Naples Children and Education Foundation
The Naples Children and Education Foundation (NCEF), now operating as the Naples Children Foundation (NCF), is a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation established in 2000 and headquartered in Naples, Florida at 2590 Goodlette-Frank Road North. The organization is dedicated to creating lasting change for vulnerable children in Collier County through strategic grantmaking, research-backed investments, and collaborative partnerships. Over 25 years, the foundation has impacted approximately 385,000 children and supported close to 90 nonprofit organizations through grants and initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$105.6M
+25.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.0M
-10.7% YoY
Grant Count
45
-22.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$378K
+15.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To create lasting change by investing in proven programs that transform the lives of vulnerable children in Collier County. Through strong partnerships, the foundation bridges gaps in child advocacy, education and healthcare—delivering measurable results that empower children, strengthen families and transform communities.
The foundation addresses the lack of services to at-risk and underserved children in Collier County, where 68% of youth live in poverty. Primary focus areas include:
Early Learning Initiative in Immokalee: Improves access to quality early learning programs with services to enhance teacher quality and support children's development. Efforts include partnerships providing behavior analysis, professional development for teachers, and initiatives to close the school readiness gap. The foundation has doubled childcare scholarships supporting high-quality early childhood education providers.
Out-of-School Time Initiative in Immokalee: Provides purposeful programs for at-risk students to enhance academic performance and overall well-being through resource leveraging, capacity expansion, academic support, and enrichment opportunities. Services offer academic and resiliency support for at-risk students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Children's Oral Health Initiative: Provides dental care to at-risk and underprivileged children. The foundation spearheaded a public-private partnership to build and maintain the NCEF Pediatric Dental Center at Florida Southwestern State College in East Naples, which opened in December 2008 and has served over 204,763 pediatric patients.
Grantmaking
The foundation awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. Recent grant distributions include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation exclusively funds programs and organizations serving Collier County, Florida, with particular emphasis on the Immokalee area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $105,612,341
- Total Revenues: $40,056,788
- Total Expenses: $21,370,773
- Number of Employees: 21
Fundraising: The Naples Winter Wine Festival, the foundation's annual marquee fundraising event established in 2001, has raised more than $366 million since inception. The festival is one of the world's most prestigious charity wine auctions, bringing together renowned vintners, chefs, wine enthusiasts, and philanthropists for a three-day event.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $105,612,341 | $84,162,833 | $68,672,867 |
| Revenue | $40,056,788 | $31,306,621 | $33,219,289 |
| Expenses | $21,370,773 | $22,474,245 | $17,675,993 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,329,802 | $1,955,383 | $744,809 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
231 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Harry Chapin Food Bank ($1,800,000), Guadalupe Center Inc ($1,700,000), Boys & Girls Club of Collier County ($1,181,332).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABLE ACADEMY NAPLES, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $438,160 |
| AVOW HOSPICE NAPLES, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $115,000 |
| BASCOM PALMER NAPLES, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $6,500 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS VENICE, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF COLLIER COUNTY NAPLES, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,181,332 |
| BRIGHTER BITES HOUSTON, TX | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $450,000 |
| CAL RIPKEN SR FOUNDATION BALTIMORE, MD | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF COLLIER NAPLES, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $290,000 |
| CHAMPIONS FOR LEARNING NAPLES, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $225,000 |
| COLLIER CTY CHILD ADVOCACY COUNCIL NAPLES, FL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $836,979 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Chief Executive Officer: Maria Jimenez-Lara
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DALE MEDFORD | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| ROBERT HEIDT JR | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MAX GUINN | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| RICK GERMAIN | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR | 1 | — |
| BILL BEYNON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DEBBI CARY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JEFF GARGIULO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SHERIE MAREK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HARRY ROSE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JULIA VAN DOMELEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PATRICK ZENNER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KELLEY BAILEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JIM BAILEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NENA BEYNON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SUE BIEKER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MIKE BIEKER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JAMIE BROWN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN BROWN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BECKY CARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LEWIE CARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BILL CARY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JODY FLEMING | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PAUL FLEMING | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| VALERIE BOYD GARGIULO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LIBBY GERMAIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ASHLEY GERRY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ADAM GERRY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JACKI GUINN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JULIA HEIDT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LIN HENKEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| HERB HENKEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BARBIE HILLS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PAUL HILLS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JERRI HOFFMANN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID HOFFMANN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINE HOMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROL JOSEPH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TOM JOSEPH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELISE KLEIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHRIS KLEIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NANCY KOENIG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TED KOENIG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DANA MATINA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOE MATINA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANNE MCNULTY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KAREN MEDFORD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KATHY MEZZALINGUA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAN MEZZALINGUA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KATHY MOOCK | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANDY MOOCK | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AMY QUINN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN QUINN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROL ROSE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CINDY SCALISE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SAM SCALISE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARILYN SCRIPPS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SUSAN STIELOW | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE VAN HULLE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN VAN HULLE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROL WALTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN WALTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOY WATERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHUCK WATERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SHIRLEY WELSH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PETER WELSH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BETH WESSEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JEFF WESSEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KRISTINE WILLIAMS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHRIS WILLIAMS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SISSY WILSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BILL WILSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BETSY RYAN ZENNER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARIA JIMENEZ-LARA | CEO | 50 | $300,244 |
| JOAN LARSON | CFO | 50 | $263,961 |
| TRACY CONNELLY | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (THRU 3/24) | 50 | $161,141 |
| LISA JULIANO | SVP NWWF & EVENT PRODUCTION | 50 | $190,250 |
| SARAH SAIZER | SVP GRANTS & COMMUNITY IMPACT | 50 | $180,601 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to make record-breaking grant distributions to Collier County nonprofits. Recent announcements highlight investments exceeding $30 million annually to support vulnerable children through strategic initiatives focused on early learning, out-of-school programming, and healthcare access. The foundation's approach emphasizes data-driven solutions, collaborative partnerships, and measurable outcomes rather than traditional charitable giving.
Naples Children Foundation Invests More Than $30.6 Million in NonprofitsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Naples Children and Education Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To create lasting change by investing in proven programs that transform the lives of vulnerable children in Collier County. Through strong partnerships, the foundation bridges gaps in child advocacy, education and healthcare—delivering measurable results that empower children, strengthen families and transform communities. The foundation addresses the lack of services to at-risk and underserved children in Collier County, where 68% of youth live in poverty. Primary focus areas incl…
How do I apply for a grant from Naples Children and Education Foundation?
The foundation awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. Recent grant distributions include: • **2023-2024:** Nearly $25.6 million awarded to approximately 50 Collier County nonprofits. Funds were distributed across three categories: traditional beneficiaries (39 organizations receiving over $6.8 million in traditional grants), initiative organizations and blueprint partners, and reserves for future grants and initiatives.…
Where does Naples Children and Education Foundation make grants?
The foundation exclusively funds programs and organizations serving Collier County, Florida, with particular emphasis on the Immokalee area.
What size grants does Naples Children and Education Foundation award?
In 2024, Naples Children and Education Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $17.0M — an average of about $378K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Naples Children and Education Foundation's EIN?
Naples Children and Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-1001650. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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