Cultural Heritage Center of Southwest Florida Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Cultural Heritage Center of Southwest Florida Inc. DBA Blanchard House Institute is to revitalize underinvested communities by preserving and promoting cultural heritage. Through education heritage tourism historic preservation and strategic public-private-philanthropic partnerships the Institute empowers communities to turn their unique stories and assets into opportunities for economic renewal and long-term prosperity.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $807,868
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 103% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 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 (2)
- $454,587 spent. Creating a national portfolio of economic and cultural trails through supporting community-led projects using asset-based community development. BHI also supported the National Trust for Historic Preservations efforts to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Route 66 and collaborated with the National Park Service to promote heritage tourism historic preservation and economic revitalization across the American Heartland. These projects are part of a growing national movement to create public-private-philanthropic partnerships that through the use of a mixed capital stack catalyze sustainable economic revitalization of underinvested communities across the country. Leveraging an asset-based community development approach these efforts empower local elected officials and residents to preserve cultural heritage promote tourism and drive inclusive economic growth. Notably BHI provided support for cultural preservation and economic development efforts in Eatonville Florida-one of the oldest Black-incorporated municipalities in the United States-helping to position it as a model for heritage-driven revitalization statewide. This work is aligned with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026 and the 100th anniversary of the American Dream in 2031.
- $26,821 spent. Expanded International CultureFest programming with events in Punta Gorda Jan and Oct Naples Feb and Cape Coral Apr drawing thousands of participants. Also hosted the 7th Annual Celtic Music Festival in Punta Gorda in May. These public festivals celebrate the regions cultural heritage promote tourism and build community engagement throughout Southwest Florida.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 October 2017.
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 November 4, 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.