Speer Dream Foundation

What Speer Dream Foundation does

Speer Dream Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, that serves the Tampa Bay region through grant-making to vetted nonprofit partners. It was founded by Roy Speer, co-founder of the Home Shopping Network (HSN), and his daughter Lisa Vickers, and operates across four focus pillars: education, community outreach, medical support, and military/first responder assistance. The foundation has funded more than 60 nonprofit organizations across these themes, with grants ranging from recurring programmatic support to capital equipment such as a Zeiss Kinevo Microscope for medical partners.

The organization runs with a small staff of approximately 1-10 employees under a defined executive team: Lisa Vickers serves as CEO and Executive Trustee, Tim Whipple as Executive Director, Heidi Green as Controller, and Daniel'le Young as Director of Operations. Unlike an operating business, the foundation does not sell products or services; its activity is the deployment of an endowment tied to the wealth generated by HSN. In 2024, the foundation materially expanded its disaster-response activity by partnering with nine nonprofits to coordinate relief efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, signaling capacity to scale grant-making rapidly when regional needs emerge.

Because the foundation is endowment-funded rather than revenue-funded, traditional business-model levers (pricing, GTM, sales cycles) do not apply. Its economic engine is the management and strategic deployment of an inherited endowment, with grant outflows as the principal output metric. Strategic continuity is anchored by founder-family governance and a stable Tampa Bay geographic focus, with programmatic expansion executed through nonprofit partnerships rather than internal team scaling or technology build-out.

Name

Speer Dream Foundation

Legal name

Speer Dream Foundation

Website

https://speerdream.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Speer Dream Foundation is a St. Petersburg, Florida-based private philanthropic foundation that supports 60+ nonprofits in the Tampa Bay region across education, community outreach, medical support, and military and first responder assistance, funded by an endowment tied to HSN co-founder Roy Speer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Community foundation services
• Nonprofit grant programs
• Disaster relief funding
• Education scholarship grants

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment and Family Philanthropy: The foundation operates as a philanthropic endowment funded by Roy Speer's success with the Home Shopping Network (HSN). Revenue is generated through investment returns on the endowment rather than commercial operations. The foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations rather than selling products or services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Speer Dream Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic foundation that provides grants to community organizations across four pillars: Education, Community Outreach, Medical Support, and Military/First Responder Assistance. The foundation operates primarily in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, partnering with vetted nonprofits to deploy financial resources to community programs and direct-relief efforts.

Product overview

Speer Dream Foundation is a faith-based philanthropic organization that operates as a grant-making foundation rather than a traditional product company. Its core offering consists of grant programs supporting nonprofits in four focus areas: Education, Community Outreach, Medical Support, and Military and First Responder Assistance. The foundation partners with and funds various nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay region to foster positive change and address critical community needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Grants Grant funding awarded to nonprofit organizations and educational programs serving students and learners in the Tampa Bay community. The grants support educational initiatives, scholarships, and learning programs.
• Community Outreach Grants Grant funding awarded to vetted nonprofit partners delivering community programs and direct services to residents in the Tampa Bay region. Supports food banks, housing assistance, and community-based social services.
• Medical Support Grants Grant funding awarded to healthcare-related nonprofits and programs providing medical support, health services, and medical bill assistance to community members in the Tampa Bay area.
• Military and First Responder Assistance Grants Grant funding awarded to nonprofit programs and direct-relief efforts supporting military service members, veterans, and first responders and their families in the Tampa Bay region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 nonprofit organizations supported through grants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• St. Anthony's Hospital FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Grant partnership to purchase a Zeiss Kinevo Microscope supporting the medical group and advancing life-saving initiatives in neurological services.
• Pinellas County Sheriff's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to support reunification taskforce, a critical piece of the emergency response picture, especially important following devastating hurricanes.
• Coast Guard FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hurricane Helene and Milton relief partner providing emergency support to affected communities. One of nine nonprofit partners in the hurricane relief initiative.
• Countryside CaresmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hurricane relief partner distributing food, supplies, emergency shelter, and housing support to individuals and families affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
• Heroes of the St. Pete Police & Fire RescuemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024First responder support organization partnered for hurricane relief efforts, providing emergency response support to affected communities.
• Hands Across the BaymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hurricane relief nonprofit that provided grants directly to individuals impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, offering immediate ground-level impact through direct assistance.
• Reach St. PetemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Community support organization partnered for hurricane recovery efforts, providing mental health and wellness resources to those affected.
• St. Pete Fools CharitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nonprofit partner in hurricane relief efforts, supporting communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
• The Kind MousemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Food security and community support organization partnered for hurricane relief, distributing food and essential supplies to affected individuals and families.
• Whatever It Takes FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Community support nonprofit partnered for hurricane recovery, making immediate impacts at the ground level for neighbors, friends, and family members impacted by the storms.
• YMCA St. PetemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Community organization partnered for hurricane relief, providing emergency shelter and support services to those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
• St. Petersburg CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the First Step Scholarship program, supporting students with educational opportunities and scholarships. The program has produced inspiring graduates demonstrating generational transformation through education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Community Foundation of Tampa Bay: Regional community foundation serving the Tampa Bay area with grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and scholarships. Directly comparable to Speer Dream in geography and function, though larger in scale and broader in focus.
• Pinellas Community Foundation: Community foundation serving Pinellas County, the same county as Speer Dream's St. Petersburg headquarters. Closely comparable in regional scope and grantmaking model, though typically operating at a smaller scale.
• Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg: Place-based foundation in St. Petersburg focused on health equity and community wellbeing. Comparable in geography and mission overlap, especially with Speer Dream's medical support and community outreach pillars.

Regional players

• Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Community foundation serving the broader Southwest Florida Gulf Coast region. Comparable as a regional Florida grantmaker with similar multi-pillar grant programs, though it operates on a larger geographic and asset base.
• The Patterson Foundation: Sarasota-based family-founded foundation emphasizing innovative philanthropy and partnerships. Comparable as a Florida-based family foundation with a focus on community impact and strategic grantmaking.
• Southwest Florida Community Foundation: Regional community foundation in Southwest Florida with multi-cause grantmaking, scholarships, and disaster response programs. Comparable in operating model and regional focus, with overlapping disaster-response experience.
• Children's Board of Hillsborough County: Tampa Bay-area public funding entity for children's and family services. Comparable as a Tampa Bay regional funder with overlapping education and youth development focus areas.

Broad incumbents

• Allegany Franciscan Ministries: Faith-based Florida foundation supporting health, education, and community initiatives. Comparable in faith-grounded mission and pillar structure to Speer Dream, though with broader multi-county coverage in Florida.
• Jewish Federation of Florida: Federated nonprofit operating across Florida with grantmaking, social services, and community programming. Comparable as a values-driven regional philanthropic organization supporting education, community outreach, and vulnerable populations.

Others

• The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens: Major Jacksonville-based arts institution that receives philanthropic support from regional foundations including Tampa Bay-area funders. Comparable as a Tampa Bay- and Florida-area grant recipient and arts ecosystem peer rather than as a direct grantmaking peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpeerDream
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/speerdream
• Instagraminstagram.com/speerdream
• Xx.com/SpeerDream

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Speer Dream Foundation