Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON A VARIETY OF SOCIAL WELFARE ISSUES FACING THE TAMPA METROPOLITAN AREA. THE RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES IN THE TAMPA AREA, AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS OF THE AREA. THROUGH ITS RESEARCH, THE ORGANIZATION WILL AIM TO IDENTIFY THE SKILL DEFICIENCIES IN THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND OTHER BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EXAMINE HOW CERTAIN SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECT THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF TAMPA RESIDENTS. THE RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED BY PAID EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WILL BE FUNDED BY GRANTS AND DONATIONS TO THE ORGANIZATION
- Income
- $212,945
- Spending
- $195,014
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 14.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $551,381, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 184% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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)
- $162,942 spent. THE TAMPA BAY ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOUNDATION IS HAVING AN OUTSIZED IMPACT ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN TAMPA. THE CERTUP CAMPAIGN WAS OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL TO DATE IN TERMS OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WE AUGMENTED THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WE PROMOTED IN ALLIED HEALTH, ADDING COURSES IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MEDICAL CODING. WE CONTINUED PROMOTING THE ELECTRICAL LINE WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TECO, WHICH RESULTED IN COMPLETELY SELLING OUT THE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH SPRING 2026. OUR HIGHLY EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGED VIDEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO DRIVE LEADS. THE 2025 CAMPAIGN YIELDED A 65% INCREASE IN LEADS AND A 150% JUMP IN CLICK-THROUGH RATES TO HILLSBOROUGH COLLEGE PROGRAMS, THE MOST POPULAR OF WHICH INCLUDED WELDING, ELECTRICAL LINE WORKER, AUTO COLLISION AND SONOGRAPHY. THE FOUNDATION WAS PLEASED TO CONTINUE LOANING FUNDS TO OPPORTUNITY TAMPA BAY, INC., WHICH IS IMPLEMENTING THE PLANS FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT IDENTIFIED IN THE EAST TAMPA INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT MASTER PLAN. OTBI WILL CONTINUE PAYING BACK THE LOANS FROM THE FOUNDATION THROUGH FY2026. PLANS FOR A LIVE LEARN DEVELOPMENT THAT INCLUDE 118 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITUATED NEXT TO THE EAST TAMPA INNOVATION CENTER WERE APPROVED BY THE CITY OF TAMPA THIS YEAR AND ARE EXPECTED TO BREAK GROUND NEXT YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 May 2019.
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.