Make Certain Our Future
Why Engage Estero Needs Your Donation
- Support our students with scholarships, local teachers, schools and FGCU.
- Help those in desperate need in emergencies and disasters.
- Promote community health programs and services and encourage the availability of a local Community Hospital.
- To continue to provide high-quality communications, Community Meetings, and Public Forums on key issues, involve renting facilities for meetings, providing YouTube videos, podcasts, social media, e-newsletters, websites, and obtaining professional input.
- Challenge threats and encourage citizen engagement.
- Ensure we can afford experts, consultants, specialists, and legal representatives to be successful in thwarting threats to our community more effectively.
- Conduct research, collaborating with others where necessary, to share our findings and facts with you.
Donate By Mail
Contributions by check should be payable to “Engage Estero” and mailed to PO Box 424, Estero Florida 33929. Please include your email and phone number.
How we Operate
- Engage Estero is an IRS-registered 501(c)3 organization, so all donations are tax-deductible.
- Our annual outgoings to support our work are just under $100,000.
- 25 out of 26 of our staff members are unpaid volunteers. We have a single, part-time professional communications vendor.
- Our membership fees only provide 11% of our budget.
To cover our operating costs and address our goals, we need significantly more support for our school children, an emergency fund, and continued access to consultants who provide both technical and legal advice.
There are many important examples (see below) of our recent work and why Engage Estero urgently requires your financial support.
Recent Achievements
Development Related Research and Representation
- We explained to residents living close to I-75 that there would be increased noise due to its widening in Estero from 6 lanes to 10.
- Our President spoke on Wink News, advocating for improved noise mitigation to reduce that impact.
- Engage Estero has supported the Brooks communities and others, by informing FDOT of the need for a continuous 22 ft high wall (indicating the two brands that should be used following our research) and insisting on noise mitigation asphalt that is being examined to reduce tire noise. Byron Donalds, the Village Mayor and Manager, and the FDOT team have been notified. 146 residents who requested we represent their concerns were also identified, and details were sent to FDOT.
- A 61-page report on the developments taking place in Greater Estero was communicated in September, and the contents are available on esterotoday.com.
- The Sept 26 Community Meeting covered the 5 main developments, and our President explained their structure and timing. Kevin Karnes spoke about the need to prevent Title Fraud.
- Engage Estero research efforts and expertise has a market value of over $50,000 and is offered at no charge to the community.
Education Support in 2025
- Engage Estero provides support for Greater Estero students in many ways:
- Via Financial contributions of $2,000 to LEAD Estero
- Via Scholarships to Estero High School students ($1,000).
- Recent support for Three Oaks Elementary school $2,500 for their Science, Technology, and Math Lab to purchase items to help in the children’s understanding. Molly Roberts required the funding to assist with her work.
- Mark Novitski, Reas Graber, Allan Bowditch, and Mike Wasson are working closely with the Estero High School Principal, Jennifer Seluk, on several initiatives to support the need to enhance safety on River Ranch Road, enhancing communications, as well as other issues.
Engage Estero would love to do more to assist in this work.
Health and Wellness Support
- Many healthcare-related articles have been published covering key issues that Engage Estero staff feel require emphasis. All of these are on our website, but some examples are:
- Alternative Medical Treatments – Worthwhile or Not?
- Determining Whether Forgetfulness is simply a matter of Aging or the Onset of Dementia.
- How to Handle a Family Member with Dementia.
- New Options for Women Undergoing Mammograms
- Lee Health’s Life-Saving Stroke Protocol
- And many more!
- Lee Health has been expanding their medical facilities, services and personnel in the greater Estero area, but we continue to encourage them to do more.
- On March 17 at the FGCU Cohen Ballroom at 5 pm, Engage Estero will host a Public Forum on “Shaping Estero’s Future: A Public Forum on Our Community’s Tomorrow.” This, together with our monthly Community Meetings, are very expensive to fund.
Consistent Communication
- Community & Membership Meetings with local experts for open discussion on important topics
- Public Forums on major issues to encourage dialogue and deeper insight
- Weekly Communications on multiple platforms for timely updates and to encourage engagement – including a podcast.
- Personal Meetings with local leaders, media and communities to foster two-way communication and understanding on difficult issues.
- Professional videography of public meetings to ensure those who cannot attend are able to benefit.
Your Investment Dollars Are Tax Deductible
Based upon IRS Rules, as a 501c3 fund, you are eligible for a tax deduction if you do not receive any goods and services. Please consult with your tax advisor.
Checks can also be mailed to:
Engage Estero
P.O. Box 424
Estero, FL 33929
Please Invest Now:
Again, no Engage Estero volunteer leaders receive compensation for their many work hours on your behalf. Please help us to help you.
Invest in our community. We are always transparent about how and where your money is used. Any amount will help us with the resources to continue our ongoing work for you and our greater Estero community.
Simply click the “Support” button below. You’ll feel good about contributing to helping the Engage Estero make your voice heard in matters that affect you.
Thank you for your affirmation, encouragement, and generosity,
Allan Bowditch
President
Engage Estero
Click the button below to donate online.
Other Ways to Give
Monthly Support
A recurring contribution, automatically deducted from your account of choice, and easily canceled at any time, is a great way to provide a stable foundation for the efforts of the Engage Estero. Just choose the “monthly” option in the support dropdown.
Volunteer
Engage Estero is manned solely by volunteers. Choose a topic of interest to help with, spread the word among your communities, show up at important meetings – it’s all important.
Be Informed, Get Engaged, and Make an Impact!
ENGAGE ESTERO, INC., IS QUALIFIED AS A 501(C)3 CORPORATION WITH THE IRS – EIN #20-1606763 AND IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA. YOU MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL FLORIDA REGISTRATION (CH41780) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING WWW.800HELPFLA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. OUR CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.