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Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions

EIN 45-3194848 · St Petersburg, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 519 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 INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC POLICY SOLUTIONS AT ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC VITALITY AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY,SOLUTIONS-DIRECTED,

Income
$798,037
Spending
$783,070
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
51
Highest pay
$142,785, treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 519 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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 March 31, 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 (2)
  1. $314,653 spent. IN 2025, THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC POLICY SOLUTIONS (ISPS) CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS IMPACT THROUGH THOUGHTFUL PROGRAMMING AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA, ISPS HOSTED A DYNAMIC PANEL ON THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA'S TRANSPORTATION, MODERATED BY AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST VICKIE CHACHERE AND FEATURING JOSE DE JESUS OF PORT TAMPA BAY, JASON JACKMAN FROM THE CENTER FOR URBAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH, AND BEAU ZIMMER OF TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. FORMER BOARD CHAIR JUDGE IRENE SULLIVAN ALSO LED A COMPELLING PANEL ON LISTENING TO CHILDREN, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ST. PETERSBURG AND CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATIONS. ISPS ALSO CONTINUED ITS
  2. PART III, 1 (CONTINUED) - NON-PARTISAN PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO ENRICH THE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE, ENGAGE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE UNITY AND EFFICIENCY, FACILITATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, AND INVOLVE CITIZENS IN THEIR COLLEGE AND GOVERNMENT. PART III, 4A (CONTINUED) - FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WITH FIVE ACTIVE STUDENT FELLOWS AND HOSTED THE INAUGURAL FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM STUDENT CONFERENCE ON CYBERSECURITY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-A STUDENT-LED, STUDENT-RUN EVENT THAT PROVIDED LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING. THE CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER 35 STUDENTS, 25 FACULTY AND STAFF, AND 15 SPEAKERS AND JUDGES, WITH REPRESENTATION FROM 11 OF FLORIDA'S 28 STATE COLLEGES. THE INSTITUTE BROADENED ITS GEOGRAPHIC REACH BY PARTNERING WITH MIAMI DADE COLLEGE AND FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO DELIVER ITS FIRST-EVER PROGRAM OUTSIDE THE BAY AREA, FOCUSING ON RESILIENCY AND RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THE EVERGLADES. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE INSTITUTE CONTINUED ITS MISSION TO INFORM, ENGAGE, AND INSPIRE CITIZENS AND LEADERS ACROSS FLORIDA. ADDITIONALLY, ISPS WAS PROUD TO RECEIVE THE 2025 PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY FROM CANDID, THE HIGHEST RATING FOR NONPROFIT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 2012.

    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.