Form 990 for tax year 2025

Totals

Total revenue

$2,078,457

Total expenses

$1,825,104

Contributions and grants received

$2,028,163

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$50,294

Other revenue

$0

Total assets, end of year

$1,625,035

Total liabilities, end of year

$66,806

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$1,558,229

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$1,571,521

Management and general expenses

$141,319

Fundraising expenses

$112,264

Program service expenses (Part III)

$1,571,521

Program services were 86.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2025

• IMPROVING GENERAL CHILD WELFARE HOW WE IMPROVE OUTCOMES: WE ACHIEVE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE THROUGH EXECUTIVE BRANCH ADVOCACY BY WORKING WITH AGENCIES WHEN THEY WRITE THEIR POLICIES, PROCEDURES, OR RULES. WE IMPROVE SYSTEMS BY MAKING THE GENERAL PUBLIC AWARE OF PROBLEMS TO MOBILIZE THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS. WE ACHIEVE CHANGE BY TRAINING PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE STATE ON NEW PROCEDURES OR LAW - OR EDUCATING THEM ON CRITICAL ISSUES SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE NEED FOR CHANGE. WE ALSO EDUCATE BY WRITING MATERIALS, BROCHURES, AND PAMPHLETS THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS IN CHILD WELFARE, DELINQUENCY, AND DISABILITIES. WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 3 DOZEN PUBLICATIONS TO OUR CREDIT. ADVOCACY INITIATIVES ADVOCACY DRIVES OUR ACTIVITIES AT ALL LEVELS. ON A LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, WE PROPOSE, DRAFT, AND COMMENT ON NEW LEGISLATION, PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTATION ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF PROPOSED BILLS ON THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND CARE PROVIDERS WE FILE AMICUS BRIEFS TO ASSERT CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND AID IN THE APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEYS FOR THEM. WE SERVE AS ADVISORS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, OFFERING INSIGHTS ON NEW RULES, AND PARTICIPATE ON TASK FORCES, PANELS, AND FORUMS THAT SHAPE POLICY. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS EVERY YEAR, WE OFFER A NEW SERIES OF FREE TRAINING WORKSHOPS THAT KEEP THOSE WHO INTERACT WITH, OR CARE FOR, YOUTH INFORMED ON CURRENT ISSUES AND CHANGES IN BENEFITS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES. PUBLICATIONS WE PRODUCE, UPDATE, AND DISTRIBUTE FREE FACT SHEETS, GUIDEBOOKS, AND INFORMATIONAL TOOLS ON CRITICAL ISSUES INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND YOUTH ALIKE NEED. PUBLICATIONS ARE ALSO WRITTEN AND DESIGNED TO BE YOUTH-FRIENDLY SO YOUTH CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONTENT AND ACCESS BENEFITS AND SERVICES. HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION WE PROVIDE INDEPENDENT, PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE, BRIEF ADVICE, AND QUALITY REPRESENTATION TO ENSURE MORE YOUTH RECEIVE THE REPRESENTATION THEY NEED AND DESERVE AND TO BE SURE THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THE PROCEEDINGS THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES. FCF IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: ALL OF OUR WORK HAS MADE POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN FLORIDA. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THESE CHANGES CONTINUE TO HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT IMPACTS MORE AND MORE YOUTH EACH YEAR AND EDUCATES THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND COUNTLESS CITIZENS ABOUT ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDREN IN CARE. BY FILLING A CRITICAL VOID IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, OUR WORK EACH YEAR BENEFITS CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND LIFE-CHANGING FOR THOUSANDS. BY IMPACTING LAWS & POLICIES WE HAVE: "SECURED THE OPTION FOR YOUTH TO REMAIN IN FOSTER CARE UNTIL AGE 21. "PAVED THE WAY FOR FREE IN-STATE COLLEGE TUITION UNTIL AGE 28 FOR YOUTH FROM FOSTER CARE, RELATIVE CARE, OR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. "MADE OBTAINING A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND INSURANCE POSSIBLE FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. "ENHANCED YOUTH REPRESENTATION IN COURT DECISIONS. "REMOVED BARRIERS TO NORMALCY, ALLOWING PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES LIKE SPORTS AND SLEEPOVERS - BECOMING A NATIONAL MODEL. "SPEARHEADED LAWS TO SUPPORT SIBLING UNITY. "REDUCED OVERMEDICATION AND UNNECESSARY PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS. "FOUGHT FOR RIGHTS OF SEX-TRAFFICKED CHILDREN, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE APPROPRIATE SERVICES. "ENSURED YOUTH ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, LAWS AND RESOURCES IN PLACE TO PROTECT THEM. "SECURED CRITICAL HOUSING RESOURCES FOR FOSTER YOUTH. ADDITIONALLY, "38,335 + PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EDUCATED AND TRAINED ON IMPORTANT CHILD WELFARE TOPICS "60 PUBLICATIONS CREATED ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND VITAL ISSUES IMPACTING THEM "40 AMICUS BRIEFS FILED "52 CHILD PROTECTION BILLS PASSED, DRAFTED, OR SUPPORTED "110,547 + HOURS OF YOUTH ADVOCACY, TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT PROVIDED "8,482,732 ,732 IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DONATED TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND "18,982 PRO BONO HOURS HELPING CHILDREN BY FILLING A CRITICAL VOID IN THE CHILD WELFARE ARENA, EACH YEAR OUR WORK BENEFITS CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND LIFE-CHANGING FOR THOUSANDS.

  Expenses $976,445

• IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR OLDER YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATION: FCF EDUCATES CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, THE PROCESSES THAT THEY ARE FACING, AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK. THROUGH CREATING YOUTH-FRIENDLY PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING WORKSHOPS WE EQUIP THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO SELF-ADVOCATE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR OLDER YOUTH BY EMPOWERING YOUTH: FLORIDA YOUTH SHINE THE AWARD-WINNING FLORIDA YOUTH SHINE PROGRAM OFFERS EMPOWERMENT, LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG INDIVIDUALS AGED 13-26 IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND THAT EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING, ENGAGEMENT WITH POSITIVE MENTOR ROLE MODELS, A CURRICULUM CRAFTED TO ADDRESS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS, AND ONE- OF-A-KIND OPPORTUNITIES, YOUTH CONQUER CHALLENGES, GAIN CONFIDENCE, AND EMERGE AS GOAL-ORIENTED, ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG ADULTS. EMBOLDENED BY THEIR FYS EXPERIENCES, THESE YOUNG CHANGE-MAKERS DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE AND ENHANCE THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM BY ELEVATING AND AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICES AND LEADING THEIR PEERS IN CARE. THEY ALSO ATTAIN VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS IN THE PROCESS THAT HELP THEM TRANSITION MORE SUCCESSFULLY TO ADULT LIFE. FLORIDA YOUTH SHINE (FYS), IS A YOUTH RUN, PEER DRIVEN YOUTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVOCACY BY ELEVATING AND VALUING THE VOICES, EXPERIENCES, AND KNOWLEDGE OF YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. BY BUILDING A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, EMPOWERING FELLOW YOUTH, DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND INSPIRING RESILIENCE, FYS MEMBERS ADVOCATE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEIR PEERS. THROUGH FYS, WE PROVIDE INVALUABLE LEADERSHIP AND CAREER SKILLS AND A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR YOUTH TO THRIVE. FYS ALSO PROVIDES A SAFE AND NURTURING SPACE FOR EMOTIONAL HEALING AND UTILIZES A GROUNDBREAKING PEER-TO-PEER MODEL. MEMBERS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND THEIR RIGHTS, THEN TRAINED ON HOW TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICE TO SELF-ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. THIS INNOVATIVE YOUTH-LED MODEL HAS HAD TANGIBLE RESULTS AND IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH AS THEY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. IMPROVING THE GENERAL CHILD WELFARE AND OUTCOMES FOR OLDER YOUTH THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: FCF ACHIEVES SUCCESS IN SECURING MAJOR POLICY AND PRACTICE SYSTEMIC CHANGE BY EDUCATING THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON THE CHALLENGES THESE CHILDREN FACE ON A DAILY BASIS, AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEMS OF CARE AND THE DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THROUGH THOSE SYSTEMS - ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. PROVIDING & FACILITATING HIGH QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. FCF'S TEAM OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ATTORNEYS REPRESENT CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE OR WERE INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. REPRESENTATION SPANS LEGAL FORUMS FROM DEPENDENCY COURT, TO CIVIL LITIGATION, ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS, AND GENERAL ADVICE AND COUNSEL. ADDITIONALLY, OUR LAWYERS FACILITATE THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH BY OUR COLLEAGUES AT LEGAL AID PROGRAMS AND IN PRIVATE PRACTICE. WE FACILITATE BY PROVIDING TRAINING, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, MENTORING, PRO BONO MATCHING AND OFFERING PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES INCLUDING THE FLORIDA DEPENDENCY LAW CENTER.

  Expenses $595,076

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2025

Filed

31 March 2026

IRS schema version

2025v4.0

Source object

202610909349301336

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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