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The Everglades Foundation Inc

EIN 59-3228899 · Palmetto Bay, 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

THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO RESTORE AND PROTECT AMERICA'S EVERGLADES THROUGH ITS THREE PROGRAMMATIC PILLARS: SCIENCE, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$25.5 million
Spending
$14.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
14.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
47
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$543,130, chief executive officer

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 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 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 (4)
  1. $2.3 million spent. SCIENCE:OUR SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE BEDROCK OF THE FOUNDATION, AND IT SERVES A CRITICAL ROLE IN ACHIEVING THE 2030 RESTORATION GOALS. THE FOUNDATION HAS A BUILT A NATIONALLY RESPECTED SCIENCE INSTITUTE MODEL WITH LEADING EXPERTS IN HYDROLOGY, ECOLOGY, WATER QUALITY, ECONOMICS AND RESILIENCY TO PROVIDE SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT BUILDS AND MAINTAINS RESEARCH EXPERTISE IN RESTORATION PROJECT PLANNING, WATER QUALITY MONITORING, HYDROLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF WATER MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, AND VALUING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES LIKE FLOOD PROTECTION AND WATER SUPPLY. THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH HIGHLY REGARDED EXTERNAL RESEARCH PARTNERS AND PUBLISHES A NUMBER OF PAPERS AND TECHNICAL COMMENT LETTERS ON PRIORITY RESTORATION TOPICS. THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION SCIENCE TEAM SHARES SCIENCE-BASED EVIDENCE AND CONVEYS THE COMPLEXITY OF EVERGLADES RESTORATION TO A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS, DECISION MAKERS AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT FOR STRATEGIC RESTORATION OUTCOMES.
  2. $3.5 million spent. ADVOCACY - POLICY & ENGAGEMENT:USING INSIGHTS ROOTED IN SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS, THE POLICY & ENGAGEMENT TEAM WORKS TO EDUCATE AND CONVINCE KEY DECISION MAKERS AND PARTNERS TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT EVERGLADES RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION. THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION'S POLICY TEAM HAS PARTICIPATED IN INFLUENCING EVERY MAJOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION PROJECT SINCE 2008. THE POLICY DEPARTMENT ADVOCATES FOR FUNDING OF THE EAA RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS OTHER KEY RESTORATION COMPONENTS WITHIN CEPP. WITH A VARIETY OF HIGH-IMPACT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, THE TEAM TRACKS ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT EVERGLADES RESTORATION AND ADVANCES COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS. SHARING SCIENCE AND ECONOMIC BASED EVIDENCE WITH COALITIONS OF REALTORS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, AND THE TOURISM BUSINESS HELPS ADVANCE SENTIMENT AND LEGISLATIVE ISSUES THAT SUPPORT RESTORATION.
  3. $1.5 million spent. EDUCATION:THE EDUCATION TEAM SERVES TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS TRAINED OVER 6,000 TEACHERS IN EVERGLADES LITERACY, RESULTING IN THE EVERGLADES EDUCATION OF OVER 200,000 STUDENTS ACROSS 30 COUNTIES IN FLORIDA. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH OVER 50 CHAMPION SCHOOLS THAT HAVE INCORPORATED EVERGLADES CURRICULUM IN EVERY GRADE LEVEL OF THEIR SCHOOL. THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION LITERACY PROGRAM PROVIDES A PRE-K TO 5TH GRADE LEARNING JOURNEY, WITH SCALABLE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS TEACHER TRAININGS, UPDATES CURRICULUM AND CREATES DIGITAL CONTENT AND LEARNING AIDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT COST TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THAT SEEK TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE EVERGLADES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING AND PROTECTING CLEAN WATER FLOW.
  4. $3.3 million spent. THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM SUPPORTS THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMMATIC PILLARS AND TEAMS BY CREATING AND EXECUTING A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT ADVANCES THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. COMMUNICATIONS SHOWCASES AND PROMOTES, THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS, MESSAGING AROUND KEY SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, DEVELOPMENT, AND POLICY TOPICS AND EVENTS.

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 October 13, 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 1995.

    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 October 21, 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.