Form 990 shows Governor’s Cup lost money

The Numbers Don’t Add Up: DeSantis’ Governor’s Cup Charity Golf Tournament Lost Money Despite Claims of “Massive” Fundraising

Despite Governor Ron DeSantis’ bold claims about raising “massive amounts of money” through his Governor’s Cup charity golf tournament, newly released tax documents tell a different story. The tournament, which was supposed to be a fundraising powerhouse for the Hope Florida initiative championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis, actually lost money.

Even more concerning, First Lady Casey DeSantis’s press announcements of handing out over $300,000 during the Hope Florida Foundation’s first year don’t match the tax documents, which only report $40,000 distributed. What is the Hope Florida Fund?

GOVERNOR’S CUP

At his Pensacola State College media event staged to defend his wife’s Hope Florida initiative, Governor Ron DeSantis praised his golf tournament, the Governor’s Cup.

“We do a Governor’s Cup; we raise money for charity. We did the Governor’s Cup last year. We did it over in Watersound, we did this Governor’s Cup. We raised massive amounts of money in the Governor’s Cup for the charitable, the direct support organization affiliated with Hope Florida.”

Tax documents released last week show that his charity golf tournament lost money, causing the Hope Florida Foundation to cover the shortfall.

Last week, the public got its first chance to see the Foundation’s finances when it released a draft of its first Form 990, the federal tax return for nonprofits. The return covers its first year, from August 25, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

Schedule G, Part II provides info on the Governor’s Cup:

Gross Receipts	$ 425,000
Less: Expenses	$ (402,706)
Less: Facility Costs	$ (40,000)

Net Lost	$ (17,706)

The tax form shows that during its first year, the Foundation received $867,712 in contributions but only gave out $40,000 in grants.

Contributions	$ 867,712
Interest Income	$ 47
Governor’s Cup loss	$ (17,706)
Total revenue		$ 850,053

Grants paid	$ 40,000
Other expenses	$ 760
Total expenses		$ 40,760

Net Assets – 6/30/24		$ 809,293

Missing Grants? What is the Hope Florida Fund?

On September 21, 2023, Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris and the Governor’s Liaison for Faith and Community Erik Dellenback distributed Hope Florida funding to local non-profit and faith leaders who have provided support to their communities following the tragic, racially motivated shooting in Jacksonville. At the event, $10,000 checks were distributed to the following pastors and organizations: Morning Glory Fellowship Church, Mercy Support Services, and the Patric Young Foundation.

Where did those funds come from? They are not listed on the tax return.

Hope Florida Fund

Sunbiz.org doesn’t list a Hope Florida Fund.
The Tampa Bay Times reports that for at least a year before the Hope Florida charity was created, DeSantis officials asked the public to donate to the “Hope Florida Fund,” which was housed in the Florida Education Foundation.
The Florida Education Foundation website only has the 2022 Form 990, covering July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. It lists several Hope Florida grants, but only those before July 1, 2023. The report doesn’t identify who donated the dollars for the Hope Florida Fund.
The Florida Education Foundation’s audit report for 2023-2024 (fiscal year ending June 30, 2024) does not mention the Hope Florida Fund under Note 1 or list it as a restricted fund under Note 8.

On February 28, 2024, First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded six Collier County nonprofit organizations with $10,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund— Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs, St. Matthew’s House, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, Project B.U.I.L.D., Baby Basics of Collier County, and Trailways Camp.

Only Trailways Camp and Baby Basics are listed on the Form 990.
Others are not listed on the Hope Florida tax return.

On March 20, 2024, First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded six Miami-Dade and Broward County nonprofit organizations with $10,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund— Harmony Development Center, Hope South Florida, Showering Love, Genesis Hopeful Haven, Propelling into Triumph, and Granada Church.

They are not listed on the Hope Florida tax return.

On March 27, 2024, the First Lady awarded Wakulla Giving Hands, Inc. with $20,000 through the Hope Florida Fund.

They are not listed on the Hope Florida tax return.

On April 9, 2024, the First Lady met with families of fallen officers. She awarded the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Community Foundation and Central Florida Concerns of Police Survivors nonprofits with $20,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund.

They are not listed on the Hope Florida tax return.

On May 9, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded seven Panhandle nonprofit organizations with $20,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund—St. Andrew Christian Care Center, Food for Thought Outreach, A Bed 4 Me Foundation, Caring & Sharing of South Walton, BeGenerous, and Vision of Hope. The Governor and First Lady also awarded $20,000 to First Baptist Church of Pensacola.

They are not listed on the Hope Florida (HF) tax return. Representatives of St. Andrew Christian Care Center and Vision of Hope spoke at the PSC event. At the Foundation’s board meeting last week, board member Stephanie White asked why the First Baptist Church of Pensacola grant was not listed on the Form 990.

On June 27, 2024, First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded $1,000 bonus checks to all Hope Navigators through the Hope Florida Fund, with $2,500 bonus checks going to six Navigators who were recognized for their outstanding performance helping people in need.

They are not listed on the Hope Florida tax return.

Funds Distributed Before Hope Florida Foundation

These grants occurred before the Hope Florida Foundation was incorporated. They are listed on the Florida Education Foundation (FEF) tax return.

On February 10, 2023, First Lady Casey DeSantis and Mason DeSantis surprised five exceptional Leon and Jackson County non-profit organizations with $10,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund—City Church’s Foster Crew Ministry, Big Bend Homeless Coalition, Hang Tough Foundation, Camp Anderson, and Shine Tallahassee, Inc.

On February 2, 2023, First Lady Casey DeSantis surprised five exceptional Polk County non-profit organizations with $10,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund—Everyday Christians Helping Orphans (ECHO) Ministries; Top Buttons, Inc.; Bikes for Christ; Dream Center of Lakeland; and Take a Kid Fishing, Inc.

On July 21, 2022, First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded five outstanding Northwest Florida organizations with $5,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund—Westonwood Ranch; C.A.L.M. Organization, Inc. – Crisis Aid for Littles and Moms; Emerald Coast Exceptional Families; Hiland Park Baptist Church Ministries; and NextStep at Endeavor Academy. These are not listed on the FEF tax return because they are not more than $5,000.

Coincidence?

Simply Healthcare contributed $98,408 to the Help Florida Foundation. The Florida Education Foundation’s tax records show the company donated $150, 000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2022 to FEF. Simply Healthcare did not make donations to FEF in the previous two years.

Note: I have added more on the Hope Florida Fund and the Florida Education Foundation.

Form 990 shows Governor’s Cup lost money

The Numbers Don’t Add Up: DeSantis’ Governor’s Cup Charity Golf Tournament Lost Money Despite Claims of “Massive” Fundraising

GOVERNOR’S CUP

Missing Grants? What is the Hope Florida Fund?

Hope Florida Fund

Funds Distributed Before Hope Florida Foundation

Coincidence?

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