Lady Freethinker is dedicated to ending suffering of all species. We raise awareness and educate the public of urgent issues. We work to create a system free from animal exploitation

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$152K 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

FY2024 · 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
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $449K a year · 26% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$152K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
20 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 20.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $16K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$31K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.2M
+12% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
86%
Net assets
$2.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.2M
FY2024▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.1M
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$2.2M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2024▲ +0.9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$709K
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.6M
Net assets
$2.6M
FY2024▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$722K
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$2.6M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 2015.

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

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $1.3M Management & general 6% · $97K Fundraising 8% · $128K

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

6 people listed on the 990; $152K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President
$146,834Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$5,451Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Nina Jackel’s $147K as President is at the 54th percentile of top reported officer pay among 797 $1–10M civil rights & advocacy 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Nina Jackel$146,834$139,935$120,553$109,500$86,000
Benjamin Jackel$5,451$4,480$5,954$3,692$28,846

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 Lady Freethinker 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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Ending animal suffering by raising awareness and educating the public about exploitation.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Education and Outreach to Fight Animal Cruelty

Lady freethinker published more than 400 articles and petitions to raise awareness and encourage the public to speak out against animal cruelty. These garnered almost 9 million views and over 5.5 million petition signatures to stop animal abuse for food, entertainment, clothing and more, as well as urge law enforcement agents and…

$880Kprogram expense
02

Direct Aid to Suffering Animals

Lady freethinker helped animals in desperate need receive medical care, food, shelter, and more. Through our grant programs, local rescuers across the globe were supported in their efforts to save and care for dogs and cats as well as farmed and wild animals of a wide variety of species.

$322Kprogram expense
03

Fighting Online Animal Cruelty Videos

We continued to track, monitor and report online animal cruelty and torture videos posted on social media and other platforms. Our investigations into baby monkey torture videos have led to the arrest and prosecution of individuals creating and sharing this horrific content.

$137Kprogram 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$16K
Grants paid · 28 grants · $360K · 2020–2024
Individual RecipientFY2024$27,741
Chainfree USATN · FY2024$10,058
Ziggys RefugeNC · FY2024$10,000
Rezdawg Rescue INCCO · FY2024$10,000
Rescate FenixCA · FY2024$10,000
Law N PawsTX · FY2024$10,000
Paws for Compassion - USNJ · FY2024$9,877
Compassionate LivingCA · FY2024$6,000
Three Little Pitties RescueTX · FY2023$10,000
See all 28 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$97K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$28
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$97K
Fundraisingcol D$128K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$31K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$16K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$25K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$28
Investment incomeLn 3$97K
Total revenueLn 12$2.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$680K
SavingsLn 2$2.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$31K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$2.0M$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$46K$31K
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M$2.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$150K$150K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$181K$181K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$152K$123K$18K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$200K$186K$4K$10K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$9K$8K$513$508
Other employee benefitsLn 9$10K$9K$660$622
Payroll taxesLn 10$30K$27K$2K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$1K$1K$20
Accounting feesLn 11c$41K$2K$39K$218
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$335K$224K$14K$96K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$279K$279K
Office expensesLn 13$31K$28K$2K$488
Information technologyLn 14$101K$98K$1K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$4K$1K$2K$19
TravelLn 17$21K$17K$724$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4K$3K$121$403
InsuranceLn 23$12K$386$11K$29
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.3M$97K$128K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $2.2M$1.6M$661K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.0M$1.5M$431K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.8M$1.4M$373K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.5M$1.0M$417K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.1M$709K$363K$722K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,222,487 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,922,132$2,158,672
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $356$28
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $56,022$96,743
I-11 Other revenue−$32,956
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,978,510$2,222,487
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $227,543$330,954
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $457,976$401,746
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $862,129$828,676
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,547,648$1,561,376
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $430,862$661,111
Part VI · Governance 4 of 6 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $2,222,487 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$24,813
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,133,859
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$16,181
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,158,672
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $28$28
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $96,743$96,743
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$32,956−$32,956
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $28 · Excluded from tax $63,787$2,222,487
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,561,376 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $150,126$150,126
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $180,828$180,828
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $122,919 · Management $17,620 · Fundraising $11,747$152,286
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $186,172 · Management $4,250 · Fundraising $9,856$200,278
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,500 · Management $513 · Fundraising $508$8,521
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $9,089 · Management $660 · Fundraising $622$10,371
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $26,551 · Management $1,877 · Fundraising $1,862$30,290
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,032 · Management $20$1,052
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,606 · Management $39,022 · Fundraising $218$40,846
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $224,452 · Management $14,375 · Fundraising $95,743$334,570
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $278,969$278,969
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $27,888 · Management $2,342 · Fundraising $488$30,718
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $97,684 · Management $1,137 · Fundraising $2,676$101,497
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,499 · Management $2,448 · Fundraising $19$3,966
IX-17 TravelPrograms $17,098 · Management $724 · Fundraising $3,348$21,170
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,467 · Management $121 · Fundraising $403$3,991
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $386 · Management $11,482 · Fundraising $29$11,897
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,337,266 · Management $96,591 · Fundraising $127,519$1,561,376
Part X · Balance sheet $2,635,229 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $581,534$680,332
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,407,987$1,954,730
X-4 Accounts receivable$167
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,989,521$2,635,229
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $29,094$26,962
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $17,354$4,083
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $46,448$31,045
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,943,073$2,604,184
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,943,073$2,604,184
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,989,521$2,635,229
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,604,184 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,222,487
XI-2 Total expenses$1,561,376
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$661,111
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,943,073
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,604,184

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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