Overview
What is Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc?
Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc is a nonprofit organization located in Fort Myers, Florida, dedicated to preserving and showcasing American military history from the 18th to the 21st century. The museum, which houses over 80,000 unique artifacts, features interactive displays and educational resources, including a library with historical books, documents, and periodicals. The facility is free to the public and is consistently ranked as one of the top attractions in Cape Coral by TripAdvisor. The museum's mission is to educate and promote cultural heritage awareness within the community, with a family-friendly environment that includes 60 fully dressed mannequins and streaming videos. The collection includes donations from the military, government, and generous individuals, and the museum's volunteers have spent thousands of hours maintaining and restoring the artifacts. The library also features a significant collection of military nonfiction books, manuals, and yearbooks, as well as a special memorabilia collection dedicated to Al Cook, a veteran and World War II author.
Official website here: www.swflmm.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 48% (Zero-Star out of Four Stars)
The Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc has received a low score of 48%, resulting in a Zero-Star rating from Charity Navigator. This rating is primarily based on the organization's accountability and finance practices. While the museum demonstrates strong governance through independent board members and has proper policies in place, significant concerns are raised by its financial ratios.
The organization has achieved perfect scores in several governance areas, such as having a majority of independent board members and maintaining conflict of interest policies. However, it falls short in financial metrics, particularly with a liabilities to assets ratio of 123.27%, indicating potential financial instability. Additionally, the program expense ratio of 54.34% reflects that a sizable portion of its expenses is not directed towards its charitable programs.
Overall, while the Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc shows strengths in governance and transparency, its financial health raises red flags that potential donors should consider. The absence of critical policies like document retention and whistleblower protections also points to areas needing improvement to enhance overall accountability.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
Is Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc legitimate?
Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $33,900
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $49,378
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.swflmm.org
What is the mission statement of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc?
The Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc is dedicated to the collection, exhibition, preservation, interpretation, and archiving of United States military history spanning from the 18th to the 21st century. The institution houses a library within its premises, which offers a collection of historical reference texts, rare books, documents, history books, and periodicals for scholarly research and educational study. This resource is accessible to the public, contributing to the institution's goal of promoting historical understanding and education in the field of military history.
Official website here: www.swflmm.org
Who is the CEO of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc?
Melissa Lastra is the President (J of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc.
Official website here: www.swflmm.org
What is the revenue of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc?
Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc's revenue in 2021 was $203,126.
Official website here: www.swflmm.org
Who are the executives of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc during 2021 was $5,205. There are 16 employees and 50 volunteers at Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc.
Here are 5 key members and their salaries:
- Compensation: $17,100
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $9,600
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $7,200
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
Official website here: www.swflmm.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc?
Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2021 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.swflmm.org
Learn more at the official website: www.swflmm.org
Mission Statement of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc
Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of the United States military, spanning from the 18th to the 21st century. The museum serves as a vital repository for this history, meticulously collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting various artifacts and documents related to this period. The library, integrated within the museum, further supports this mission by providing a wealth of historical reference texts, rare books, documents, history books, and periodicals. These resources are available to the public, making Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of military history. By offering these resources, the museum and library play a crucial role in educating and enriching the community's knowledge of the United States military past.
Shop smarter and support your favorite cause with the Give Freely browser extension. Save money with coupons and donate to charity with a single click. Download now!
Impact
October, 2024
The Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc significantly enhances cultural heritage in the community by preserving and showcasing United States military history from the 18th through the 21st century. With a collection of over 80,000 unique military artifacts across 33,000 square feet of exhibition space, the museum offers an immersive experience for visitors of all ages. Interactive displays, including 60 fully dressed mannequins and multimedia presentations, help bring history to life, making complex military narratives accessible and engaging.
This institution serves as a vital educational resource, providing a vast library with over 4,800 military nonfiction books, manuals, and an extensive array of historical texts. It facilitates scholarly research and educational study, ensuring that future generations have access to critical information about military heritage. The museum's commitment to honoring veterans and educating the public fosters a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by service members, ultimately enriching the community's appreciation for its military past.
Moreover, the museum's ranking among the top attractions in Cape Coral underscores its role as a cultural landmark, drawing visitors who seek knowledge and insight into American military history. Through its dedicated efforts and the involvement of volunteers, the Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library stands as a beacon of memory and education, promoting respect and understanding for those who served in the armed forces.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2021.
- Gross Receipts: $232,116
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $99,658
- Total Liabilities: $85,938
- Net Assets: $13,720
Want to help this charity, for free? You can click here to learn more about Give Freely
Organization Details
Phone
(239) 541-8704Principal Officer
Melissa Lastra
Main Address
4125 CLEVELAND AVE 1755, FORT MYERS, FL, 339019046
Website
www.swflmm.orgNTEE Category
Code: A54 - Arts
If you are a representative of Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library Inc and wish to learn more about how Give Freely can help you raise funds, please click here: https://givefreely.com/nonprofits/. Our services are offered at no cost to your organization.