Florida TaxWatch
Florida TaxWatch is a Tallahassee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1979, that produces nonpartisan fiscal research and government accountability analysis for Florida taxpayers, state and local officials, and businesses, funded through donations and memberships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersTallahassee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Florida TaxWatch does
Florida TaxWatch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog founded in 1979 and headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. It produces nonpartisan fiscal analysis on Florida state and local government taxation, expenditures, and policy, serving three primary stakeholder segments: Florida taxpayers, state and local government officials, and Florida businesses. Its core products include a research library of 1,321+ publications, the annual Budget Turkey Watch Report (identifying budget items lacking sufficient scrutiny), the quarterly Florida Economic Forecast through 2035, county-level comparative analysis, the Taxpayer Independence Day calculation, legislative session wrap-ups, voter guides, and taxpayer guides, supported by programs such as the Census Institute, Citizenship Institute, and Institute for Quality Health and Aging.
The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its analytical work is built on policy research methodologies, longitudinal Florida fiscal data, and partnerships such as the economic forecast with Regional Economic Consulting Group. Its technology stack is light, with website infrastructure supported by Nova Southeastern University. Revenue comes from donations, membership contributions, and event-related support, and all research publications are distributed free of charge through the website, direct distribution to policymakers, and earned media. The leadership transitioned from founder Dominic M. Calabro to former Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp effective January 1, 2026.
Florida TaxWatch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Florida TaxWatch
- Legal name
- Florida TaxWatch Research Institute
- Website
- https://floridataxwatch.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Florida TaxWatch is a Tallahassee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1979, that produces nonpartisan fiscal research and government accountability analysis for Florida taxpayers, state and local officials, and businesses, funded through donations and memberships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Florida TaxWatch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Policy Research
- NAICS
- Public Finance Activities (92113), Administration of Economic Programs (9261)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial Risk, Controls & Audit (Public Sector) (BPAIAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tax Policy, Legislation & Rulings (BPAIADAA)
Keywords
Where Florida TaxWatch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tallahassee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Florida TaxWatch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: Florida TaxWatch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from supporters and membership fees. Donor support has enabled Florida TaxWatch to bring about more effective, responsive government accountable to Florida residents since 1979.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Florida TaxWatch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Florida TaxWatch is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit taxpayer research institute that produces fiscal and policy research on Florida state and local government. Its core deliverables are analytical publications, including the annual Budget Turkey Watch Report, quarterly Florida Economic Forecasts, Taxpayer Independence Day analysis, Legislative Session Wrap-Ups, comparative county and tax reports, and a research library of more than 1,321 publications, all distributed primarily free of charge to inform policymakers and the public.
Product overview
Florida TaxWatch operates as a research institute providing a portfolio of analytical products and programs focused on government accountability and taxpayer advocacy. Its core offerings include the Research Library (comprehensive fiscal research archive), Budget Turkey Watch Report (annual budget oversight publication), Florida Economic Forecast (quarterly economic projections), How Florida Counties Compare (local government comparison analysis), Taxpayer Independence Day (annual tax burden analysis), Legislative Session Wrap-Up (legislative outcomes analysis), and various Taxpayer Guides and Voter Guides. These products are complemented by specialized programs including the Census Institute, Citizenship Institute, Florida TaxWatch Institute for Quality Health and Aging, Government Productivity Awards, Principal Leadership program, School Counselor of the Year Award, and the Budget Game educational tool. The organization also produces annual budget guides and the How Florida Compares: Taxes report series for comparative tax analysis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Census Institute: A program focused on census-related research and analysis for Florida.
- Citizenship Institute
- Florida TaxWatch Institute for Quality Health and Aging
Products and services
- Research Library A comprehensive digital archive of Florida TaxWatch research publications, reports, and analysis covering Florida state and local government budgeting, taxation, economic development, education, healthcare, and other fiscal policy topics. Free to access and intended for policymakers, journalists, researchers, and the public.
- Budget Turkey Watch Report An annual independent review of Florida's state budget that identifies line items (Budget Turkeys) placed in the budget without full public scrutiny or competitive selection, promoting oversight and accountability in the state budgeting process. Intended for legislators, media, and taxpayers.
- Florida Economic Forecast A quarterly economic forecast produced in partnership with the Regional Economic Consulting Group that projects Florida's economic performance, growth trends, and fiscal outlook through 2035. Intended for policymakers, businesses, and the public seeking forward-looking economic analysis.
- Taxpayer Independence Day
Quantifiable outcome
- Identified 621 budget items totaling $829.7 million as Budget Turkeys in FY2026-27
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Florida TaxWatch
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Florida TaxWatch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Florida TaxWatch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Nova Southeastern UniversityminorNova Southeastern University (NSU) powers the Florida TaxWatch website as noted in the 'Website Powered By' section. NSU is a technology/infrastructure support relationship rather than a strategic partnership.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Florida TaxWatch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Illinois Policy Institute: State-level free-market think tank producing fiscal, tax, and budget research for Illinois, structurally similar in its focus on a single state's tax and budget accountability.
- Americans for Tax Reform: National advocacy organization focused on tax policy and government spending accountability, overlapping with Florida TaxWatch's taxpayer-advocacy mission and donor-funded research model.
- National Taxpayers Union: Nonprofit taxpayer advocacy organization producing nonpartisan fiscal analysis and budget scoring at the federal level, comparable in mission and donor-supported model to Florida TaxWatch.
- California Taxpayers Association: California's oldest and largest nonprofit taxpayer association, producing tax burden analysis and fiscal research analogous to Florida TaxWatch's How Florida Compares: Taxes and Taxpayer Independence Day outputs.
- Texas Taxpayers and Research Association: A nonprofit state-level fiscal research organization in Texas that produces independent budget and tax analysis, structurally analogous to Florida TaxWatch's role as a nonpartisan watchdog for another large state.
- Citizens Against Government Waste: National nonprofit that publishes the annual Congressional Pig Book and similar budget-waste identification reports, directly comparable to Florida TaxWatch's Budget Turkey Watch Report methodology.
Broad incumbents
- Manhattan Institute: Established national policy think tank with state and local fiscal-policy research that occasionally intersects Florida topics, comparable as a broader policy-research incumbent that overlaps on state budget and tax analysis.
- Pew Charitable Trusts: Major nonprofit that produces state-fiscal research (e.g., on state budgets and economic development), serving a similar accountability function at scale across many states including Florida.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Florida TaxWatch social profiles
Digital presenceFlorida TaxWatch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Florida TaxWatch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Florida TaxWatch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Florida TaxWatch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Florida TaxWatch
What does Florida TaxWatch do?
Florida TaxWatch is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit taxpayer research institute that produces fiscal and policy research on Florida state and local government. Its core deliverables are analytical publications, including the annual Budget Turkey Watch Report, quarterly Florida Economic Forecasts, Taxpayer Independence Day analysis, Legislative Session Wrap-Ups, comparative county and tax reports, and a research library of more than 1,321 publications, all distributed primarily free of charge to inform policymakers and the public.
Is Florida TaxWatch a public or private company?
Florida TaxWatch is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Florida TaxWatch founded?
Florida TaxWatch was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Florida TaxWatch based?
Florida TaxWatch is headquartered in Tallahassee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Florida TaxWatch make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Membership.
Who are Florida TaxWatch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Illinois Policy Institute, Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayers Union, California Taxpayers Association, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association and Citizens Against Government Waste. Broad incumbents are Manhattan Institute and Pew Charitable Trusts.
Does Florida TaxWatch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Florida TaxWatch.
What industry is Florida TaxWatch in?
Florida TaxWatch's product category is Public Policy Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAEAH, Financial Risk, Controls & Audit (Public Sector), with a secondary code of BPAIADAA, Tax Policy, Legislation & Rulings. Its NAICS code is 92113.