Independent ngo that champions democracy worldwide through research, education, advocacy & action.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 52 volunteers and 147 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.9M a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
97%
of spending
Looks good: 97% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.6M
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $60K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$17.7M
52% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 52% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$69.4M
-23% vs prior year
Spent
$71.6M
To programs
97%
Net assets
$16.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$69.4M
FY2025▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$50.5M
FY2021$64.6M
FY2022$93.5M
FY2023$103.8M
FY2024$90.3M
FY2025$69.4M
Expenses
$71.6M
FY2025▼ -19%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$49.7M
FY2021$63.4M
FY2022$85.3M
FY2023$102.3M
FY2024$88.8M
FY2025$71.6M
Net assets
$16.4M
FY2025▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.4M
FY2021$5.6M
FY2022$13.6M
FY2023$15.5M
FY2024$17.8M
FY2025$16.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 1943.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $69.1M Management & general 1% · $635K Fundraising 3% · $1.8M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

36 people listed on the 990; $3.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Interim President (end 1/3/2025)
$328,926Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$248,132Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Party (end 6/3/2025)
$236,644Pt VII · Sec A
Former President
$228,882Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Talent & Culture
$228,815Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Pres of Development
$216,081Pt VII · Sec A
VP Communications (end 1/29/2025)
$214,174Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance
$196,985Pt VII · Sec A

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca’s $329K as Interim President (end 1/3/2025) is at the 68th percentile of top reported officer pay among 345 $10–100M international nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michael Abramowitz$228,882$338,419$317,110$283,070$204,208$211,990
Nicole Bibbins Sedaca$328,926$238,462$224,625$134,283——
Emily Taylor End 10182024$248,132—————
Jose Ravano$236,644$233,107$201,066———
Christian Bowman End 132025$228,815—————
Emily Taylor—$220,300$211,430$8,796——
Brian Hill End 10112024$216,081—————
Lara Shane$214,174$204,459$167,027———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Freedom House INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Champions democracy worldwide by conducting research, educating government officials, and advocating for policies that support human rights and democratic values.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $69.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Action

During the reporting period, freedom house continued to provide technical and financial assistance to civil society organizations and front-line defenders around the world, in support of their work to expand and defend freedom.

$64.1Mprogram expense
02

Research & Analysis

Freedom house's research activities consist of collection and analysis of data, which is integrated into various special reports and annual publications, including freedom in the world, nations in transit, and freedom on the net.

$4.0Mprogram expense
03

Policy & Advocacy (a&e)

Freedom house works to educate U.S. And other government officials and their staff on key democracy issues, and inform their foreign policy decisions.

$1.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Grants paid · 81 grants · $166.9M · 2019–2024
Internews NetworkCA · FY2024$6,002,831
Search for Common GroundDC · FY2024$4,904,471
American Bar AssociationIL · FY2024$2,099,919
Pact INCDC · FY2024$2,015,926
Partners GlobalDC · FY2024$278,278
Panorama GlobalWA · FY2024$50,000
Internews NetworkCA · FY2023$8,318,186
Search for Common GroundDC · FY2023$8,063,875
Pact INCDC · FY2023$5,773,471
American Bar AssociationIL · FY2023$5,122,280
Partners GlobalDC · FY2023$494,804
See all 81 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$69.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$69.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$326K
Money outPt IX
$71.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$69.1M
Managementcol C$635K
Fundraisingcol D$1.8M
Owns and owesPt X
$16.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$21.8M
Total assetsLn 16$34.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
36
listed · VII A
PaidVII A18
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$69.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$64.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$140K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$326K
Total revenueLn 12$69.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$21.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$21.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$282K
Other assetsLn 15$977K
Total assetsLn 16$34.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17.7M
Net assetsLn 32$16.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5147
VolunteersI 652
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.3M$21.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.5M$4.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$442K$282K
Total assetsLn 16$29.8M$34.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$12.0M$17.7M
Net assetsLn 32$17.8M$16.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$16.3M$16.3M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$16.2M$16.2M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.3M$381K$1.7M$131K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$16.9M$10.1M$5.9M$892K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.3M$1.4M−$115K−$11K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$5.8M$5.8M$68K−$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.9M$1.9M
Legal feesLn 11b$528K$528K
Accounting feesLn 11c$235K$235K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$276K$276K
Investment management feesLn 11f$28K$28K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3.4M$2.3M$948K$138K
Office expensesLn 13$1.3M$724K$588K$31K
Information technologyLn 14$974K$57K$917K
OccupancyLn 16$1.3M$190K$1.1M
TravelLn 17$1.8M$1.7M$98K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$618K$447K$132K$39K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$137K$137K
InsuranceLn 23$216K$21K$195K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$0$11.5M−$11.8M$305K
Total functional expensesLn 25$71.6M$69.1M$635K$1.8M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $69.4M$71.6M−$2.1M$16.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $90.3M$88.8M$1.5M$17.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $103.8M$102.3M$1.5M$15.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $93.5M$85.3M$8.2M$13.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $64.6M$63.4M$1.2M$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $50.5M$49.7M$819K$4.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $69,437,963 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $89,972,151$69,269,823
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $651,726$326,175
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$318,327−$158,035
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $90,305,550$69,437,963
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $45,988,664$32,526,521
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $28,093,752$28,183,785
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $99,798$275,905
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $14,575,854$10,585,639
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $88,758,068$71,571,850
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,547,482−$2,133,887
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $69,437,963 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,061,291
VIII-1e Government grants$64,078,135
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,130,397
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$140,022
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$69,269,823
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $326,175$326,175
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $655$655
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$159,399−$159,399
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $709$709
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $168,140$69,437,963
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $71,571,850 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $16,282,236$16,282,236
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $16,244,285$16,244,285
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $381,380 · Management $1,745,485 · Fundraising $131,422$2,258,287
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $10,087,943 · Management $5,873,322 · Fundraising $891,764$16,853,029
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,424,223 · Management −$114,867 · Fundraising −$11,485$1,297,871
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $5,765,234 · Management $67,817 · Fundraising −$5,086$5,827,965
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,946,633$1,946,633
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $528,031$528,031
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $234,526$234,526
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $275,905$275,905
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $27,540$27,540
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,283,240 · Management $947,738 · Fundraising $138,359$3,369,337
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $723,728 · Management $587,732 · Fundraising $30,795$1,342,255
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $56,821 · Management $917,426$974,247
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $189,630 · Management $1,106,783$1,296,413
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,736,981 · Management $97,563 · Fundraising $7,455$1,841,999
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $447,187 · Management $132,108 · Fundraising $38,758$618,053
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $137,371$137,371
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $21,165 · Management $194,702$215,867
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $11,542,896 · Management −$11,847,803 · Fundraising $304,907$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $69,133,582 · Management $635,474 · Fundraising $1,802,794$71,571,850
Part X · Balance sheet $34,175,942 assets, 15 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $15,317,231$21,811,182
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $5,951,450$6,475,174
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,645,616$429,985
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $441,797$281,917
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,526,121$4,200,560
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,904,020$977,124
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $29,786,235$34,175,942
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,557,601$5,188,469
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $49,757$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $5,885,464$11,427,452
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $12,036,071$17,748,515
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,957,279$4,872,351
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $13,792,885$11,555,076
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $17,750,164$16,427,427
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $29,786,235$34,175,942
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $16,427,427 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$69,437,963
XI-2 Total expenses$71,571,850
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,133,887
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$17,750,164
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$651,751
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$159,399
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$16,427,427

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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