Freedom Fund FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Brooklyn, NY501(c)(3)Since 2013Foundations & GrantmakersEIN 30-0805768Revenue $16.7M in FY2023

On file with the IRSfreedomfund.org315 Flatbush Avenue 406, 11217-2813 · Brooklyn, NYTax-exempt since Mar 2014Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To mobilize the capital and knowledge needed to end slavery. We generate private funding by demonstrating how effective interventions can protect those at risk of being enslaved and free those in slavery. We invest in those countries and sectors with the greatest incidence of slavery. We analyze which interventions work best, and we share that knowledge. We bring together a community of activists committed to ending slavery and empowered by the knowledge of how best to DO so.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.1M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $5.5M a year · 23% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.1M
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
Cash reserves
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
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.4M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$16.7M
+24% vs prior year
Spent
$22.5M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$39.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$16.7M
FY2023▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$18.7M
FY2021$51.2M
FY2022$13.5M
FY2023$16.7M
FY2024$19.7M
Expenses
$22.5M
FY2023▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$14.9M
FY2021$12.7M
FY2022$19.6M
FY2023$22.5M
FY2024$22.8M
Net assets
$39.5M
FY2023▼ -12%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$12.3M
FY2021$50.8M
FY2022$44.6M
FY2023$39.5M
FY2024$36.4M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2014.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $17.9M Management & general 11% · $2.5M Fundraising 9% · $2.1M

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

16 people listed on the 990; $1.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO/President
$271,557Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director of North America
$208,187Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director of Programs
$134,956Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. of Finance/Secretary
$130,112Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Adviser to the CEO
$116,040Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Programs
$111,303Pt VII · Sec A
Head of Research and Evaluation
$102,944Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Nicholas Grono’s $272K as CEO/President is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 661 $10–100M philanthropy & grantmaking 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Nicholas Grono$272,475$271,557$279,555$301,586$302,324
Amy Rahe$202,358$208,187$194,972$148,622—
Dan Vexler$139,011$134,956$131,989$125,246$112,929
Zoe Marshall$135,806$130,112$121,238$123,670$109,250
Erin Phelps$126,047$116,040$109,440——
Maggie Gardner———$124,607—
Havovi Wadia$116,927$111,303$100,273——
Yuki Lo$107,697$102,944$100,225$102,866—

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.

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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

Mobilizes capital and knowledge to end slavery by funding effective interventions and sharing best practices.

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3 programs · $17.2M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Hotspots Projects

The freedom fund has selected key geographic areas known to have a high incidence of modern slavery, where our interventions are most likely to result in a measurable reduction in slavery. In our hotspot projects, we invest in a range of community-based organizations to enable them to protect those at risk of slavery, rescue and…

$11.2Mprogram expense
02

Movement Building

Organizations around the world are doing exceptional work to eradicate slavery but, too often, these efforts are fragmented and underfunded. We aim to build a global community of activists, experts and donors by providing the platform, knowledge, and tools for them to connect and work together more effectively over a sustained period.

$3.4Mprogram expense
03

Global Initiatives

Our sector initiatives coordinate actors and resources around a slavery-specific issue, including sectors, industries, or circumstances. This allows the freedom fund to tackle systemic issues like slavery in fishing or cross-border migration with new technological tools or legal initiatives.

$2.6Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 75 grants · $10.4M · 2020–2024
Transparentem LtdNY · FY2024$300,000
Polaris ProjectDC · FY2024$253,125
Tides CenterCA · FY2024$205,000
Greenpeace Fund INCDC · FY2024$200,000
NorcDC · FY2024$185,840
Glj-IlrfDC · FY2024$150,000
Free the Slaves INCDC · FY2024$125,625
Corporate Accountability LabIL · FY2024$120,000
International Labor Rights ForumDC · FY2024$90,000
Survivor AllianceCA · FY2024$87,000
Population Council INCNY · FY2024$80,000
Climate Rights InternationalCA · FY2024$50,000
Verite INCMA · FY2024$40,000
China Labor Watch INCNJ · FY2024$25,000
See all 75 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$16.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.1M
Money outPt IX
$22.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$17.9M
Managementcol C$2.5M
Fundraisingcol D$2.1M
Owns and owesPt X
$39.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.9M
Total assetsLn 16$40.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$6.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.1M
Gains on assetsLn 7$66K
Total revenueLn 12$16.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.8M
SavingsLn 2$2.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$31.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$52K
Other assetsLn 15$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$40.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$39.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 67
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$43.7M$6.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$31.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$48K$52K
Total assetsLn 16$45.9M$40.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$44.6M$39.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$2.9M$2.9M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$7.8M$7.8M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$719K$199K$158K$362K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.8M$1.9M$921K$887K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$339K$168K$102K$69K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$189K$102K$36K$52K
Payroll taxesLn 10$474K$234K$116K$124K
Management feesLn 11a$3.7M$3.7M$20K$18K
Legal feesLn 11b$66K$8K$58K
Accounting feesLn 11c$49K$20K$29K
Investment management feesLn 11f$130K$130K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$359K$66K$288K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$133K$45K$5K$84K
Office expensesLn 13$149K$40K$90K$19K
Information technologyLn 14$267K$17K$70K$180K
OccupancyLn 16$290K$24K$262K$4K
TravelLn 17$648K$425K$36K$188K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$175K$88K$9K$78K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$60K$12K$48K
InsuranceLn 23$105K$39K$66K$28
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$40K$2K$19K$19K
All other expensesLn 24e$129K$128K$191$38
Total functional expensesLn 25$22.5M$17.9M$2.5M$2.1M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $19.7M$22.8M−$3.1M$36.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $16.7M$22.5M−$5.8M$39.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $13.5M$19.6M−$6.1M$44.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $51.2M$12.7M$38.5M$50.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $18.7M$14.9M$3.7M$12.3M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $16,745,454 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $13,372,394$15,648,352
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $99,895$1,097,102
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $13,472,289$16,745,454
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $7,667,894$10,723,338
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,545,985$5,478,680
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $7,369,523$6,297,748
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $19,583,402$22,499,766
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$6,111,113−$5,754,312
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
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 $16,745,454 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$6,095,331
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,553,021
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,648,352
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,031,572$1,031,572
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $65,530$65,530
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,097,102$16,745,454
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $22,499,766 across 22 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $2,897,671$2,897,671
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $7,825,667$7,825,667
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $199,416 · Management $157,974 · Fundraising $362,024$719,414
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,949,986 · Management $920,594 · Fundraising $886,975$3,757,555
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $167,939 · Management $102,234 · Fundraising $68,510$338,683
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $102,040 · Management $35,563 · Fundraising $51,578$189,181
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $234,202 · Management $116,082 · Fundraising $123,563$473,847
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $3,660,842 · Management $20,190 · Fundraising $17,533$3,698,565
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $7,535 · Management $58,194$65,729
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $20,061 · Management $29,419$49,480
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $129,861$129,861
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $65,962 · Management $288,258 · Fundraising $4,903$359,123
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $44,560 · Management $5,000 · Fundraising $83,775$133,335
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $39,681 · Management $89,890 · Fundraising $18,956$148,527
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $17,037 · Management $70,103 · Fundraising $179,520$266,660
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $23,906 · Management $262,018 · Fundraising $3,816$289,740
IX-17 TravelPrograms $424,504 · Management $35,914 · Fundraising $187,672$648,090
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $87,542 · Management $9,041 · Fundraising $78,454$175,037
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $11,539 · Management $48,149$59,688
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $39,119 · Management $66,089 · Fundraising $28$105,236
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,268 · Management $18,801 · Fundraising $19,073$40,142
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $128,306 · Management $191 · Fundraising $38$128,535
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $17,949,783 · Management $2,463,565 · Fundraising $2,086,418$22,499,766
Part X · Balance sheet $40,897,993 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $22,888,979$4,774,806
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $20,844,775$2,084,422
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,318,846$1,226,448
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $66,723$215,913
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $72,980$103,459
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $48,239$52,275
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$25,130,458
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$5,978,264
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $655,072$1,331,948
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $45,895,614$40,897,993
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,075,979$668,564
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $220,919$775,347
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,296,898$1,443,911
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $40,867,627$36,916,728
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,731,089$2,537,354
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $44,598,716$39,454,082
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $45,895,614$40,897,993
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $39,454,082 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$16,745,454
XI-2 Total expenses$22,499,766
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$5,754,312
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$44,598,716
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$548,858
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$60,820
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$39,454,082

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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