Support and enrich Lee County Public Schools through scholarships, educator grants, student programs and community partnerships.
Scholarships are the clearest throughline in the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Inc’s grantmaking. Its largest recent awards went to Florida Prepaid College Fdn in both 2023 and 2024, signaling a sustained role in helping Lee County students move into postsecondary education. The foundation also backed Florida Gulf Coast Univ, Fort Myers Technical College, the University of Florida, Florida South Western St College, and Florida State Univ through scholarship support, showing a postsecondary pipeline that reaches both local and state institutions. Beyond college aid, the foundation funds school-level support tied to Lee County public schools. Recent grants included awards to various schools, The School District of Lee Co, and individual campuses in Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, and Estero. Its active programs include Take Stock in Children, Golden Apple, STEM initiatives, classroom grants, disaster relief, back-to-school supply drives, and sponsorships. The pattern points to a local education foundation that combines student financial aid, educator support, and program funding inside one countywide public-school system.
Scholarships dominate the foundation’s education portfolio. In 2024, it gave $231,812 to Florida Prepaid College Fdn for scholarships, and it also supported institutions such as FL Gulf Coast Univ, Fort Myers Technical College, and the University of Florida with scholarship dollars. Teacher and classroom support is another visible strand. The foundation awarded $77,208 to Various Schools 5000 for awards and grants, and its program list includes Golden Apple scholarships and teacher awards as well as classroom grants. Student access and readiness also appear in the grant mix. It funded STEM-related initiatives through programs such as Stem@Work, STEMtastic, and FutureMakers, and it maintains a back-to-school supply drive and disaster relief support for Lee County students and families.
Typical awards are modest and targeted: p25 is $6,644, median grant size is $9,121, and p75 is $17,697. The recent grant list shows a mix of recurring support and one-time awards. Florida Prepaid College Fdn appears in both 2023 and 2024, as do recipients like FL Gulf Coast Univ, Fort Myers Technical College, FL South Western St College, and Trafalgar Middle School. The foundation is not a grantmaking family office or DAF; it is an operating education foundation focused on direct support. Several programs accept unsolicited requests, including Take Stock in Children, Golden Apple Scholarships, Disaster Relief, Back To School Supply Drive, FutureMakers/STEM initiatives, Sponsorships, Classroom Grants, and Scholarships.
$315K
$6.6M
$2M
$2M
Most grants fall between $7K and $18K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$18K
MARSHALL T BOWER ESQ
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Giving is entirely local and entirely in Florida: 100% of grants went to recipients in the HQ state. Recent dollars landed in Tallahassee, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and Estero, with Fort Myers appearing repeatedly across scholarship and school grants. The recipient country distribution is fully U.S.-based, with 23 grants to U.S. organizations and no non-U.S. recipients in the recent-grants list.
Its active programs center on scholarships, teacher support, STEM initiatives, classroom grants, disaster relief, back-to-school supply distribution, and sponsorships. The recent grants list reinforces that mix with scholarship awards to colleges and support for schools and educator-related programs in Lee County.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is p25 at $6,644, median at $9,121, and p75 at $17,697. Recent grants include both smaller school awards and larger scholarship payments, with a few awards far above the median for college scholarship support.
Yes. The geographic scope of giving is local, and 100% of grants went to recipients in Florida. Recent recipients were in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Tallahassee, and Gainesville, all within the U.S.
Scholarship support went to Florida Prepaid College Fdn, FL Gulf Coast Univ, Fort Myers Technical College, Florida South Western St College, University of Florida, and Florida State Univ. The foundation also lists Take Stock in Children and Scholarships as active programs for Lee County students.
Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including Take Stock in Children, Golden Apple Scholarships, Disaster Relief, Education Resource Center - Back To School Supply Drive, FutureMakers/STEM initiatives, Sponsorships / Business Partnership Opportunities, Classroom Grants, and Scholarships. STEM Initiatives (Stem@Work / STEMtastic) is marked as not accepting unsolicited requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Foundation for Lee County Public Schools that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Lee County Public Schools teachers can shop at the resource center for materials and resources during the school year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL PREPAID COLLEGE FDN | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $184,805 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FL GULF COAST UNIV | FORT MYERS, FL | $15,499 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FL SOUTH WESTERN ST COLLEGE | FORT MYERS, FL | $15,453 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HARNS MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL | LEHIGH ACRES, FL | $11,240 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA |
| GAINESVILLE, FL |
| $10,137 |
| 2025 |
| SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTH FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL | NORTH FORT MYERS, FL | $9,080 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| TRAFALGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $7,120 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| BUCKINGHAM EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT CENT | FORT MYERS, FL | $6,889 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| MARINER HIGH SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $6,816 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| ALLEN PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | FORT MYERS, FL | $6,708 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| TICE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | FORT MYERS, FL | $6,468 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| TRAFALGAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $6,100 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| PINEWOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ESTERO, FL | $6,100 | 2025 | GRANT |
| FLORIDA STATE UNIV | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $5,774 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA | TAMPA, FL | $5,636 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TANGLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,600 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,180 | 2025 | GRANTS |
| FL PREPAID COLLEGE FDN | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $231,812 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FL GULF COAST UNIV | FORT MYERS, FL | $28,068 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $16,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FL SOUTH WESTERN ST COLLEGE | FORT MYERS, FL | $12,202 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FORT MYERS TECHNICAL COLLEGE | FORT MYERS, FL | $8,974 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TRAFALGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $8,365 | 2024 | GRANTS |
| IDA S BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $6,983 | 2024 | GRANTS |
| MARINER HIGH SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $6,548 | 2024 | GRANTS |
| LEHIGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LEHIGH ACRES, FL | $6,500 | 2024 | GRANTS |
| HAMS MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL | LEHIGH ACRES, FL | $6,486 | 2024 | GRANTS |
| PINEWOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ESTERO, FL | $5,250 | 2024 | GRANT |
| FL PREPAID COLLEGE FDN | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $273,900 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| VARIOUS SCHOOLS 5000 | FORT MYERS, FL | $77,208 | 2023 | AWARDS & GRANTS |
| FORT MYERS TECHNICAL COLLEGE | FORT MYERS, FL | $27,799 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FL SOUTH WESTERN ST COLLEGE | FORT MYERS, FL | $19,259 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FL GULF COAST UNIV | FORT MYERS, FL | $16,135 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $13,230 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE CO | FORT MYERS, FL | $9,510 | 2023 | GRANTS |
| FLORIDA STATE UNIV | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $9,121 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TRAFALGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $8,670 | 2023 | GRANTS |
| MARINER HIGH SCHOOL | CAPE CORAL, FL | $6,739 | 2023 | GRANTS |
| TICE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | FORT MYERS, FL | $6,240 | 2023 | GRANTS |
| HARNS MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL | LEHIGH ACRES, FL | $5,491 | 2023 | GRANTS |
FL PREPAID COLLEGE FDN
$184,805SCHOLARSHIPS
FL GULF COAST UNIV
$15,499SCHOLARSHIPS
FL SOUTH WESTERN ST COLLEGE
$15,453SCHOLARSHIPS
HARNS MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL
$11,240GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$10,137SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTH FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL
$9,080GRANTS
TRAFALGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL
$7,120GRANTS
BUCKINGHAM EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT CENT
$6,889GRANTS
MARINER HIGH SCHOOL
$6,816GRANTS
ALLEN PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$6,708GRANTS
TICE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$6,468GRANTS
TRAFALGAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$6,100GRANTS
PINEWOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$6,100GRANT
FLORIDA STATE UNIV
$5,774SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
$5,636SCHOLARSHIPS
TANGLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$5,600GRANTS
RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL
$5,180GRANTS
FL PREPAID COLLEGE FDN
$231,812SCHOLARSHIPS
FL GULF COAST UNIV
$28,068SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$16,000SCHOLARSHIPS
FL SOUTH WESTERN ST COLLEGE
$12,202SCHOLARSHIPS
FORT MYERS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$8,974SCHOLARSHIPS
TRAFALGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL
$8,365GRANTS
IDA S BAKER HIGH SCHOOL
$6,983GRANTS
MARINER HIGH SCHOOL
$6,548GRANTS
LEHIGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$6,500GRANTS
HAMS MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL
$6,486GRANTS
PINEWOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$5,250GRANT
FL PREPAID COLLEGE FDN
$273,900SCHOLARSHIPS
VARIOUS SCHOOLS 5000
$77,208AWARDS & GRANTS
FORT MYERS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$27,799SCHOLARSHIPS
FL SOUTH WESTERN ST COLLEGE
$19,259SCHOLARSHIPS
FL GULF COAST UNIV
$16,135SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$13,230SCHOLARSHIPS
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE CO
$9,510GRANTS
FLORIDA STATE UNIV
$9,121SCHOLARSHIPS
TRAFALGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL
$8,670GRANTS
MARINER HIGH SCHOOL
$6,739GRANTS
TICE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$6,240GRANTS
HARNS MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL
$5,491GRANTS
