Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida

EIN 65-0503084 · Fort Myers, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO INSPIRING AND PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR SUCCESS.

Income
$951,128
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
10
Volunteers
115
Highest pay
$125,644, president/ce

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 68% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 95% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 (1)
  1. $794,406 spent. JA VOLUNTEERS DELIVER A CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO TEACH STUDENTS VITAL CONCEPTS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND CAREER READINESS. THE STRUCTURED, HANDS-ON LESSONS PROVIDE REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS AND INSIGHTS, EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THE CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN TODAY'S ECONOMY. VOLUNTEERS WHO BRING THEIR OWN BUSINESS EXPERIENCES RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND INCLUSIVE MATERIALS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE PROGRAM DELIVERY. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REACHED 20,592 STUDENTS, DELIVERING OVER 223,402 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS THROUGH CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. THESE PROGRAMS EQUIP STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MAKE INFORMED ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL CHOICES, REINFORCING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CLASSROOM LEARNING AND REAL- WORLD APPLICATIONS. JA PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HABITS, EXPLORE ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL, AND GAIN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO THRIVE IN A GLOBAL WORKFORCE. EDUCATORS CONSISTENTLY INVITE JA INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THE CURRICULUM ALIGNS WITH FLORIDA STATE STANDARDS, FILLS CRITICAL EDUCATIONAL GAPS, AND PROVIDES AN ENGAGING, SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE CURRICULUM IS REGULARLY UPDATED TO REFLECT INDUSTRY TRENDS AND EVOLVING EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, ENSURING RELEVANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS. JA SWFL'S PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM EQUIPS LOCAL YOUTH WITH THE SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND INDUSTRY EXPOSURE THEY NEED TO MOVE DIRECTLY INTO MEANINGFUL CAREERS BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: TRAINING LABS, INDUSTRY ALIGNMENT: CURRICULUM DESIGNED AROUND LOCAL WORKFORCE NEEDS, CAREER PATHWAYS: DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYERS READY TO HIRE. WE HAD A 95% JOB PLACEMENT FOR THE 2024-2025 YOUTH. JA VOLUNTEERS DELIVER A CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO TEACH STUDENTS VITAL CONCEPTS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND CAREER READINESS. THE STRUCTURED, HANDS-ON LESSONS PROVIDE REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS AND INSIGHTS, EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THE CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN TODAY'S ECONOMY. VOLUNTEERS WHO BRING THEIR OWN BUSINESS EXPERIENCES RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND INCLUSIVE MATERIALS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE PROGRAM DELIVERY. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REACHED 20,592 STUDENTS, DELIVERING OVER 223,402 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS THROUGH CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. THESE PROGRAMS EQUIP STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MAKE INFORMED ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL CHOICES, REINFORCING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CLASSROOM LEARNING AND REAL- WORLD APPLICATIONS. JA PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HABITS, EXPLORE ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL, AND GAIN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO THRIVE IN A GLOBAL WORKFORCE. EDUCATORS CONSISTENTLY INVITE JA INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THE CURRICULUM ALIGNS WITH FLORIDA STATE STANDARDS, FILLS CRITICAL EDUCATIONAL GAPS, AND PROVIDES AN ENGAGING, SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE CURRICULUM IS REGULARLY UPDATED TO REFLECT INDUSTRY TRENDS AND EVOLVING EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, ENSURING RELEVANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS. JA SWFL'S PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM EQUIPS LOCAL YOUTH WITH THE SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND INDUSTRY EXPOSURE THEY NEED TO MOVE DIRECTLY INTO MEANINGFUL CAREERS BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: TRAINING LABS, INDUSTRY ALIGNMENT: CURRICULUM DESIGNED AROUND LOCAL WORKFORCE NEEDS, CAREER PATHWAYS: DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYERS READY TO HIRE. WE HAD A 95% JOB PLACEMENT FOR THE 2024-2025 YOUTH.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 May 1994.

    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.