2026-06-09T13:36:29-07:00 2025-12-31 810561978 ELI DOLINSKY 9184 ISLA BELLA CIR BONITA SPRINGS FL 34135 990EZ 2025-01-01 921309052 FRIENDS OF BONITA ESTERO RAIL TRAIL INC FRIE 6128593729 PO Box 366578 BONITA SPRINGS FL 34136 Stephen Gunther Treasurer 6128593729 2026-06-08 true Eli Dolinsky P00627375 7322412839 2026-06-09 X 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X https://bonitaesterorailtrail.com X X 140243 X 126969 0 0 22 0 0 130 10740 10751 119 2382 1608 774 127884 100 50476 1612 4054 7529 63771 64113 68021 -6 132128 68015 132128 6 68021 132128 68021 132128 X Friends of BERT exists for the betterment of the greater Lee County community and State of Florida by its mission and activities to support, promote, enhance and protect Bonita Estero Rail Trail in Lee County and its trail connectors now and for future generations and for all other lawful purposes. Trek Ride for BERT is the organizations signature annual community fundraising and awareness event. The 2025 event was held on November 16, 2025 at Coconut Point Mall in Estero, Florida, offering 15-mile and 30-mile routes. The event drew 449 participants, generating substantial community awareness of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail project and providing direct fundraising support for capital phases of the rail trail. The event generated $23,103.59 in voluntary participant donations (reported as contributions on Form 990-EZ Line 1) and $7,312.65 in required registration fees (reported as event income on Line 6b). 0 8800 The organization conducts ongoing community outreach, public education, and advocacy activities in support of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail. Activities during 2025 included maintaining the organizations website (bonitaesterorailtrail.com) and active social media presence; participation in community events engagement with Lee County government officials and partner municipalities regarding trail design and right-of-way coordination; coordination with regional planning bodies including the Trust for Public Land 0 47295 The organization conducts dedicated capital fundraising in support of the design and construction of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail. In 2025, the organization received $34,200.00 in dedicated Capital Fund Contributions from eight donors, of which three individual donors contributed $10,000 eachThese funds are accumulated for application to capital phases of the trail project, including engineering, design, and physical construction in coordination with Lee County and partner agencies 0 1063 In 2025, the organization made a $100.00 charitable contribution to Naples Pathways Coalition Inc. (Naples, FL), a related advocacy organization that is building the Paradise Coast Trail in Collier County, which is intended to connect with the Bonita Estero Rail Trail. 100 100 57258 Deb Orton President 20.00 0 0 0 Stephen Gunther Treasurer 20.00 0 0 0 Beth Castro Director 20.00 0 0 0 X false false false false false false false 0 0 false false FL Stephen Gunther Treasurer PO Box 366578 Bonita Springs FL 34136 6128593729 false false false false false false false false false false false NONE NONE true X 0 22005 42520 126969 191494 0 0 22005 42520 126969 191494 0 191494 22 22 44 0 16472 22932 13253 52657 244195 2382 X 0 0 0 0 Pt II Ln 10 Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: Trek Ride registration $13,638 + inventory $2,834 2023: 16472. Description: Trek Ride registration $20,549 + inventory $2,383 2024: 22932. Description: Trek Ride registration $7,312.65 + other event income $3,427.00 + inventory $2,382.31 + gaming $130.00 2025: 13253. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED Trek ride for BERT 11/16/25 30416 23104 7312 2205 283 6313 none 30416 23104 7312 2205 283 6313 8801 -1489 Pt III, Line 31 In 2025, the organization made a $100.00 charitable contribution to Naples Pathways Coalition Inc. (Naples, FL), a related advocacy organization that is building the Paradise Coast Trail in Collier County, which is intended to connect with the Bonita Estero Rail Trail. Other Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 20 - Other Changes in Net Assets Line 20 reports $(6.24), consisting of a single non-income adjustment: the write-off of a $(6.24) negative credit balance carried on the organizations books at year-end as a negative liability under the QuickBooks general ledger account titled FRAUD (Credit Cards group). This balance represented a pending fraud-related credit/chargeback from a prior-period credit card transaction that remained unresolved on the books at both 12/31/2024 and 12/31/2025 with no movement. Because the underlying transaction has not been resolved or substantiated as a true receivable and the $(6.24) balance is immaterial both individually and in aggregate, the organization elected to write off the negative liability balance to net assets effective 12/31/2025. The write-off reduces net assets by $6.24 with no offsetting income recognition (balance sheet reclassification only). Part II Column (B) Line 26 Total Liabilities accordingly reports $0 at 12/31/2025. Pt V, Line 33 The organizations activities during 2025 were consistent with the activities conducted in prior years and as described in the organizations application for tax-exempt status. No significant program activities have been added or discontinued, and no material changes have been made to the organizations exempt-purpose programs. Pt V, Line 34 No changes were made to the organizations Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws during the 2025 tax year. Other Part VI Line 47-The organization did not engage in any lobbying activities during 2025. The organization has not made a 501(h) election for tax year 2025 (a 501(h) election was filed via Form 5768 in 2026 for application starting tax year 2026). No advocacy activity in 2025 constituted attempts to influence specific legislation within the meaning of IRC 4911. Educational and informational activities undertaken with respect to the Bonita Estero Rail Trail project - including informational meetings with state and local officials about potential public funding sources for trail construction - were general education and information gathering and do not constitute lobbying. Other Part I Line 16 o Office software/apps $2,934; social media/digital advertising $1,131; travel/airfare $1,063; meals $606; general advertising $618; marketing consumables $530; marketing non-consumables $387; event supplies $137; office supplies $82; Reinvestment (book reclassification) $22; bank fees $19. Total $7,529. Form 990EZ, Part I, Line 10 Support organization driving for a multiuse pathway that will connect with the Bonita Estero Rail Trail; Charitable; Naples Pathways Coalition Inc: 91 Ninth Street South, #464, Naples, FL, 34102; None, 100. Form 990EZ, Part I, Line 16 Office software, travel, advertising, supplies 7529.