Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc logo

Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Fort Myers, FL EIN: 59-6580974 Website

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

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

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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

37states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 166 itemized grants.

Cities

Fort MyersBonita SpringsNaplesLa BelleSanibelSarasotaFort MyresPunta GordaNorth Fort MyersCape CoralChicagoNew YorkWashingtonImmokaleeLakelandTampaPort CharlotteHighlandsMiamiSheboygan

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2.5M$5M$7.5M$10M134 grants2021 135 grants2022 152 grants2023 171 grants2024 166 grants2025

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

Maine Community Foundation: $900KMaine Community Foundation$900KUnited Way of Lee Hendry Glades and Okeechobee Counties: $262KUnited Way of Lee HendryGlades and Okeechobee Counties$262KFinemark National Bank & Trust: $260KFinemark National Bank & Trust$260KCalusa Nature Center & Planetarium Inc: $135KCalusa Nature Center &Planetarium Inc$135KEstero Forever Foundation: $124KEstero Forever Foundation$124KHabitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties Inc: $109KHabitat for Humanity of Leeand Hendry Counties Inc$109KUniversity of Florida Foundation: $103KUniversity of FloridaFoundation$103KHoly Trinity High School: $100KHoly Trinity High School$100KHope Clubhouse of Southwest Florida Inc: $91KHope Clubhouse of SouthwestFlorida Inc$91KLehigh Acres Community Services Inc: $87KLehigh Acres CommunityServices Inc$87K

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

620<$50K91$50–100K31$100–250K8$250–500K7$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 620 grants of 758 (82%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Maine Community Foundation Ellsworth, MEGeneral Operating Support$900,000
United Way of Lee Hendry Glades and Okeechobee Counties Fort Myers, FLGeneral Operating Support$261,800
Finemark National Bank & Trust Fort Myers, FLGeneral Operating Support$260,185
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium Inc Fort Myers, FLGeneral Operating Support$135,000
Estero Forever Foundation Estero, FLGeneral Operating Support$123,758
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties Inc Fort Myers, FLGeneral Operating Support$109,468
University of Florida Foundation Gainesville, FLGeneral Operating Support$103,150
Holy Trinity High School Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$100,000
Hope Clubhouse of Southwest Florida Inc Fort Myers, FLGeneral Operating Support$90,632
Lehigh Acres Community Services Inc Lehigh Acres, FLGeneral 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
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
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

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 9, 2025)
  6. 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

Dawn Belamarich — Chair/ President: $298KDawn BelamarichChair/ President$298KTessa Lesage — Chief Impact Officer: $170KTessa LesageChief Impact Officer$170KJonathan Romine — Chief Operations Officer: $158KJonathan RomineChief Operations Officer$158KSharon Ralston — CFO (As of 9/5/24): $121KSharon RalstonCFO (As of 9/5/24)$121KJoseph Braun — Chief Philanthropy Officer: $102KJoseph BraunChief Philanthropy Officer$102KAlex Breault — Partnership Manager: $101KAlex BreaultPartnership Manager$101KMarina Nassif — CFO (Through 07/23/24): $94KMarina NassifCFO (Through 07/23/24)$94K

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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