THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION
The Heights Foundation is a Fort Myers, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that operates early childhood education, K-5 charter school, after-school, summer camp, music, and family strengthening programs for children and families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood, with a $42 million Heights CareerTech Institute workforce training campus opening in fall 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersFort Myers, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION does
The Heights Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 and headquartered at 15570 Hagie Drive in Fort Myers, Florida, providing education, enrichment, and social service programs to children and families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. The Foundation operates an integrated portfolio of programs anchored at The Heights Center, a 14,000 square foot community facility: Heights Early Learning (early childhood education for children birth to age four, maintaining a five-star Early Learning Coalition rating), The Heights Center's AfterSchool and Summer Camp programs (serving roughly 300 children combined), Harlem Heights Community Charter School (a K-5 charter school serving approximately 200 students), and the MOSAIC music ensembles (El Sistema-inspired instrumental instruction serving nearly 100 students). Family strengthening services, social services support delivered by licensed clinical staff, affordable housing assistance, cultural and expressive arts classes, and a Creative Aging program round out the portfolio.
The Foundation's business model is donation-driven. Revenue streams include individual contributions (online and direct mail), corporate sponsorships and grants from institutional funders (Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, SWFL Children's Charities, Capital Bank Foundation, The League Club, Rotary International District 6960), and a calendar of signature fundraising events headlined by the annual Love Your Neighbor gala ($1.25M raised in February 2026), golf tournaments, wine tastings, and benefit concerts. Program fees are minimal by design — keyboard lessons are offered at $15 per week or $60 per month with no registration fees — to preserve accessibility for the Harlem Heights community, where household income is approximately 50% below the Lee County average and child poverty runs more than double the county rate.
The Foundation is currently executing a $42 million capital expansion, Heights CareerTech Institute (HCTI), a post-secondary career and technical education facility scheduled to open in fall 2026 at the corner of Pine Ridge Road and Gladiolus Drive. HCTI will provide hands-on skilled trades training to approximately 500 students annually and represents a strategic extension of the Foundation's service footprint from neighborhood-scoped child and family programs to a Southwest Florida regional adult workforce mission. Technology footprint is minimal: the Foundation is not a technology company, with the only AI-adjacent capability being third-party screen-reader accessibility optimization on its website.
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION
- Legal name
- The Heights Foundation, Inc.
- Website
- https://heightsfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Heights Foundation is a Fort Myers, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that operates early childhood education, K-5 charter school, after-school, summer camp, music, and family strengthening programs for children and families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood, with a $42 million Heights CareerTech Institute workforce training campus opening in fall 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Education and Family Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)
Keywords
Where THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Myers
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization receives donations from individuals through its website and direct mail campaigns. Donors can contribute to various programs including Christmas outreach, summer camp, and general operations.
- Corporate Sponsorships and Grants: Local businesses and foundations provide grants and sponsorships to support specific programs. Major donors include Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, SWFL Children's Charities, Capital Bank Foundation, and The League Club.
- Fundraising Events: The organization hosts signature events including Love Your Neighbor annual fundraiser, golf tournaments, wine tastings, and concerts to raise funds for programs.
- Program Fees: Reduced-cost program fees for enrichment classes such as keyboard lessons ($15/week or $60/month), with no registration fees to maintain accessibility.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Keyboard Lessons - $15/week or $60/month |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Heights Foundation provides free and reduced-cost education, enrichment, social services, and family support programs to children and families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers, Florida. Its offerings span early childhood education, after-school and summer camp, a K-5 charter school, music and arts enrichment, family strengthening services, and career/technical training. The organization operates through The Heights Center and partner locations, funded primarily by donations, grants, and fundraising events.
Product overview
The Heights Foundation operates a multi-faceted community development organization serving the Harlem Heights neighborhood in Fort Myers, Florida. The organization functions as a unified platform of interconnected programs rather than a single product, comprising: Heights Early Learning (early childhood education for birth to age 4), The Heights Center (AfterSchool and Summer Camp for children), Harlem Heights Community Charter School (K-5 charter school), Heights CareerTech Institute (workforce development and skilled trades training opening 2026), MOSAIC Music Ensembles (El Sistema-inspired music education), and Family Strengthening Programs (social services, affordable housing, and community development). Together, these programs support education, wellness, family development, and arts enrichment for children and adults in an underserved community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Heights Early Learning High-quality, affordable early childhood education serving more than 85 children from birth to age four, with a five-star rating from the Early Learning Coalition.
- AfterSchool Program After-school programming serving children at The Heights Center, providing academic support, enrichment activities, and a safe environment for youth to learn and grow.
- Summer Camp Full-day summer program serving children with fun and educational field trips, art projects, computer and reading programs, and guided recreation.
- Harlem Heights Community Charter School A public charter school serving approximately 200 children from kindergarten through fifth grade within the Harlem Heights neighborhood.
- MOSAIC Music Ensembles Musical Opportunities Supporting the Arts in Our Community (MOSAIC) — a music education program offering daily instrumental instruction and performance opportunities to nearly 100 elementary, middle, and high school students, inspired by the El Sistema model.
- Family Strengthening Programs Programs including social services support, case coaching, affordable housing, and Creative Aging services designed to build strong, self-sufficient families.
- Cultural and Expressive Arts Visual and performing arts programs, music classes, theatre, and dance instruction providing enrichment opportunities for both children and adults in the community.
- Heights CareerTech Institute (HCTI) A $42 million post-secondary career and technical education (CTE) institute providing hands-on training in skilled trades and career pathways aligned with Southwest Florida's labor needs, scheduled to open in fall 2026 and serve approximately 500 students annually.
Quantifiable outcome
- 420,000 hours of services delivered to children and families annually
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Materra WinecoreWine partner for fundraising events. Materra wine tasting event raised $26,000 for The Heights Center's programs.
- Susan ScottmajorTitle Sponsor of the 2026 Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament, Tee It Up FORE Kids, held at Shell Point Golf Club.
- Owen-Ames-Kimball Co.majorTitle Sponsor of the 2026 Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament supporting The Heights Center's Early Learning program.
- Shell Point Golf ClubminorVenue host for the annual Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament, Tee It Up FORE Kids.
- Commercial Concrete Systems, LLCminorTrophy Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- RG Architects, P.A.minor19th Hole Lunch Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- B&I ContractorsminorAce Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- FPL (Florida Power & Light)minorAce Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- Edison National Bank/Bank of the IslandsminorBirdie Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- Gulf Shore CoolingminorBirdie Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- SkanskaminorBirdie Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- Axis Contracting GroupminorBirdie Sponsor for the Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament.
- Benovia WinerycoreFamily-owned Sonoma winery hosted rooftop wine tasting event at The Heights Center. Owners Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane donated wine country getaway package that raised nearly $50,000. Represents ongoing partnership combining hospitality with community support.
- Lee County Sheriff's OfficecoreGenerous sponsor of Celebration of Giving Thanks community event, supporting the annual Thanksgiving outreach program.
- Golisano Children's HospitalminorSponsor of 4th Annual Blues by the Bay event.
- Entech Florida IT ServicesminorSponsor of 4th Annual Blues by the Bay event.
- FPLminorSponsor of 4th Annual Blues by the Bay event.
- The Islander/Island ReporterminorSponsor of 4th Annual Blues by the Bay event.
Scale indicators23 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KIPP Florida Public Schools: Operates public charter schools serving low-income communities in Florida with comparable mission of college-prep education for underserved children — directly comparable to Harlem Heights Community Charter School.
- Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida: Provides workforce development and job training programs serving low-income adults in Southwest Florida, directly comparable to the mission of Heights CareerTech Institute.
- Children's Home Society of Florida: Statewide nonprofit providing child welfare, early learning, and family strengthening services with regional operations in Southwest Florida; comparable mission and program mix.
- YMCA of Southwest Florida: Provides after-school care, summer camp, early learning, and family services across Southwest Florida, with comparable mission, donor base, and programming to The Heights Foundation.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Florida: Operates after-school, summer camp, and youth development programs for at-risk children in the same Southwest Florida region, directly competing for the same donor pool and serving overlapping at-risk youth populations.
Others
- Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida: Regulatory/funding body for early childhood education that contracts with and rates Heights Early Learning; not a peer in service delivery but a critical funder and quality validator.
Emerging players
- Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida: Provides workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship education to K-12 students in the same region, overlapping conceptually with both the charter school curriculum and CareerTech mission.
- Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties: Operates affordable housing programs and family-strengthening services for low-income families in the same Southwest Florida region, sharing donor and volunteer constituencies with The Heights Foundation.
Broad incumbents
- United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee: Regional United Way affiliate that funds and convenes many of the same nonprofit partners and competes with The Heights Foundation for corporate giving, workplace campaigns, and foundation grants in the same geography.
- Charter Schools USA: Large charter school management organization operating multiple Florida schools, providing a peer benchmark for the Heights Foundation's K-5 charter school operations and funding model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION social profiles
Digital presenceTHE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION 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 THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION
What does THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION do?
The Heights Foundation provides free and reduced-cost education, enrichment, social services, and family support programs to children and families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers, Florida. Its offerings span early childhood education, after-school and summer camp, a K-5 charter school, music and arts enrichment, family strengthening services, and career/technical training. The organization operates through The Heights Center and partner locations, funded primarily by donations, grants, and fundraising events.
Is THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION a public or private company?
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION founded?
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION based?
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION is headquartered in Fort Myers, United States, in the North America region.
How does THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and Grants, fundraising Events and program Fees.
Who are THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KIPP Florida Public Schools, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Children's Home Society of Florida, YMCA of Southwest Florida and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Florida. Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is listed as an others. Emerging players are Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. Broad incumbents are United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee and Charter Schools USA.
Does THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION.
What industry is THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION in?
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION's product category is Community Education and Family Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAC, After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8300.