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The Florida Center for Early Childhood Inc

EIN 59-1947024 · Sarasota, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FLORIDA CENTER SUPPORTS THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN, SPECIALIZING IN THOSE WITH DELAYS, DISABILITIES OR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. OUR MISSION- "TO HELP BUILD AND FOSTER STRONG FAMILIES AND EXPAND THE POTENTIAL OF YOUNG CHILDREN". WE ENVISION A TIME WHEN EVERY CHILD WILL BE LOVED, NURTURED AND ENCOURAGED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH TEN YEARS OLD IN SARASOTA, CHARLOTTE, MANATEE, DESOTO AND HARDEE COUNTIES CAN RECEIVE EARLY EDUCATION AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. SERVICES INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIES, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT, INCLUSION-MODEL PRESCHOOL, IN-HOME PARENTING SUPPORT AND FLORIDA'S ONLY FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC (AVAILABLE STATEWIDE).

Income
$11.9 million
Spending
$12.3 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
206
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$182,206, 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (5)
  1. $2.4 million spent. HEALTHY FAMILIES:HEALTHY FAMILIES IS AN AWARD-WINNING EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY STABILITY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS PROGRAM PREVENTS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AMONG HIGH-RISK FAMILIES. HEALTHY FAMILIES SERVES NEARLY 500 FAMILIES ANNUALLY IN CHARLOTTE, DESOTO, HARDEE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES, OF WHICH MORE THAN 95% OF CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM HAVE NO VERIFIED FINDINGS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT DURING THE PROGRAM OR WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF PROGRAM COMPLETION.
  2. $2.4 million spent. EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK HARD TO ENSURE CHILDREN ARE REACHING THEIR GOALS FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. SERVICES INCLUDE: DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPIES (SPEECH-LANGUAGE AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY) AND OUR AWARD-WINNING EARLY CHILDHOOD COURT PROGRAM, WHICH USES A SPECIALIZED, TEAM-BASED APPROACH TO HELP INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING THE TRAUMA THEY EXPERIENCE AND ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE A STABLE, PERMANENT HOME MORE QUICKLY THAN IN TRADITIONAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO NEARLY 350 CHILDREN, BIRTH THROUGH AGE TEN, AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY.
  3. $3.6 million spent. MENTAL HEALTH/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIES ARE AVAILABLE AS BOTH OUTPATIENT AND SCHOOL-BASED. THE CHILDREN RECEIVE THERAPIES FOR A VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT INCLUDE AGGRESSION, GRIEF OF LOSS, EXPOSURE TO A TRAUMATIC EVENT, FEAR OF ANXIETY AND HYPERACTIVITY. OUTPATIENT THERAPY IS AVAILABLE AT OUR SARASOTA AND NORTH PORT OFFICES. THE SCHOOL-BASED COMPONENT HAS THERAPISTS HOUSED AT 25 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN SARASOTA COUNTY. THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM SERVES OVER 1,600 CHILDREN AND 75 PRESCHOOLS ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, OUR TEAMS ARE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD AND TRAIN OVER 1,000 PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ANNUALLY.
  4. $1.4 million spent. FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS (FASD):THE FLORIDA CENTER IS HOME TO THE STATE'S FIRST AND ONLY FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS (FASD) CLINIC. THE PURPOSE OF THE CLINIC IS TO DIAGNOSE ISSUES RELATED TO PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING STATEWIDE ON FASD. THE CLINIC EVALUATES INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. PROBLEMS RELATED TO PRE-NATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE CAN INCLUDE LANGUAGE, MOTOR AND COGNITIVE DELAYS. THE CLINIC COMPLETES OVER 220 DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS AND TRAINS MORE THAN 500 PROFESSIONALS ANNUALLY.
  5. $1.7 million spent. STARFISH ACADEMY IS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED, INCLUSION PRESCHOOL PROGRAM SERVING CHILDREN 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OLD, INCLUDING VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN. OUR HIGHLY TRAINED, NURTURING EDUCATORS FOCUS ON TEACHING IMPORTANT SKILLS TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND. THE STARFISH ACADEMY INCORPORATES MUSIC, ART, AND DRAMA INTO OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH FOR THE "WHOLE CHILD." TEACHERS WORK IN TANDEM WITH THERAPISTS TO PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF SERVICE ON-SITE, WHICH HELPS CHILDREN PROGRESS MORE QUICKLY TOWARD DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS. THE ACADEMY HAS 2 LOCATIONS SERVING NORTH AND SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY AND ENROLLS OVER 135 CHILDREN ANNUALLY.

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 December 1979.

    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.