Charity Review

  • Issued: October 2021
  • Expires: October 2023

Equality Florida Institute

Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

813-870-3735

Post Office Box 13184
St Petersburg, FL 33733

https://www.eqfl.org
Accredited Charity

813-870-3735

Post Office Box 13184 St Petersburg, FL 33733

https://www.eqfl.org
Accredited Charity

Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight

    Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)

    Description
    Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Board Size

    Standard 2 (Number of Board Members)

    Description
    Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Board Meetings

    Standard 3 (Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings)

    Description
    An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Board Meetings

    Standard 3 (Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings)

    Description
    An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Board Compensation

    Standard 4 (Compensated Board Members)

    Description
    Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

    The organization meets this standard.

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Board Compensation

    Standard 4 (Compensated Board Members)

    Description
    Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Conflict of Interest

    Standard 5 (Conflict of Interest)

    Description
    No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.

    The organization meets this standard.

Finances

  1. Conflict of Interest

    Standard 5 (Conflict of Interest)

    Description
    No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Effectiveness Policy

    Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)

    Description
    Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Effectiveness Policy

    Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)

    Description
    Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Effectiveness Report

    Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)

    Description
    Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Effectiveness Report

    Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)

    Description
    Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

    The organization meets this standard.

  6. Program Expenses

    Standard 8 (Program Service Expense Ratio)

    Description
    Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

    The organization meets this standard.

  7. Program Expenses

    Standard 8 (Program Service Expense Ratio)

    Description
    Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

    The organization meets this standard.

Fundraising & Info

  1. Fundraising Expenses

    Standard 9 (Fund Raising Expense Ratio)

    Description
    Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Fundraising Expenses

    Standard 9 (Fund Raising Expense Ratio)

    Description
    Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Accumulating Funds

    Standard 10 (Ending Net Assets)

    Description
    Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Accumulating Funds

    Standard 10 (Ending Net Assets)

    Description
    Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Audit Report

    Standard 11 (Financial Statements)

    Description
    Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

    The organization meets this standard.

  6. Audit Report

    Standard 11 (Financial Statements)

    Description
    Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

    The organization meets this standard.

Conclusion

Equality Florida Institute meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Purpose

  • Year, State Incorporated

    1997, FL

  • Stated Purpose

    "to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex, race/ethnicity, national origin, and socio-economic status."

Programs

Equality Florida Institute (Equality Florida) is the educational arm of a civil rights organization in Florida dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The organization reports providing training to school district leaders on life-saving best practices for LGBTQ+ youth; and helping imbed these practices into school districts' mental health plans, fostering structural and systemic inclusion of LGBTQ+ needs into the state's official agenda for K-12 schools. Equality Florida sponsors transgender mental health summits that bring together school district leaders, psychologists, social workers and counselors to learn from professionals specializing in transgender youth needs in the school, home and community. The organization also reports establishing an online directory of 2,389 small and medium-sized businesses that have adopted comprehensive nondiscrimination policies; and founding a coalition of 155 major corporations and professional sports franchises. Other initiatives include a movement to increase awareness of the transgender and nonbinary community, a statewide healthcare equity initiative, a leadership academy, town hall educational events, and transgender cultural competency workshops for Florida?s major employers. Equality Florida also reports working with local governments to recognize nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in existing sex-based nondiscrimination policies. Some ($306,434 or 9%) of Equality Florida's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, Equality Florida Institute's program expenses were:

Program services $3,371,720
Total Program Expenses: $3,371,720

Governance & Staff

  • Chief Executive

    Nadine Smith, Executive Director

  • Compensation*

    $218,918

  • Chair of the Board

    Anastasia Hiotis

  • Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation

    Retired Chief Operating Officer, Carlton Fields

  • Board Size

    13

  • Paid Staff Size

    42

*2019 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Fundraising

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Internet, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Telephone appeals, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

Equality Florida incurred joint costs of $430,456 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $306,434 was allocated to program expenses, and $124,112 was allocated to fund raising expenses.



Fundraising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,966,003, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)



Tax Status

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

Financial

The following information is based on Equality Florida Institute's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Source of Funds
Private foundation grants $3,261,805
Contributions, net $2,235,828
Federal grants - Paycheck Protection Program Loan $453,000
In-kind contributions $203,448
Federal grants - Employee Retention Tax Credit, CARES Act $157,624
Phone canvass donations $156,164
Program fees $138,553
Bequests $108,758
Investment income, net $50,203
Interest income $18,274
Other income $6,778
Other income $6,778
Total Income $6,790,435
  • Programs: 92%
  • Administrative: 7%
  • Fundraising: Less than 1%
Total Income $6,790,435
Program expenses $3,371,720
Fundraising expenses $50,362
Administrative expenses $249,322
Other expenses $0
Total expenses: $3,671,404
Income in Excess of Expenses $3,119,031
Beginning Net Assets $1,915,417
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $5,034,448
Total Liabilities $366,559
Total Assets $5,401,007

Note: According to the organization's 2020 audited financial statements, Equality Florida received in-kind contributions of $203,448, including legal services ($155,948), catering ($25,800), and other materials ($21,700). 

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.