The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF CHILDREN'S LIVES BY PROVIDING FAMILIES, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, CARE- GIVERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN COLLIER, GLADES, HENDRY AND LEE COUNTIES, WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE FUTURE. THE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS HAVE HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS, COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, SEAMLESS DELIVERY SYSTEMS WITH DIVERSE SETTINGS, AND WELL-EDUCATED, COMPETENT STAFF. THE DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND OF SCHOOL-BASED SITES OPERATED BY PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $63.0 million
- Spending
- $62.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 69
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $177,744, ceo
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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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 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)
- $29.9 million spent. SCHOOL READINESS (SR) PROGRAMS: EMPOWERS PARENTS AS A CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER AND HELPS THEM PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN TO BE READY FOR SCHOOL THROUGH ENROLLMENT WITH SR PROVIDERS. THE PROVIDERS OFFER DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM; SUITABLE STAFF TO CHILDREN RATIOS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF EACH CHILD; AND THE ABILITY FOR PARENTS TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE ABOUT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM THAT BEST FITS THEIR FAMILY'S NEED. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SUPPORTS THE STATE PROGRAM IN COLLIER, GLADES, HENDRY AND LEE COUNTIES BY CONTRACTING FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE SERVICES WITH 230 SCHOOL READINESS PROVIDERS; PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SR PROVIDERS; 7,426 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.
- $29.7 million spent. VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN (VPK): A LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED, STATEWIDE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE EVERY FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND YOUNGER FIVE-YEAR-OLDS IN FLORIDA FOR KINDERGARTEN AND BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. THE VPK PROGRAM GIVES EACH CHILD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PREPARATION TO PERFORM BETTER IN SCHOOL AND THROUGHOUT LIFE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN VPK. PROVIDERS CONTRACT TO ASSURE HIGH LITERACY STANDARDS, ACCOUNTABILITY, APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM, SUBSTANTIAL INSTRUCTION PERIODS, MANAGEABLE CLASS SIZES, AND QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SUPPORTS THE VPK PROGRAM IN COLLIER, GLADES, HENDRY AND LEE COUNTIES BY CONTRACTING FOR VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN SERVICES AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH QUALITY VPK PROVIDERS. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN 250 SITES SERVING 7,567 CHILDREN IN OUR 4-COUNTY REGION. VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN (VPK): A LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED, STATEWIDE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE EVERY FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND YOUNGER FIVE-YEAR-OLDS IN FLORIDA FOR KINDERGARTEN AND BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. THE VPK PROGRAM GIVES EACH CHILD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PREPARATION TO PERFORM BETTER IN SCHOOL AND THROUGHOUT LIFE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN VPK. PROVIDERS CONTRACT TO ASSURE HIGH LITERACY STANDARDS, ACCOUNTABILITY, APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM, SUBSTANTIAL INSTRUCTION PERIODS, MANAGEABLE CLASS SIZES, AND QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SUPPORTS THE VPK PROGRAM IN COLLIER, GLADES, HENDRY AND LEE COUNTIES BY CONTRACTING FOR VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN SERVICES AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH QUALITY VPK PROVIDERS. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN 250 SITES SERVING 7,567 CHILDREN IN OUR 4-COUNTY REGION.
- $30,000 spent. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT EARLY LEARNING DISCRETIONARY GRANT: THIS INITIATIVE IS FUNDED FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) ACT DISCRETIONARY CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT TRUST FUND IN SECTION 53 OF CHAPTER 2023-239, LAWS OF FLORIDA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUNDING IS TO IMPLEMENT AN EARLY LEARNING DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: INCREASING/BUILDING THE SUPPLY OF CHILD CARE, TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES, AND WORKFORCE INITIATIVES, LOCAL INITIATIVES/PILOT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE KINDERGARTEN READINESS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, CLASSROOM MATERIALS, CURRICULUM, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION COMPUTER SOFTWARE, EARLY LEARNING SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY.
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 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 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 September 2002.
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.
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.