Hope Florida charity paid for hotel rooms, perks for DeSantis officials

[Zorro]

Nonprofit experts say the golf fundraiser was unusual in multiple ways.

Gov. Ron DeSantis touted last year’s Governor’s Cup charity golf weekend as a fundraising success for the fledgling Hope Florida Foundation, saying it raised “massive amounts of money.”

Yet few of the attendees — which included officials in the governor’s administration, his former campaign advisers and state contractors — donated to it. Several said they didn’t even know the charity sponsored it, even though the nonprofit gave them custom golf bags and paid for their rooms, meals and drinks.

The two-day event at a private club illustrates not only the overlap between the foundation’s charitable arm and the DeSantis political operation, but messiness with the financial oversight of the nearly 2-year-old organization.

Following questions from the Times/Herald, the charity is scrambling to file paperwork required by Florida law to notify state officials and lawmakers about the value of the gifts it provided as part of the event. The reports were due March 1.

Foundation officials are also correcting the charity’s IRS tax filing to more accurately show how much the event made.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/06/14/hope-florida-foundation-desantis-governors-cup-fundraiser-lobbyists-lawmakers/

Hope Florida? More like Dope Floriduh.

[twodogsbarking]

1. I smell something in Florida and it isn't just rotting fishes.

[OldBaldy1701E]

2. And, here is an image from the event.

[dutch777]

3. Can't wait til the DeSantis clan heads off to Palin land. The legislature is finally standing up to him too.

[tanyev]

4. So the charity paid for hotels, food and swag for people that could easily afford it.

Gosh, remember when the point of a charity was to raise money for people who desperately needed it?

[onethatcares]

5. minor point

now the purpose of this charity is to "Hope" no one notices the skim.