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Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc

EIN 59-1052433 · Venice, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TOGETHER WITH OUR DONORS, WE TRANSFORM OUR REGION THROUGH BOLD AND PROACTIVE PHILANTHROPY.

Income
$73.5 million
Spending
$60.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
97 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
31
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$449,457, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 97.0 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 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $49.5 million spent. TOGETHER WITH OUR DONORS, GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC. (GULF COAST) AND ITS SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS, THE VENICE ENDOWMENT, INC. AND GULF COAST STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS, INC, TRANSFORM OUR REGION THROUGH BOLD AND PROACTIVE PHILANTHROPY. GULF COAST IS A PUBLIC CHARITY THAT WAS CREATED IN 1995 WITH PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE VENICE HOSPITAL. SINCE THEN, THE FOUNDATION HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 850 GENEROUS DONOR PARTNERSHIPS AND INVESTED MORE THAN $612 MILLION IN GRANTS AND INITIATIVES IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CIVIC AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)INSPIRING PHILANTHROPYAT GULF COAST, OUR MISSION BEGINS TOGETHER WITH OUR DONORS. THEIR GIFTS HELP POWER THE ACTIONS WE TAKE EVERY DAY TO TRANSFORM OUR REGION. OUR GULF COAST FAMILY OF DONORS INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, CORPORATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER FOUNDATIONS. GULF COAST WORKS IN THOUGHTFUL COORDINATION WITH DONORS AND THEIR LEGAL, FINANCIAL, AND TAX ADVISORS TO CREATE CUSTOM PHILANTHROPIC ACTION PLANS AND STEWARD THEIR GIFTS TO MEET THEIR WISHES. WHETHER IT'S A DONOR ADVISED FUND TO SUPPORT THEIR FAVORITE CHARITIES OR A PLANNED ESTATE GIFT THAT WILL CREATE A PERMANENT CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT IN THEIR NAME, GULF COAST LISTENS TO WHAT EACH DONOR ENVISIONS FOR THEIR GIVING AND THEN HELPS TURN THEIR VISION INTO REALITY. GULF COAST ALSO OFFERS DONORS INTELLIGENCE ON EMERGING COMMUNITY ISSUES AND ASSISTANCE FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN IDENTIFYING CHARITABLE PROJECTS MOST COMPATIBLE WITH THEIR INTERESTS. BY ENGAGING DONORS IN GULF COAST'S REGIONAL INITIATIVES, THE FOUNDATION CAN HELP THEM HAVE A MUCH GREATER PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY THAN THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD ON THEIR OWN. IMPACT IN OUR REGIONIN OUR ROLE AS A REGIONAL LEADER, GULF COAST IDENTIFIES PRIORITY ISSUES THROUGH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, THEN CREATES AND FUNDS CATALYTIC COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT TARGET THOSE PRIORITIES. THESE INITIATIVES TYPICALLY INVOLVE CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION AND AIM TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING FROM WITHIN AND BEYOND OUR REGION.PRIORITY ISSUES IDENTIFIED THROUGH THIS RESEARCH INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WATER QUALITY AND ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES, AND MENTAL HEALTH. GULF COAST ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF ARTS AND CULTURE, CIVIC AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DISASTER RECOVERY, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, GULF COAST FUNDS A VARIETY OF GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION. OUR GRANT PROGRAMS INCLUDE CATALYTIC GRANTS, WHICH FUND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT TARGET REGIONAL PRIORITIES IN MEASURABLE WAYS; COMMUNITY GRANTS, WHICH FUND SMALLER PROJECTS AT REGIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING WORK DESIGNED TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS OF THEIR MISSION; AND EMPOWERING ARTS GRANTS, WHICH PROVIDE UNRESTRICTED FUNDING TO CORNERSTONE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR ARTISTIC MISSIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 July 1966.

    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.