FLORIDA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION, INC.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Florida State Parks is a four-time winner of the Gold Medal honoring the nation's best state park system. The goal is to help create a sense of place by showing park visitors the best of Florida's diverse natural and cultural sites. Florida's state parks are managed and preserved for enjoyment by this and future generations through providing appropriate resource-based recreational opportunities, interpretation, and education that help visitors connect to the real Florida. In coordination with and support of the Florida Park Service, the Florida State Parks Foundation provides education, communication and support services to local citizen support organizations (CSO) to ensure the sustainability, protection, restoration and interpretation of the system of Florida State Parks.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Access for All
The Foundation supports the Florida Park Service’s commitment to providing inclusive experiences to every park visitor. Many innovative advances have been made that allow people with disabilities unprecedented access to the outdoors. Access for All grants can be requested to provide funding for accessibility projects, equipment, and services. s.
Yellow Buses in the Parks
Florida State Parks offer excellent opportunities for students to learn about Florida’s natural environments and historical and cultural past through school field trips. For some schools, bus field trip transportation costs may not be available. Yellow Buses in the Parks' purpose is to assist with these costs so that no child is deprived of the benefits of these valuable educational experiences.
LIFE
Learning in Florida’s Environment is a model for science-based environmental education. Each program represents a partnership between the Florida State Parks Foundation, a State Park citizen support organization (CSO) and its park and the school or school district. Grants are intended to assist with LIFE program startups and then transition to a self-sustaining program through the CSO/state park/school partnership.
State Park Project Assistance
The Foundation is a partner in both raising and granting funds for park projects that are part of the Unit Management Plan or achieve the goals related to the plan. This grant assistance program was created to help individual parks achieve special project goals. This ranges from small projects to large-scale capital projects. Services such as strategic planning, board development, grant and fund development training are also considered for this grant category.
Where we work
External reviews
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Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of overall donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of first-time donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Average number of dollars given by new donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of people on the organization's email list
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Average online donation
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of press releases developed and distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The mission of the Florida State Parks Foundation is to support and help sustain the Florida Park Service.
In coordination with and support of the Florida Park Service, the FSPF will provide education, communication and support services to local support organizations to ensure the sustainability, protection, restoration and interpretation of the system of Florida State Parks. Through education, communication and support of local CSO’s, the FSPF will ensure the health of the statewide CSO program by implementing a strategic plan to the benefit of the system of Florida State Parks.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Florida State Parks Foundation strategy for supporting Florida State Parks with providing outdoor-based recreational opportunities and interpretive services is through financial support and technical assistance to park citizen support organizations and by developing and conducting programs that will enhance park citizen support organizations efforts and those efforts of the park staff and the Florida Park Service as a whole.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Florida State Parks Foundation works diligently to educate the people of Florida and its elected officials about the unique beauty and irreplaceable value of its state park system. The Foundation raises funds to further the mission and work of the Florida Park Service and to improve visitor enjoyment of these public lands and waters. Together we can achieve more. The Foundation provides the strength of numbers to combined services for member CSO/Friends groups, allowing local Friends groups to focus on the park and achieve more.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In the last year we have successfully partnered with other organizations to fund the planting of almost 100,000 trees in select parks, especially those affected by hurricane damage; began construction on a wheelchair accessible 30 passenger tour boat; purchased 3 wheelchair accessible tour trams; funded ranger training and ranger continuing educational courses; provided funds for injured manatee care and feeding; helped develop interpretive panels on birds and their migrations; purchased hand held units that allow for sophisticated collection and organization of data on sea turtle nests; and a good deal more.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
FLORIDA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION, INC.
Board of directorsas of 01/11/2023
Gil Ziffer
Ziffer Stansberry Strategic Communications
Term: 2019 - 2021
Don Philpott
Paula Dockery
Tom M Pennecamp
Gil Ziffer
Emily Lewis
Audrine Finnerty
Ryan Matthews
Derek Bruce
Ben Pingree
Kathleen Brennan
Dale Brill
Karen Cyphers
Gwen Graham
Tammy Gustafson
Wendy Spencer
Liza McFadden
Jose Romano
Jorge Rubi
Robert Larkin
Lynn Cherry
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: