The Freedom Story
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We protect children in Northern Thailand from trafficking and exploitation through locally-led prevention that educates children, strengthens families, and builds safer communities.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $103,858, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (5)
- $349,832 spent. Education: The Freedom Story offers scholarships to children at-risk of being trafficked, helping them to stay in school. The scholarships cover tuition, uniforms, books, and associated costs of education. The program also provides mentorship support with after-school and weekend activities, home visits, child and youth development programs that strengthen performance in school and resilience through challenges.
- $172,061 spent. Partnerships: The Freedom Story partners with local CSOs, churches and other entities to prevent trafficking in their own communities. We conduct training, capacity building and provide technical support to promote the prevention of trafficking, sharing about our methodology and leading practices to protect children, strengthen families and build safer communities.
- $141,982 spent. Human Rights: The human rights program conducts outreach, training sessions, and workshops that teach children and their families about their legal and human rights. This includes training for children and youth to recognize, prevent, and report child abuse, as well as training for their families on worker and citizenship rights. The program includes legal advice and aid in select cases.
- $128,615 spent. Livelihoods: The Freedom Story works with select families that are at-risk of being involved with trafficking to develop alternative sources of income via sustainable farming, and helping them develop entrepreneurial skills, network with other local companies to scale up their business, and build to new markets to sell their vegetable and poultry products to.
- $39,854 spent. Ethical Storytelling: The Freedom Story promotes ethical storytelling practices through awareness raising, training and capacity building.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 November 6, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.