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Echo of Brandon Inc

EIN 59-3051533 · Brandon, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ECHO BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN CRISIS AND STABILITY. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES TWO THRIVING RESOURCE CENTERS WHICH OFFER SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, ONE ON ONE JOB COACHING, MOBILE BACK TO WORK TEAMS, IN HOUSE INTERNSHIPS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS. IN AN EFFORT TO MEET IMMEDIATE, CRITICAL NEEDS, ECHO ALSO MAINTAINS FULLY STOCKED FRESH FOOD AND CLOTHING MINI MARKETS. THE ECHO TEAM IS COMMITTED TO ONE ON ONE SERVICE. THOSE SERVED ARE CALLED NEIGHBORS, RATHER THAN CLIENTS. WITH A STRONG BELIEF THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH NEIGHBORS, RATHER THAN FOR NEIGHBORS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR EACH NEIGHBOR TO MOVE FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY, WHILE CONNECTING WITH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE GENUINELY ROOTING FOR AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THEM. FOUNDED IN 1987, ECHO SERVES THE 18 ZIP CODES THAT COMPRISE UNINCORPORATED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
43
Volunteers
2,688
Highest pay
$90,700, exe. directo

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 (3)
  1. $6.4 million spent. EMERGENCY FOOD AND CLOTHING: IN AN EFFORT TO MEET IMMEDIATE, CRITICAL NEEDS, EACH ECHO RESOURCE CENTER MAINTAINS CLEAN AND ORDERLY FRESH FOOD AND CLOTHING MINI MARKETS. NEIGHBORS ARE INVITED TO SELF-SHOP, UP TO THREE TIMES PER YEAR. EACH FAMILY MEMBER RECEIVES A WEEKS' WORTH OF FOOD (20 POUNDS PER PERSON) AND A WEEKS' WORTH OF CLOTHING (5 COMPLETE OUTFITS PER FAMILY MEMBER). VICTIMS OF FIRE ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE RESET ITEMS SUCH AS LINENS, KITCHEN ITEMS, AND TOILETRIES. ECHO CURRENTLY HAS 2 FULLTIME AND 2 PART TIME EMPLOYEES, AND 1 DIRECTOR. THESE EMPLOYEES ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF OVER 150 WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS. FOR THIS FISCAL YEAREND, 20,109 NEIGHBORS PICKED OUT THEIR OWN FOOD AND CLOTHING.
  2. ECHO SERVES NEIGHBORS IN CRISIS THROUGH PERSONALIZED, SIDE BY SIDE SERVICE. EACH RESOURCE CENTER OFFERS ONE ON ONE JOB COACHING, IN HOUSE INTERNSHIPS, INTENSIVE RESOURCE NAVIGATION, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND EMERGENCY FOOD AND CLOTHING. BACK TO WORK: NEIGHBORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE ON ONE JOB COACHING, RESUME REWRITES, MOCK INTERVIEWS, AND A VARIETY OF SKILL ACQUISITION WORKSHOPS. ECHO CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 10 PART TIME JOB COACHES AND ONE FULL TIME DIRECTOR. FOR THIS FISCAL YEAREND,1316 NEIGHBORS RECEIVED COACHING AND 264 SECURED PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT.
  3. ADVOCACY: A CROSS BETWEEN A LIFE COACH AND A SOCIAL WORKER, AN ECHO ADVOCATE WORKS ONE ON ONE WITH NEIGHBORS TO SECURE SHELTER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTION OPTIONS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND/OR REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ECHO CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 7 FULL TIME ADVOCATES AND 5 FULL TIME DIRECTORS. FOR THIS FISCAL YEAREND, 485 HOUSEHOLDS FOUND LONG TERM SOLUTIONS VIA THE ECHO ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT.

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 March 1992.

    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.