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Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation

EIN 46-1936911 · Islamorada, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION IS TO SUPPORT A WORLD CLASS HISTORY AND DISCOVERY CENTER THAT ACCURATELY REFLECTS OUR FLORIDA KEYS IN A MULTIFACETED AND INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$308,269
Spending
$204,401
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 62%
Employees
8
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$76,439, director of operations

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

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 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, 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 (1)
  1. $113,796 spent. THE FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY & DISCOVERY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY & DISCOVERY CENTER IN ITS MISSION TO PRESERVE, SHARE, AND CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT OF THE FLORIDA KEYS WHILE FOSTERING COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND LIFELONG LEARNING FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION DELIVERED A DIVERSE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. THESE INCLUDED A ROBUST LECTURE SERIES FEATURING NOTABLE SPEAKERS, A COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB, YOUTH-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING SUCH AS SUMMER CAMP AND STORY TIME, AND ROTATING EXHIBITS THAT INTERPRET THE REGION'S RICH HERITAGE AND ECOLOGY. SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS PROVIDED IMMERSIVE, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN, WHILE STORY TIME AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING CREATED ACCESSIBLE ENTRY POINTS FOR EARLY LEARNERS AND FAMILIES TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.THE ORGANIZATION SERVED A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE, INCLUDING LOCAL RESIDENTS, SCHOOL GROUPS, WORKFORCE FAMILIES, AND VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ATTENDANCE ACROSS EXHIBITS, LECTURES, AND PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATED STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WITH CONTINUED GROWTH IN PARTICIPATION AND INTEREST. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WERE OFFERED TO ENSURE ACCESS TO YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL NEED, REINFORCING THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY.FUNDRAISING EVENTS SUCH AS THE KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY AND THE HOEDOWN NOT ONLY GENERATED CRITICAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT BUT ALSO STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THESE EVENTS BROUGHT TOGETHER DONORS, MEMBERS, AND NEW AUDIENCES IN MEANINGFUL AND ENGAGING WAYS.THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A STRONG AND GROWING MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH FOSTERS ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPORTERS AND PROVIDES A STABLE BASE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, EARLY ACCESS TO EVENTS, AND A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK.IN ADDITION TO MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT IS REFLECTED IN LESS QUANTIFIABLE ACHIEVEMENTS. THESE INCLUDE FOSTERING A SENSE OF PLACE AND PRIDE WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, STRENGTHENING INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH SHARED LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND INSPIRING VISITORS TO DEVELOP A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS' UNIQUE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS BOTH AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE AND A CULTURAL HUB, CONTRIBUTING TO THE VITALITY OF THE REGION AND SUPPORTING ITS LONG-TERM PRESERVATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 November 6, 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 June 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 January 2014.

    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 November 4, 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.