Lightning Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO INVESTING ITS RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF TAMPA BAY, FOCUSING ON MEETING BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND ENHANCING LIVES.
- Income
- $9.2 million
- Spending
- $8.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 93
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $406,339, executive director
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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 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)
- $5.2 million spent. THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT NON-PROFITS AND PROGRAMS EACH YEAR THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT BENEFIT THOSE IN NEED. A FEW EXAMPLES ARE LISTED HERE: THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION PURCHASES OF CHARITY EVENT SPONSORSHIPS AND TABLES AT DOZENS OF NON-PROFITS EACH YEAR, AND ALSO DONATES OVER 2,000 SIGNED ITEMS AND PLAYER EXPERIENCES TO NON-PROFITS THROUGHOUT TAMPA BAY FOR VARIOUS CHARITY AUCTIONS AND RAFFLES. PLAYER TICKET PROGRAM - THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO POSITIVELY MATCH PLAYERS WITH AN OUTSTANDING LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION(S) AND TO ALLOW CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE NON-PROFIT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE LIGHTNING HOCKEY LIVE. DIFFERENT TICKET PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PLAYERS TO PURCHASE AT DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS PER CHARGE. THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION HOSTS CHARITY EVENTS WITH OUR PLAYERS INCLUDING COOPS CATCH FOR KIDS (PEDIATRIC CANCER) AND THE PLAYER CHARITY HOLIDAY PARTY (CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER OR A KIDS PLACE). USF PARTNERSHIP - THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION PROVIDES A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE USF SPORTS MANAGEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM IN THE USF COLLEGE OF BUSINESS. THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION HAS AN EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CONTRIBUTING (VOLUNTEER) HOURS ACROSS OUR REGION THROUGH OUR GENEROUS EMPLOYEES.(C.H.A.R.G.E.) PROGRAM WHICH ENCOURAGES THE LIGHTNING FAMILY TO VOLUNTEER A MINIMUM OF 4,000 HOURS ANNUALLY AT A VARIETY OF NON-PROFITS WITHOUT FAIL. THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTING, ALONG WITH PROUD PARTNERS MICROLUMEN AND THE MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION, HAVE PROGRAMMING SPONSORS INCLUDING A WISH EXPERIENCE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM FEATURED EIGHT DATES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON DURING WHICH THE BOLTS AND MICROLUMEN HOSTED A MAKE A WISH FAMILY FOR THE GAME WITH UNFORGETTABLE, UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS MOSAIC GOALS FOR FOOD PROGRAM WHICH DONATES FUNDING TO THE LOCAL BANK THAT CORRELATES TO THE NUMBER OF GOALS SCORED DURING THE SEASON. LICENSE PLATES - THE LIGHTNING FOUNDAITON AND FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION PARTNER TO CREATE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS TO PURCHASE A SPECIALTY TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING LICENSE PLATE TAG, WITH A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM EACH TAG BENEFITTING THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION.
- $941,425 spent. HOCKEY CAMPS & LEAGUES - LIGHTNING MADE HOCKEY IS DESIGNED TO GIVE YOUTH HOCKEY PLAYERS OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE, LEARN, AND ENJOY THE GAME OF HOCKEY THROUGH A SERIES OF CAMPS, CLINICS, AND LEAGUES HELD YEAR-ROUND. WHILE ALL LIGHTNING MADE PROGRAMS UTILIZE USA HOCKEY'S AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL TO FOCUS ON BASIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT, EACH PROGRAM EXUDES ITS OWN UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WHILE ENHANCING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF A PLAYER'S GAME. LIGHTNING MADE CLINICS ARE FOCUSED ON THE ENTRY LEVEL HOCKEY PLAYER, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE ABSOLUTE FUNDAMENTALS. THE LIGHTNING MADE ALUMNI SERIES IS DIRECTED AT THE BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE HOCKEY PLAYER WHO IS LOOKING FOR HELP ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF HIS OR HER GAME INCLUDING DEFENSIVE SKILLS, OFFENSIVE AND STICK HANDLING SKILLS, AND GOALTENDING. THE LIGHTNING MADE SUMMER AND HOLIDAY CAMPS TARGET HOCKEY PLAYERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS WHO ARE LOOKING TO ROUND OUT THEIR OVERALL GAME. THE LIGHTNING MADE ELITE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (EDP) IS AN ELITE PROGRAM TARGETED AT THE HIGHER CALIBER HIGH SCHOOL AGE PLAYER AND IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THAT PLAYER AN ADVANCED LEVEL OF TRAINING AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNAL EXPOSURE IN ORDER TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF PLAY. ALL PROGRAMS UTILIZE USA HOCKEY CERTIFIED COACHES AND INSTRUCTORS, INCLUDING TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ALUMNI AS WELL AS OTHER FORMER PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE HOCKEY PLAYERS.
- $18,815 spent. LIGHTNING COMMUNITY HEROES - LIGHTNING OWNER JEFF VINIK, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE PENNY, LAUNCHED THE COMMUNITY HEROES INITIATIVES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2011-12 SEASON TO DISTRIBUTE $10M TO DESERVING NON-PROFITS THROUGHOUT THE TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY. THE LIGHTNING HONORS A COMMUNITY HERO AT EACH OF THE LIGHTNING'S 41 REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES AND AWARDS A $25,000 CHECK TO A NON-PROFIT CHARITY OF THE HERO'S CHOICE. THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE VINIK FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE DOUGLAS AND JULIEA OSTROVER FOUNDATION, AND THE MARC AND JENNIFER LIPSCHULTZ FAMILY FOUNDATION.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 1999.
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 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.