. (1) Two $1,000 Scholarships, funded by the Dudley Foundation, (2) A $1,000 Grant to the St. Joseph's Academy Veterans' Heritage Project. (3) A $1,000 Grant to West Augustine Historical Community Development Corporation, to aid in the construction of their Veterans' Quadruplex Apartments. (4) A $1,000 Grant to assist the local Young Marines unit prepare for a future trip to Pearl Harbor.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 November 6, 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 September 2011.
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 November 4, 2026.
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