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Florida Sterling Council Inc

EIN 59-3140977 · Tallahassee, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ELEVATING ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE

Income
$945,991
Spending
$891,219
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
2
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$146,655, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 24 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $464,284 spent. CONFERENCES AND EVENTS - THE ANNUAL STERLING CONFERENCE PROMOTES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RECOGNITION FOR ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A PANEL OF KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, WORKSHOPS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES EXPOSITION, AND THE STERLING AWARD CEREMONY. REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND EVENTS PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN BEST PRACTICES IN SPECIFIC AREAS, INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND MANUFACTURING.
  2. $119,173 spent. TRAINING - TRAINING SESSIONS THAT ARE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNAL EXPERTISE IN ORGANIZATIONS. THE TRAINING SERVICES INCLUDE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM COURSES, LEADERSHIP EDUCATION COURSES, PROCESS MANAGEMENT AND METRICS COURSES INCLUDING LEAN SIX SIGMA YELLOW, GREEN AND BLACK BELT, AND TEAM BUILDING AMONG EMPLOYEES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS CUSTOMIZED ORGANIZATIONAL TRAINING AND MENTORING.
  3. $116,450 spent. MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT - FLORIDA STERLING COUNCIL PROMOTES ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE THROUGH NUMEROUS ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR LEADERS AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT. THESE INCLUDE THE STERLING EXPLORER, CHALLENGE, COLLABORATIVE, THE GOVERNOR'S STERLING AWARD AND THE GOVERNOR'S STERLING SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE AWARD. STERLING COUNCIL NOW INCLUDES GEORGIA IN THE MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENTS: GEORGIA OGLETHORPE AWARD GEORGIA OGLETHORPE SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE AWARD

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 May 1996.

    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.