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Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc

EIN 59-6580974 · Fort Myers, 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

SEE SCHEDULE OCOLLABORATORY IS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WITH AN EVOLVED MISSION COMMITTED TO COORDINATING THE SOLVING OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS BY 2040. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1976, WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING LOCAL CAUSES AND NONPROFIT WORK, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF OUR SOCIAL ISSUES CONTINUE TO STAY THE SAME OR GET WORSE. WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE TRADITIONAL WORK WE DO BUT ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO MAKING A DEEPER IMPACT GOING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES PLAGUING OUR REGION. WE ARE A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WITH OVER $100 MILLION GRANTED OVER THE YEARS, JOINED WITH A MUCH LARGER EFFORT IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WE'RE TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSE AND UPSTREAM ISSUES THAT MAKE THESE GRANTS NECESSARY.

Income
$31.4 million
Spending
$19.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
86.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
38
Volunteers
231
Highest pay
$324,289, chair/ president

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 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 86.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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. $6.8 million spent. NON-COMPETITIVE GRANTS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH DESIGNATED, AGENCY, AND DONOR ADVISED FUNDS. DESIGNATED AND AGENCY FUNDS ARE GENERALLY DISTRIBUTED DURING FIRST QUARTER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, UNLESS SPECIFIED BY A DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT SCHEDULE. DONOR ADVISED FUNDS ARE PROCESSED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DONOR ADVISORS MAY RECOMMEND GRANTS TO QUALIFIED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THE FOUNDATION, DBA COLLABORATORY RETAINS FULL DISCRETION OF DISBURSEMENTAPPROVALS.
  2. $1.7 million spent. SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE DONOR'S INTENT AND WISHES. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS MADE THROUGH THE FOUNDATION'S, DBA COLLABORATORY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOLLOWING GUIDELINES AND PROCESSES THAT INCLUDE APPLICATIONS, NONDISCRIMINATORY SELECTIONS, AND PAYMENT EXECUTION PROCESSES. THE FOUNDATION, DBA COLLABORATORY DISTRIBUTES SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS DIRECTLY TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AWARDED STUDENT. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS HAS BEEN REFINED TO INCREASE MULTI-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS, TO ASSIST ALL STUDENT APPLICANTS (REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER, ETC.) BY OPENING MORE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON THE STUDENT APPLICANT'S ELIGIBILITY, AND TO ASSIST STUDENTS SEEKING CERTIFICATIONS FROM TECHNICAL COLLEGES.
  3. $1.7 million spent. COMPETITIVE GRANTS ARE FUNDED BY FIELD OF INTEREST AND UNRESTRICTED FUNDS. ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS OF COLLABORATORY, COMPETITIVE GRANTS ARE USED TO FUND THE BANDWIDTH REQUIRED FOR COALITIONS TO START AND SUSTAIN. PRIORITIES ARE DETERMINED BY A CALL FOR INFORMATION FROM INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS. GRANTS ARE TO BE AWARDED TO NONPROFITS THAT SERVE AS THE BACKBONE FOR A COALITION THAT ADDRESSES THE WHOLE SYSTEM, SUCH AS HOUSING OR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. FUNDING IS FOR THREE YEARS, CONTINGENT ON SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE EACH YEAR.
  4. $5.7 million spent. COLLABORATORY RECEIVES, DISTRIBUTES AND ADMINISTERS PROGRAM FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE REGION BY BUILDING A STRONGER NETWORK FOR COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP.

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 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 June 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 December 1976.

    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.