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Rising Leaders of North Florida Inc

EIN 59-3577327 · St Augustine, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT NORTH FLORIDA BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BUILD CHARACTER, INSTILL CORE VALUES, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY CHOICES THROUGH THE GAME OF GOLF. THE ORGANIZATION EXISTS FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
61
Volunteers
332

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $974,051 spent. THE EXPENSES OF OFFERING OUR LIFE SKILLS EXPERIENCE MAKE THE GAME OF GOLF AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, EMPHASIZING THE INTRODUCTION OF CHILDREN OF ALL RACES AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO THE GAME OF GOLF, AND TO THE VALUES OF CHARACTER AND LIFE SKILLS INHERENT IN THE GAME. IN 2024, THERE WERE 1300 ENROLLED JUNIOR MEMBERS ACTIVE IN THE ONSITE PROGRAMMING, AFTER SCHOOL PR0GRAMMING, SUMMER CAMPS AND TOURNAMENTS. MEMBERS RECEIVE FREE AND REDUCED GOLF FEES AT SELECT LOCATIONS AND ACCESS TO WEEKLY PROGRAMMING WHICH TOOK PLACE OVER SEVEN, 5-WEEK SESSIONS IN THE CALENDAR YEAR. THE FIRST TEE LIFE SKILLS EXPERIENCE IS THE CORE OF THE PROGRAM. IT INSTILLS THE INHERENT VALUES OF THE GAME OF GOLF, AND SHOWS PARTICIPANTS HOW TO TRANSFER THESE VALUES INTO OTHER ASPECTS OF LIFE. STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT RESPONSIBLITY, COURTESY, HOW TO MAKE DECISIONS BY THINKING ABOUT POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES, HOW TO SET GOALS, HOW TO DEFINE THESE GOALS, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOWING RESPECT TO OTHERS. PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPOSED TO A YOUTH-CENTERED CLIMATE WHERE THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO EXPLORE OPTIONS AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 September 1999.

    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.