Equality Florida Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EQUALITY FLORIDA INSTITUTE IS THE EDUCATIONAL ARM OF THE LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION IN FLORIDA DEDICATED TO ENDING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.
- Income
- $6.3 million
- Spending
- $6.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 70
- Volunteers
- 13,500
- Highest pay
- $345,795, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (4)
- $3.1 million spent. EDUCATION:SAFE & HEALTHY SCHOOLS:IN 2024, SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS (SHS) STOOD FIRM AGAINST ESCALATING ATTACKS ON THE SYSTEMS OF CARE THAT SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE. DESPITE POLITICAL HOSTILITY, WE REFINED AND STRENGTHENED OUR MODEL BY MORE DEEPLY LINKING EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH, BUILDING A SCALABLE PROGRAM THAT PROTECTED LGBTQ YOUTH WHILE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER STATES. OUR APPROACH WAS ROOTED IN SYSTEMS CHANGE: EMBEDDING SOLUTIONS DIRECTLY WITHIN SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE NETWORKS, AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT SUPPORT REMAINED DURABLE AND SUSTAINABLE, EVEN IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)A DECADE OF RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING WITH KEY EDUCATION LEADERS PAID OFF. IN 2024 ALONE, SHS ACTIVELY COLLABORATED WITH MORE THAN 80 SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS NEARLY HALF OF FLORIDA'S DISTRICTS. RESEARCH FROM THE CDC CONFIRMED WHAT WE SAW IN PRACTICE: WHEN DISTRICTS ADOPTED INCLUSIVE POLICIES AND PRACTICES - LIKE THOSE SHS PRIORITIZED - STUDENTS EXPERIENCED LESS DISTRESS, LESS HARASSMENT, AND FEWER SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. RECOGNITION OF THIS IMPACT CAME WHEN THE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HONORED SHS WITH THE HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS AWARD, ACKNOWLEDGING OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE SAFE, FAIR, AND INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS.TRAINING AND EDUCATION REMAINED CENTRAL TO OUR WORK. IN 2024, SHS CONDUCTED 65 TRAINING SESSIONS FOR 3,220 EDUCATORS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND PARENTS - BRINGING OUR TOTAL REACH TO MORE THAN 41,000 INDIVIDUALS STATEWIDE. BY BUILDING DISTRICT CAPACITY TO DELIVER TRAINING INTERNALLY, WE EXTENDED OUR REACH BY AN ESTIMATED 4,000 ADDITIONAL STAFF THIS YEAR. WE ALSO DEVELOPED OR STRENGTHENED LGBTQ SUPPORT GUIDES IN 12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SAFEGUARDING NEARLY 2 MILLION STUDENTS, AND EXPANDED OUR PARENTING WITH PRIDE COMMUNITY TO 2,200 FAMILIES. THESE INITIATIVES EQUIPPED EDUCATORS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND PARENTS WITH CULTURALLY COMPETENT STRATEGIES THAT HELPED ENSURE LGBTQ YOUTH WERE SUPPORTED ACROSS EVERY PART OF THEIR LIVES.WE ALSO DEEPENED OUR CONVENING POWER IN 2024, BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AROUND SHARED COMMITMENTS TO LGBTQ SAFETY AND HEALTH. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED OUR ANNUAL 'ALL TOGETHER NOW' CONFERENCE, WHERE THREE SUPERINTENDENTS ISSUED A POWERFUL CALL TO ACTION; OUR FIRST 'BACK TO SCHOOL SUMMIT' FOR 240 PARENTS; A 'BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUMMIT' SERVING 125 LICENSED PROFESSIONALS; AND PARENT SUMMITS HOSTED IN FIVE COMMUNITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PFLAG AND PTA. ADDITIONALLY, OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL LAUNCHED ITS THIRD COHORT, EMPOWERING LGBTQ STUDENTS TO BECOME VISIBLE, INFORMED ADVOCATES. TOGETHER, THESE MILESTONES DEMONSTRATED HOW SHS BUILT A RESILIENT STATEWIDE INFRASTRUCTURE OF EDUCATION LEADERS, PARENTS, AND YOUTH DETERMINED TO CREATE SAFE SCHOOLS, AFFIRMING COMMUNITIES, AND PATHWAYS TO HEALTHIER FUTURES.TRANSGENDER EQUALITY:- OFFICIALLY REBRANDED THE DEPARTMENT TO FEEL MORE ALIGNED WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA. NO LONGER TRANS ACTION, NOW RECOGNIZED AS TRANS EQUALITY.- TRANS EQUALITY FOCUSED ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRANS LEADERS IN THE STATE AND UPLIFTING THE WORK OF TRANS-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES IN THE STATE. TRANS EQUALITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO LINK DOZENS OF INDIVIDUALS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEIR LEGAL NAME CHANGE AND GENDER MARKER ADJUSTMENTS TO LEGAL PARTNERS.- ORGANIZED AND HELD THE LARGEST TRANS MARCH ON TALLAHASSEE TO DATE. THE LET US LIVE MARCH IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG MANY TRANS-LED ORGS IN FLORIDA AND HAD OVER 350 ATTENDEES THIS YEAR. - CONDUCTED, FACILITATED AND/OR PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS TOWN HALL AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WITH EXPERT PANELISTS DISCUSSING VARIOUS TOPICS.- TRANS EQUALITY WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE EQUALITY FLORIDA'S PUBLIC POLICY TEAM TO MOBILIZE PARENTS OF TRANS AND NONBINARY YOUTH AND ACTIVISTS TO BOARD OF MEDICINE/BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE AND MEDICAID/AHCA MEETINGS.- TRANS EQUALITY HELD THE 2ND ANNUAL FLORIDA VOICES FOR CHANGE CONVENING, A LEADERSHIP SUMMIT THAT SAW 40 TRANS-LED ORGS GATHER TO TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESS, OBSTACLES, NEXT STEPS, AND HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE FLORIDA TRANS COMMUNITY THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE WITH MORE THAN 60 ATTENDEES WHO WERE ACTIVISTS, ADVOCATES, JOURNALISTS, POLITICIANS, AND YOUTH LEADERS. - LED TRAININGS WITH CORPORATE BUSINESSES ON THE CURRENT STATE OF POLICIES AND MET WITH ERGS TO GIVE UPDATES ON HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. - RECEIVED SEVERAL LOCAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN TAMPA, ST. PETERSBURG, AND ORLANDO.HEALTH EQUITY/PARENTING WITH PRIDE:PROGRAM LAUNCHES & COMMUNITY IMPACT- LAUNCHED THE LGBTQ HEALTH EQUITY TOOLKIT, A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATORS, PROVIDERS, AND ADVOCATES. THE LAUNCH INCLUDED A WEBINAR HELD IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ENGAGING 40 HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS IN STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE AFFIRMING, PATIENT-CENTERED CARE.- HOSTED THE FIRST LGBTQ BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUMMIT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FLORIDA PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, OFFERING CE CREDITS TO 125 LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO STRENGTHEN CONFIDENCE AND COMPETENCE IN PROVIDING QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR LGBTQ COMMUNITY.- EXPANDED THE PARENTING WITH PRIDE COMMUNITY TO 2,200 PARENTS, BUILDING A MOVEMENT TO PROTECT FAMILIES' RIGHTS.- PARTNERED WITH PFLAG AND PTA TO HOST PARENT SUMMITS IN FIVE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING CONNECTION, SHARING RESOURCES, AND STRENGTHENING FAMILY ADVOCACY.- LAUNCHED OUR FIRST BACK TO SCHOOL SUMMIT, PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO 240 PARENTS AND FAMILIES LOOKING FOR THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR LGBTQ CHILD.PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES- PARTICIPATED IN SIX MAJOR CONFERENCES - INCLUDING THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (APA), FLORIDA SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION (FSCA), FLORIDA COUNSELING ASSOCIATION (FCA), FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS (FASP), FLORIDA SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION (FSPC), AND FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS (FASSW) - REACHING 270 PARTICIPANTS. THESE ENGAGEMENTS CONNECTED COUNSELORS, SO
- $957,829 spent. OUTREACH:WE ARE WORKING WITH THE MOVEMENT ADVANCEMENT PROJECT (MAP), HOME TO THE "OPEN TO ALL" CAMPAIGN, TO DEEPEN OUR COLLABORATION WITH THEM AND WITH YELP, A COMPANY THAT PUBLISHES A SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF LOCAL BUSINESSES ALONG WITH CROWD-SOURCED REVIEWS.
- $889,335 spent. MOBILIZATION:LOCAL LEVEL:- PARTICIPATED IN 34 PRIDE EVENTS FROM PENSACOLA TO KEY WEST, GATHERING 9,758 PETITIONS, AND RECRUITING 1,936 NEW VOLUNTEERS.- RECRUITED 518 SIGN-UPS, ACROSS 31 COUNTIES, FOR 115 SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST BOOK BANNING.STATE LEVEL: - PREVENTED EXTENSIVE BOOK BANS, CHAMPIONED FOR LGBTQ PROCLAMATIONS AND GUIDE RETURNS, AND COUNTERED EXCESSIVE CAUTION IN COMPLYING WITH ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS.
- $418,700 spent. ADVOCACY:LOCAL LEVEL:OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS HAVE ATTENDED OR HOSTED 342 EVENTS IN THEIR LOCAL AREAS INCLUDING COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS TO SPEAK ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY, SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATION EVENTS MEANT TO BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES, AND MUCH MORE. EQUALITY FLORIDA COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS HAVE HOSTED EVENTS SUCH AS MONTHLY TRAINING SESSIONS FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ALIGNMENT MEETINGS WITH ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY UNITY EVENTS, AND THANK YOU EVENTS FOR ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS.STATE LEVEL:RECRUITED OVER 400 PEOPLE TO ATTEND PRIDE AT THE CAPITOL KICK OFF AND OVER 100 MORE TO THE SUBSEQUENT WEEKS OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION. COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE WERE TRAINED IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGISLATORS ON LGBTQ ISSUES AROUND BILLS BEING HEARD IN THE 2024 SESSION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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