Tom Golisano, entrepreneur, the founder of Paychex, philanthropist, and civic leader, announced on Nov. 19, 2024, his second series of major gifts totaling $85 million to 41 nonprofit organizations across Southwest Florida.
The awards, which range from $150,000 to $10 million each, are being made to a diverse range of causes, all of which are meaningful to Golisano. They span healthcare, education, intellectual and developmental disabilities, other critical community needs and animal welfare. The gifts will be paid over four to five years, are unrestricted and may be used at each organization’s discretion.
“One of my favorite sayings is ‘the only wealth you keep is that which you give away,’ and this year I’ve decided to act on that saying. Thanks to the success of Paychex, and its employees I can make it my reality. I’m glad to provide support to nonprofits across Southwest Florida, where I now call home,” said Golisano. “There are so many organizations in this region doing great work and I know that it’s not easy successfully running a nonprofit. I am impressed with the dedication and perseverance of the organizations that I’ve invited here today. I hope this unexpected funding helps them broaden their impact and strengthen their organizations so they can expand their services and those they serve.”
Today's announcement, made at Artis-Naples, brings Golisano's philanthropy this year to half a billion dollars and his life-long philanthropy to $860 million. It follows his Sept. 17 announcement of 82 major gifts totaling $360 million to organizations in Upstate New York, including $52 million to the Golisano Foundation, increasing its assets to $120 million. This infusion of funding increases the Golisano Foundation's giving from approximately $3 to more than $5 million annually, allowing even more opportunities for nonprofits to access grant funding.
"We encourage non-profit organizations to visit our website to learn more about Tom's philanthropy and the foundation's mission,” said Erica Dayton, executive director of the Golisano Foundation, which Golisano founded in 1985. It has awarded more than $41 million in grants, primarily to organizations devoted to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It also helps animal welfare organizations through Bailey and Friends, an initiative of the Golisano Foundation founded in honor of Golisano’s two dogs, both of whom were named Bailey.
Dayton added, “We look forward to the new influx of agencies we'll be introduced to through the widespread news of Tom’s most recent giving. Understanding the needs of the communities we support and the organizations that devote their expertise to serving them is a constantly evolving process. We are always looking to learn more and determine how we can be supportive with the resources available."
$85 Million in Awards Announced on Nov. 19, 2024, to 41 Organizations
Health - 2 Organizations - $15 Million
Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida - $10,000,000
Naples Comprehensive Health - $5,000,000
Education - 2 Organizations - $13 Million
Ave Maria University - $10,000,000
Guadalupe Center - $3,000,000
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) - 12 Organizations - $32 Million
Best Buddies Southwest Florida - $1,000,000
Beyond the Spectrum, Inc. $1,000,000
Easterseals Southwest Florida - $5,000,000
Family Initiative - $5,000,000
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida - $5,000,000 Guardian Angels for Special Populations - $1,000,000 LARC, Inc. - $5,000,000
Protected Harbor - $1,000,000
Special Olympics - Florida - $1,000,000
STARability - $5,000,000
Sunrise – Naples - $ 1,000,000
The Haven - $1,000,000
Community - 5 Organizations - $15 Million
American Red Cross Southwest Florida - $3,000,000 Children's Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida- $2,000,000
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples - $4,000,000 Meals of Hope - $3,000,000
Youth Haven - $3,000,000
Animal Welfare – 20 Organizations - $10 Million
Animal Rescue Coalition - $1,000,000
Cape Coral Animal Shelter - $1,500,000
Gulf Coast Humane Society - $1,500,000
Humane Society Naples - $500,000
SNIP Collier - $1,500,000
Anna Maria Island Pup Rescue - $150,000
Big Dog Ranch Rescue - $500,000
Florida Coastal Cocker Rescue - $150,000
For the Love of Cats - $150,000
Fur and Tails Animal Rescue - $150,000
Canine Castaways, Inc. - $150,000
Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue - $500,000
Haven on Earth Animal League - $150,000
Humane Society of Manatee County - $500,000 Humane Society of Sarasota County - $500,000
Max`s Ark Rescue - $150,000
Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue Center - $500,000 Pawtcake Refuge - $150,000
Purradise Gardens - $150,000
Shy Wolf Sanctuary - $150,000
About Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation
Tom Golisano—entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader—is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation’s largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses, providing integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, benefits, human resources, and insurance services for more than 745,000 clients in the U.S. and Europe. His continuing investments are helping to advance entrepreneurship through the 2023 establishment of the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship as well as driving the success of numerous businesses and start-ups. His personal philanthropic contributions to hospitals—including three children’s hospitals that bear his name—and numerous educational institutions, his Foundation, and other organizations now exceed $860 million. He has dedicated more than $145 million to advancing inclusive health around the world, helping to close the substantial gap in access to care for people with intellectual disabilities.
A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Golisano established the Golisano Foundation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than $120 million now in gross assets, it is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities awarding about $5 million annually to nonprofit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida. Golisano is the author of two books, “Built Not Born,” a Wall Street Journal best seller and “The Italian Kid Did It.” He is listed on the Forbes 400.