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Family Initiative Incorporated

EIN 46-1528487 · Cape Coral, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FAMILY INITIATIVE, INC. IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING IN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO EMPOWER FAMILIES AND ENSURE THE SAFETY, PERMANENCY, AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN. UTILIZING A FAMILY-CENTERED AND HOLISTIC APPROACH, OUR MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN TRANSPARENCY IN COLLABORATING WITH ALL WE SERVICE.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 62%
Employees
114
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$120,000, employee

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 122% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
  1. $3.6 million spent. FAMILY INITIATIVE HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND EXPAND IN 2024. OUR LARGEST PROGRAMS ARE: CLINICAL SERVICES: APPLIED BEHAVORIAL ANALYSIS (ABA) AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT), CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE MIAMI, SARASOTA COUNTY, PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, AND AUTISM COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE EXPANDED IN 2024.OUR AUTISM COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE: AUTISM SOCIAL SKILLS PLAYGROUP, TEEN HANGOUT GROUP, YOUNG ADULT GROUP, SIBLING GROUP, PARENT SUPPORT GROUP, FI CREATES, FI CHAMPS, BABY AND ME GROUP, AND FREE AUTISM SCREENINGS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE WELL UTILIZED BY THE COMMUNITY, WITH OVER 800 FAMILIES SERVED. WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED IN ABA AND OT, INCLUDING BOTH LEE COUNTY AND SARASOTA COUNTY. OUR APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS PROGRAM TEACHES SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS BY USING PRINCIPLES OF REINFORCEMENT. ALMOST 100% OF CHILDREN SERVED SHOWED A REDUCTION IN PROBLEM BEHAVIORS AND AN INCREASE IN APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS. FAMILY INITIATIVE'S PRIVATE SPECIALTY SCHOOL, THRIVE ACADEMY, CONTINUED TO GROW IN 2024. ENROLLMENT GREW FROM 12 STUDENTS TO 25 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN EARLY 2024, A CAMPUS WITH THREE BUILDINGS WAS PURCHASED TO HOUSE THRIVE ACADEMY, COMMUNITY MEETING SPACE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. THE CHILD WELFARE FAMILY IMPACT PROGRAM IS BASED ON THREE UNIQUE COMPONENTS TO ASSIST OUR CAREGIVERS ACROSS FLORIDA IN BUILDING A STRONGER TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH FOR OUR CHILDREN WITH A HISTORY OF COMPLEX DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA. THE FIRST COMPONENT IS PRESERVICE TRAINING WHERE PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PARENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT BEHAVIOR-BASED, DEVELOPMENTALLY SENSITIVE, AND TRAUMA FOCUSED PARENTING. USING TRUST BASED RELATIONAL INTERVENTION (TBRI) AS A FOUNDATION OF THIS TRAINING LEADS INTO THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING ONCE FAMILIES ARE LICENSED AS FOSTER FAMILIES. THE THIRD COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDES IN HOME SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES TO ASSIST CAREGIVERS IN REAL TIME TO GAIN PROFICIENCY IN INDEPENDENTLY USING TBRI. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE STRONGER, MORE STABLE ENVIRONMENTS AND A PLACE FOR OUR YOUTH IN OUT OF HOME CARE TO GROW AND THRIVE. OUR CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 600 FAMILIES IN 2024.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.