Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, known publicly as Collaboratory, is a public charity based in Fort Myers, Florida. Founded in 1976, it works with donors and regional partners through grantmaking, fund management, and community leadership to address social challenges across Southwest Florida.
Key facts about Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc
In short: Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc gave $5.2M across 166 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Florida. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 59-6580974
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,194,549
- Grants made (2025)
- 166
- Average grant
- $31,292
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (42 of 166, 2025)
- Total assets
- $183,474,472
- Primary geography
- Florida (70% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- October 5, 2026, at 5 p.m.
- Next open deadline
- December 7, 2026 (SWFL Women's Executive Leadership Program)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$183.5M
+12.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.2M
-10.9% YoY
Grant Count
166
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
-8.2% YoY
Is Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 42 of 166 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $49K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization describes its mission as coordinating efforts to solve Southwest Florida’s major social problems by 2040, with an emphasis on addressing root causes and improving regional outcomes. Its grantmaking focus areas include Workforce & Education, Health & Wellness, and Community Infrastructure. Its coalitions also address education and workforce outcomes, community infrastructure, and health and wellness.
Grantees in 2025 included organizations with varied missions. Estero Forever Foundation says it promotes legacy giving, provides grants for community needs, and supports the Village of Estero and community projects. Cape Coral Animal Shelter says it provides adoption services, medical care, education, and training, and a safe place for animals awaiting adoption. Alpha & Omega Freedom Ministries says it provides emergency shelter and transitional housing for women and dependent children affected by domestic abuse or homelessness. Bonita Bay Veterans Council says it assists local veterans and their families.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
October 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. EDT.
How to Apply
.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc
Collaboratory Scholarships
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Over $1.2 million annually
Deadline
Rolling / Open
SWFL Women's Executive Leadership Program
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
December 7, 2026
Women's Legacy Fund
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Membership: $250 - $10,000+
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s Community Impact Grants serve Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties in Southwest Florida. In 2025, 70% of grant dollars went to Florida recipients; Maine received 17%, Illinois 2%, North Carolina 2%, and Ohio 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 166 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.2M (2025) to $9.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 166 grants totaling $5.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Community Foundation ($900K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
758 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 620 grants of 758 (82%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Community Foundation Ellsworth, ME | General Operating Support | $900,000 |
| United Way of Lee Hendry Glades and Okeechobee Counties Fort Myers, FL | General Operating Support | $261,800 |
| Finemark National Bank & Trust Fort Myers, FL | General Operating Support | $260,185 |
| Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium Inc Fort Myers, FL | General Operating Support | $135,000 |
| Estero Forever Foundation Estero, FL | General Operating Support | $123,758 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties Inc Fort Myers, FL | General Operating Support | $109,468 |
| University of Florida Foundation Gainesville, FL | General Operating Support | $103,150 |
| Holy Trinity High School Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Hope Clubhouse of Southwest Florida Inc Fort Myers, FL | General Operating Support | $90,632 |
| Lehigh Acres Community Services Inc Lehigh Acres, FL | General Operating Support | $86,744 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $183,474,472 | $31,414,260 | $19,680,699 | $5,194,549 |
| 2024 | $162,968,322 | $28,118,994 | $17,300,901 | $5,828,181 |
| 2023 | $159,037,731 | $21,592,217 | $16,701,607 | $9,140,347 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $183,474,472 | $162,968,322 | $159,037,731 |
| Revenue | $31,414,260 | $28,118,994 | $21,592,217 |
| Expenses | $19,680,699 | $17,300,901 | $16,701,607 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,185,417 | $8,152,026 | $2,013,606 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dawn Belamarich as chair/president; Gail Markham as chair; Gary Griffin as vice chair and secretary/treasurer; and Dale Reiss, Damon Romanello, Fred Moon, Harrison S. Knight, Juan Bendeck, Julie Ben-Susan, and Karen Watson as trustees. The organization’s 2026 grant announcement identifies Dawn Belamarich as president and CEO.
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc is led by Dawn Belamarich, Chair & President on every filing since 2024; 7 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dawn Belamarich
Chair & President
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$91K (2024) → $298K (2025)
Gail Markham
Chair
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dale Reiss
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fred Moon
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harrison S. Knight
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juan Bendeck
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Ben-Susan
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Malike Adigun
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Jackson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Khandyce Mosely
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lillie Rentz
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosemary Fllori
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Watson
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Drasites
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Boy
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Damon Romanello
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marina Nassif
CFO
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$105K (2023) → $94K (2025)
Jonathan Romine
Chief Operations Officer
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$160K (2024) → $158K (2025)
Joseph Braun
Chief Philanthropy Officer
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Tessa Lesage
Chief Impact Officer
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$168K (2024) → $170K (2025)
Alex Breault
Partnership Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Sharon Ralston
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$121K (2025)
Gary Griffin
Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer
Trustee → Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Aysegul Timur (2021–2024) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Chauncey Goss (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Terry Mazany (2023–2024) — Chief Collaboration Officer
- Former: Andrew Couse (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Carolyn Conant (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Hugh Kinsey Jr. (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Beth Crawford (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Robbie Roepstorff (2021–2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Ronald E. Penn (2021–2023) — CFO
- Former: Sarah Owen (2021–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Shontra Powell (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Dennie Hamilton (2021–2022) — Chair
- Former: Indera Demine (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Alan Mandel (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Craig Folk (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Larry A. Hobbs (2021) — Immediate Pa
- Former: Peter Ocsody (2021) — Chief Strate
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $298K, to Dawn Belamarich (Chair/ President). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 2031 Jackson St 100, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 274-5900
Website: https://collaboratory.org
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc
How much does Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc gave $5.2M across 166 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.8M across 171 grants.
What is Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $31,292, across 166 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc that year got $49K on average.
Where does Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maine (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Myers, FL (66 grants), Labelle, FL (6 grants), Bonita Springs, FL (5 grants) and Sanibel, FL (3 grants).
Does Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (166 of 166) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Community Foundation ($900,000), United Way of Lee Hendry Glades and Okeechobee Counties ($261,800) and Finemark National Bank & Trust ($260,185), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc?
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc reported $183.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.4M.
What does Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc fund?
The organization describes its mission as coordinating efforts to solve Southwest Florida’s major social problems by 2040, with an emphasis on addressing root causes and improving regional outcomes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc?
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check collaboratory.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-6580974. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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