Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2019-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2023. IRS ruling in Dec 2020.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
93 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
1 person listed on the 990; $86K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Michael Bartel’s $68K as Executive Director is at the 59th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2167 $100K–1M human services 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2023 | FY2020 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bartel | $68,098 | $82,604 | $86,157 |
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 F R E E International INC executive salaries →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 15aNo
Programs and updates
Finds, restores, embraces, and empowers trafficking victims through city-wide partnerships.
Questions for F R E E International INC
Your first name shows with your question. F R E E International INC answers here, for everyone.
FIND-We provide consistent direct outreach to those wrapped up in the commercial sex industry across the United States.Those activities are provided by our director as well as self-funded missionaries associated with FREE as well as trained volunteers.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2019. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 26-1741216) · Dispute this linewe provide and/or facilitate a wide range of victim service help through our mobile units and drop in center. That includes case work for victims, medical, dental, legal, court advocacy, transportation, tattoo removal, and other victim services.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2019. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 26-1741216) · Dispute this linemobilize large scale outreaches called The Big Search in cities across the USA. This started as an outreach in the city hosting the Super Bowl but has evolved into a proactive event in different cities many times a year.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2019. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 26-1741216) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2019 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY19 | End FY19 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $49K | $49K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $0 | $0 |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $421K | $421K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $470K | $470K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $470K | $470K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $86K | $86K | $0 | $0 |
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Management feesLn 11a | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Legal feesLn 11b | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $0 | $0 | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $28K | $10K | $18K | $0 |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $155K | $155K | $0 | $0 |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $269K | $251K | $18K | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 18, 2025 | $267K | $237K | $30K | $539K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS May 15, 2025 | $493K | $425K | $69K | $539K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS May 15, 2024 | $351K | $236K | $116K | $470K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS May 14, 2023 | $251K | $203K | $48K | $470K | 990 PDF |
| FY2019 ViewingFiled with the IRS May 18, 2021 | $269K | $269K | $0 | $470K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2019 990
Part I · Summary $269,222 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, 1 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $269,222 across 13 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $269,222 across 15 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $469,668 assets, 30 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $469,668 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2019 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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