The Chamber of Southwest Florida

What it reported doing in 2024

Exponential growth has placed extraordinary demands on southwest Florida. We must develop community leaders committed to a great future for our region. That's exactly what the chamber is doing-and at an accelerating pace. The chamber is the oldest and strongest provider of leadership programs in the region. We have graduated more than 1000 community leaders since 1987. We are building the next generation of community leadership through leadership lee county and the brand new regional l.e.a.d. Program. We teach veteran and up and coming executives alike about the challenges we face as we cope with unprecedented growth and change. Graduates of our programs emerge ready to tackle the obstacles that threaten the creation of a high-functioning community.succeeding in southwest Florida means staying abreast of business trends, best practices, and public policy issues. The chamber keeps our members and the regional business community current on the topics that will have the greatest impact on their organizations. Each year the regional economic outlook conference provides a unique overview of where we have been and where we are headed in southwest Florida. Individual workshops, seminars, and luncheons examine both business and policy issues that affect the business community. The chamber website as well as our monthly print and e-newsletters provide both timely and timeless information to help business leaders do a better job of driving growth and profitability.the region's premium community leadership program is leadership lee county, now recruiting its next class to begin their journey through the community acquiring valuable information about all aspects of lee county and southwest Florida and the skills required to become future trustees of the community and volunteer leaders guiding our collective future.the quarterly economic roundtable events provide an exploration of issues followed by our traditional economic and technology forecasts. We are known for our national and local experts who provide valuable information.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: Limited
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -14.7%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.12; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.78; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 42.8%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: -2.5% per year; rating input score 0; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.1% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings