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Grace Place for Children and Families Inc

EIN 65-1229558 · Naples, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GRACE PLACE PUTS FAITH INTO ACTION BY EDUCATING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PROVIDING PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY. OUR FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS SERVE 1,300 STUDENTS IN GOLDEN GATE CITY, WHERE LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND POVERTY LIMIT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND CAREERS. (CONTINUTED ON SCH O)GOLDEN GATE CITY IS HOME TO 35,000 RESIDENTS FACING COMPLEX CHALLENGES: HIGHER POVERTY RATES THAN ANY NAPLES COMMUNITY AND A LARGE POPULATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS WHO REQUIRE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ATTAIN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND FUTURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS. GRACE PLACE IS A VITAL RESOURCE IN THIS COMMUNITY, BRINGING THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND ADULT EDUCATION FOR 20 YEARS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST SERVICES - THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION THAT STRENGTHENS NAPLES, COLLIER COUNTY, AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

Income
$10.3 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
160
Volunteers
439
Highest pay
$209,805, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 July 31, 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. $3.2 million spent. SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS (K-12) SERVED 520 STUDENTS FROM FIVE GOLDEN GATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, GOLDEN GATE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GOLDEN GATE HIGH SCHOOL. A CUSTOMIZED APPROACH BY GRADE LEVEL PROMOTES LITERACY, TARGETS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN READING AND MATH, BUILDS LEADERSHIP SKILLS, PROMOTES WELLNESS AND EXPLORES COLLEGE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: THROUGH TARGETED INSTRUCTION, 75% OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IMPROVED IN THEIR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) STANDARDIZED TEST SCORE FROM PRE TO POST TESTING AND 82% IMPROVED IN MATH. 67% OF STUDENTS EARNED A B OR BETTER IN ELA AND 69% OF STUDENTS EARNED A B OR BETTER IN MATH. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THROUGH THE CHOICE ACADEMIES, MIDDLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BY IMPROVED 33% FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, WHEN COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR. 69% OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS EARNED A B OR BETTER IN ELA AND 61% OF STUDENTS EARNED A B OR BETTER IN MATH. 100% OF 12TH GRADERS GRADUATED ON TIME, 23 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED AND 8 STUDENTS RECEIVED A FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP TO THE COLLEGE OF THEIR CHOICE. WHEN STUDENTS ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS, EXPLORE MEANINGFUL CAREERS, AND PURSUE COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL TRAINING, THEY GAIN THE TOOLS TO LIFT THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY. IN DOING SO, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO A STRONGER, MORE PROSPEROUS COLLIER COUNTY WHERE EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL FUELS THE VITALITY OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
  2. $1.6 million spent. THE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM, A NONTRADITIONAL PRESCHOOL MODEL, CULTIVATES CONFIDENT, CAPABLE AND LITERATE PARENTS PREPARED TO GUIDE THEIR CHILD THROUGH THE CRUCIAL YEARS OF EARLY DEVELOPMENT. THIS YEAR, 93% OF OUR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS WERE DEVEOPMENTALLY READY FOR KINDERGARTEN A KEY MILESTONE FOR SUCCESS. WHAT SETS BRIGHT BEGINNINGS APART IS OUR REQUIREMENT FOR PARENT ENROLLMENT, A UNIQUE APPROACH THAT BUILDS A CULTURE OF LEARNING BY STRENGTHENING ENGLISH LITERACY, INCREASING PARENTING CONFIDENCE AND SETTING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR LIFELING LEARNING. THE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS FAMILY LITERACY MODEL IS A LICENSED, COPYRIGHTED PROGRAM DELIVERED BY TRAINED TEACHERS USING A STRUCTURED, EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM.
  3. $1.5 million spent. NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO LEARN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. THAT'S WHY WE'VE BECOME THE LARGEST PERMANENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE IN COLLIER COUNTY, ADDRESSING A CRITICAL NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR FOOD PANTRY'S IMPACT: DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 570,000 POUNDS OF FOOD; SERVED 3,500 FAMILIES, AND IS OPEN TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NOT JUST GRACE PLACE STUDENTS. WHAT MAKES OUR PANTRY SPECIAL IS THAT OUR CHOICE PANTRY MODEL ALLOWS FAMILIES TO SELECT THEIR OWN FOOD FROM FRESH PRODUCE, MEATS, AND SHELF-STABLE PRODUCTS. BY ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, WE'RE NOT JUST FILLING STOMACHS WE'RE FUELING MINDS AND CREATING A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING. OUR FOOD PANTRY IS A VITAL RESOURCE THAT EXTENDS BEYOND OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, TOUCHING LIVES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
  4. $495,011 spent. OUR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS OPEN DOORS TO OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING, FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL LITERACY, AND CITIZENSHIP EXAM PREPARATION. THIS YEAR, 288 ADULTS TOOK STEPS TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE60% IMPROVED THEIR READING LEVELS BASED ON ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS. 118 STUDENTS RETURNED THIS YEAR, AFTER BEGINNING COURSEWORK THE PRIOR YEAR. FIVE STUDENTS PROUDLY BECAME U.S. CITIZENS AFTER PASSING THE RIGOROUS EXAM. DEMAND CONTINUES TO GROW, WITH WAITLISTS REFLECTING THE DEEP DESIRE FOR LEARNING, CONNECTION, AND A BETTER LIFE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 September 2005.

    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.