The Rist Family Foundation
The Rist Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Myers, Florida, established in 2019. Created by Brian Rist, a longtime local business leader and owner of Storm Smart (a hurricane shutter manufacturer), the foundation functions as a catalyst for positive community change in Southwest Florida. The foundation operates from its offices at 5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd. Ste. 331/333 in Fort Myers and is available by appointment only.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.7M
-15.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+16.9% YoY
Grant Count
13
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$135K
+16.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rist Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $522K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Rist Family Foundation's mission centers on improving the community by investing in people who strengthen Southwest Florida. The foundation operates on the philosophy that investing in community members creates positive, lasting change.
The foundation focuses on three primary areas:
- Education: Academic and educational initiatives serving the community's youth
- Veterans Support: Assistance for service members and veterans in need
- Community Development: General charitable initiatives supporting families in Southwest Florida
The foundation's approach reflects founder Brian Rist's belief that "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link" and that investing in honest, productive people in need strengthens the entire community.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 14 grants in 2023. Recent documented grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Southwest Florida, with some giving extending to Massachusetts and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,665,183
- Total Giving: $1,753,519
- Annual Expenses: $1,970,000 (2024)
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $9,079,194
- Total Expenses: $1,798,460
- Total Revenues: $35,816
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment Income and Dividends: $212,106
- Grants and Contributions: $500
- Net Loss from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: ($176,790)
The foundation's asset base has remained substantial, though it experienced a significant decline in contributions year-over-year (from $250,000 in 2022 to $500 in 2023), while investment income increased by 76.5%.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,665,183 | $9,079,194 | $10,841,838 |
| Revenue | $556,867 | $35,816 | $325,334 |
| Expenses | $1,970,878 | $1,798,460 | $2,246,355 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,942,508 | $1,714,516 | $2,193,413 |
| Net Investment Income | $328,667 | $140,760 | $79,110 |
| Distributable Amount | $522,266 | $540,744 | $602,249 |
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
62 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include U-mass ($945,000), Florida Southwestern State College ($400,000), Florida Gulf Coast University ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK FORT MYERS, FL | CHARITABLE | $7,500 |
| IMAG FORT MYERS, FL | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| IMAG FORT MYERS, FL | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| JA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| U-MASS LOWELL, MA | CHARITABLE | $945,000 |
| SWFL CHILDREN CHARITY WINE FEST FORT MYERS, FL | CHARITABLE | $40,000 |
| LEE BIA BUILDERS CARE FORT MYERS, FL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| STARABILITY FOUNDATION NAPLES, FL | CHARITABLE | $515 |
| SHELL MUSEUM SANIBEL, FL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SWFL FORT MYERS, FL | CHARITABLE | $504 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Brian Rist serves as President of the foundation. He is recognized as the founder and a longtime local business leader in Southwest Florida. Rist was honored as one of Gulfshore Life Magazine's 2022 Men & Women of the Year for his achievements as a business leader and philanthropist.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIAN RIST | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 30 | $40,000 |
| KIM MARIE RIST | VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Rist Family Foundation has made a significant multi-year commitment to education in Southwest Florida. The foundation committed more than $2.5 million to support Florida SouthWestern State College's cybersecurity program, demonstrating the foundation's substantial investment in educational initiatives aligned with its mission.
RIST Foundation Grant Announcement - WHEELS Global FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Rist Family Foundation fund?
The Rist Family Foundation's mission centers on improving the community by investing in people who strengthen Southwest Florida. The foundation operates on the philosophy that investing in community members creates positive, lasting change. The foundation focuses on three primary areas: • **Education**: Academic and educational initiatives serving the community's youth • **Veterans Support**: Assistance for service members and veterans in need • **Community Development**: General charitable ini…
How do I apply for a grant from The Rist Family Foundation?
The foundation made 14 grants in 2023. Recent documented grants include: • Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida: $25,000 (2023) • Children's Education Center of the Islands: $5,000 (2023) Based on available financial data, typical grant awards range from $504 to $995,000. Total giving in 2024 was $1,753,519. The foundation accepts inquiries through email (Brian@ristfamilyfoundation.org or Jaime@ristfamilyfoundation.org) and by phone at (239) 275-2556. Prospective applicants can submit ge…
Where does The Rist Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Southwest Florida, with some giving extending to Massachusetts and Colorado.
What size grants does The Rist Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Rist Family Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $135K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Rist Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Rist Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $522K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Rist Family Foundation's EIN?
The Rist Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2037794. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rist Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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