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Freedom Institute Inc

EIN 13-2877912 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

FREEDOM INSTITUTE IS A RESOURCE CENTER FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES COPING WITH ADDICTION AND CO-OCCURRING ISSUES SUCH AS DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. WE OFFER PERSONALIZED COUNSEL AND CARE TO THOSE SEEKING TO PREVENT, UNDERSTAND OR RECOVER FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
14
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$713,829, ceo of shh

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 1151% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 68% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. IN 2024, FREEDOM INSTITUTE'S AFFILIATION WITH SILVER HILL HOSPITAL WAS FORMALLY APPROVED BY THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS (OASAS), ESTABLISHING SILVER HILL AS THE SOLE CORPORATE MEMBER OF FREEDOM INSTITUTE. WITH THE SUPPORT OF SILVER HILL HOSPITAL, FREEDOM INSTITUTE STRENGTHENED BOTH ITS INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (IOP) AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES (OP) AND RECRUITED PREMIER CLINICAL LEADERSHIP TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF CARE. THE ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCED STEADY GROWTH IN CENSUS BY SERVING CLIENTS TRANSITIONING FROM SILVER HILL HOSPITAL TO THE NEW YORK CITY MARKET AND EXPANDING COLLABORATION WITH OTHER TREATMENT PROVIDERS IN THE NYC MARKET. THESE DEVELOPMENTS POSITIONED FREEDOM INSTITUTE TO BEGIN REBRANDING AS SILVER HILL NEW YORK IN 2025. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)IOP:LOCATED IN THE HEART OF MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, FREEDOM INSTITUTE ENABLES CLIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS TO RECEIVE INTENSIVE TREATMENT WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR EXISTING ROLES AND ROUTINES. THE IOP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER CLIENTS' SENSE OF SELF, SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS. OUR IOP PROGRAM MEETS THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR AN 8-TO-12 WEEK LENGTH OF STAY AND INCLUDES A WEEKLY INDIVIDUAL SESSION. IN 2024 NEARLY 200 CLIENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE IOP.OP:AFTER COMPLETING THE INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM, MOST CLIENTS CONTINUE WITH OUTPATIENT GROUPS AND OTHER ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICES. GROUP THERAPY IS THE CORE OF FREEDOM INSTITUTE'S SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM. CLIENTS ENCOUNTER NEW CONCEPTS, CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS AND DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF RECOVERY. OVER 200 CLIENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.