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Collaboratory is a Community Foundation committed to bringing Southwest Florida together to solve all of our major social problems by 2040.

Working alongside our donors and our community partners, we connect and leverage our region’s resources to address ongoing social problems by upskilling our workforce, increasing access to affordable housing, and enhancing health and wellness for all. Because these are complex social problems, they require coordination to ensure we are all working together, and that every generous donor achieves the biggest impact with their funds.

Two years in, we are well on our way to creating the infrastructure required to coordinate the achievement of this goal.

How We Do It

Having witnessed firsthand how hard it is for individual programs to get results, Collaboratory started the FutureMakers Coalition, with a goal of making sure 55% of adults 25-64 in Southwest Florida have education beyond high school by 2025. From Collaboratory’s experience with FutureMakers, we know – and can share with you – some effective ways to work together and to decide how you will measure your progress. We can and will be there to help support this work through grants and leadership training.

Collaboratory recently launched two additional networks in the FutureMakers model to make sure everyone in Southwest Florida can afford housing and enjoy good health. The Home Coalition strives to increase the number of people paying less than 45% of their income on housing and transportation combined. The Health & Wellness Coalition’s goal is to make the communities within Southwest Florida among the healthiest in the nation by scoring above the 90th percentile for length of life and quality of life indicators. As with FutureMakers, each network will choose specific goals so they can measure their shared progress towards solving one of Southwest Florida’s complex social problems. Once these two new networks are up and running, we will begin to focus on the creating the next two coalitions for environment – natural and built.

A group of women in a circle.

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FOX4: 24% of Hendry County adults have work credentials beyond HS, but that can change

The Collaboratory's Futuremakers Coalition in Ft Myers helps adults in…
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WINK: Collaboratory to host Spring Night Market

The Collaboratory in Fort Myers will host a Spring Night…
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Collaboratory invites public to Holiday Night Market

Public invited to learn more about Collaboratory, its resident partners…
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Collaboratory Scholarship Applications Open

Collaboratory's scholarship application for the 2024-2025 school year will open…
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NAPLES DAILY NEWS: Collaboratory: Tackling social issues together

As the new president and CEO of Collaboratory, every week…
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Dawn Belamarich Takes Collaboratory Reins

Dawn Belamarich did her best to make a big splash…
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Report: Average annual wage in SWFL up 6.5% in 2022

Retail trade and accommodation and food services were the largest…
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Collaboratory’s scholarship application for the 2024-2025 school year will open on November 1, 2023.

Collaboratory's scholarship application for the 2024-2025 school year will open…
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Impact Dashboard

FutureMakers Coalition

Goal: Transform Southwest Florida's workforce, from cradle to career, by increasing the number of workers that have the credentials needed to fill in-demand jobs to 55% by 2025.

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Skilled Workforce

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This is the percentage of workers in our region that have the credentials necessary to fill in-demand jobs. To fill in-demand jobs, working-age adults must have college degrees, workforce certificates, industry certifications and other high-quality credentials. To increase this percentage, we have to look at everything from early childhood learning to post-high school education and everything in-between. We also have to remove education barriers and create a culture of career exploration and aspiration from an early age.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was

Health & Wellness Coalition

Goal: Transform Southwest Florida to be among the healthiest communities in the nation by exceeding the 90th percentile for Health Indicators (Length of Life and Quality of Life) by 2040.

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Goal

Years of Life Lost due to Premature Death

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This percentage indicates where our region ranks nationally in terms of years of potential life lost before the age of 75. In some cases, premature deaths are simply tragic, unavoidable accidents. But in other cases, they are caused by things such as treatable diseases, cancer and preventable accidents. The "Premature Deaths” metric gives us insight into areas we need to improve in our region from nutrition, healthcare delivery and disease research to public safety, suicide rate and transportation.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was

Live Births with Low Birthweight

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This is the percentage of babies born in our region with a birthweight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, also known as being born premature. Some premature babies are born to perfectly healthy mothers. But it is also a complex public-health problem that can be caused by long-term maternal malnutrition, ill health, hard work, poor health care during pregnancy and much more. Ultimately, the "Live Births with Low Birthweight” percentage gives us a glimpse into maternal health, nutrition, healthcare delivery and poverty in our region.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was

Poor Mental Health Days

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This tracks the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported by individuals in the past 30 days. This percentage indicates where our region ranks nationally. Poor mental health can be caused by depression, anxiety, stress and much more. And these conditions can, in turn, result from a broad range of things, from people with disabilities and people living with chronic conditions, to childhood abuse, social disadvantages and discrimination. Ultimately, regions with more unhealthy days are likely to have higher unemployment, poverty, percentage of adults who did not complete high school, mortality rates, and higher rates of disability.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was

Poor or Fair Health

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This is the percentage of adults in our region who rate their health as poor or fair. It is an indicator of the level of disability or chronic disease in our region. It can also indicate unhealthy lifestyle habits. Beyond the obvious, poor health can also contribute to reduced income and a vicious cycle called the health-poverty trap—a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty. There are countless other chain reactions caused by “Poor or Fair Health” affecting a very broad range of quality of life factors in our region.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was

Poor Physical Health Days

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This tracks the average number of physically unhealthy days reported by individuals in the past 30 days. This percentage indicates where our region ranks nationally. People with chronic physical illness often have difficulties maintaining a job, and as a result, have a hard time affording care. So "Poor Physical Health Days” can lead to financial burden and, for example, lead to a decrease in how much someone can afford to purchase healthy food, housing and transportation.

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When we started our work, this percentage was

Home Coalition

Goal: Ensure 80% of people in SWFL have access to housing and transportation that costs less than 45% of their income by 2040.

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Housing & Transportation Affordability

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This percentage indicates the number of people in SWFL that spend less than 45% of their income on their housing and transportation combined. This is measured at the neighborhood level. It takes into account how much of a household's income is spent on rent or mortgage and utilities. But transportation costs tend to be higher when housing is not located near things like job centers, healthcare and grocery stores. So, both housing and transportation must be considered together. In short, housing and transportation affordability are fundamental quality of life indicators.

We need to this number by

When we started our work, this percentage was