Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Organization builds community to foster personal development and systems change for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults through the literary arts, workforce development, trauma healing and peace-building.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 12.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 2,600
- Highest pay
- $145,576, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $2.5 million spent. During 2025, Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop (Organization) served more than 1,800 incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults through four programs: Jail Book Club weekly book club discussions and writing workshops with incarcerated teens and adults; we served 462 members in the Jail Book Club, including 216 women and 60 youths, as well as a dedicated Spanish language book club. 80% of our members completed their weekly reading assignments and 79% completed the writing assignments. Prison Book Club a long-distance, correspondence-based book club and writing workshop with adults incarcerated in correctional facilities across the United States; 898 members in more than 110 facilities received 5 issues of our magazine, the Free Minds Connect, written by and for our members, and 5,674 books personally curated for them. Members exchanged over 2,050 letters with staff, volunteers, and peers and submitted 458 original poems. Reentry Book Club a reading, writing, and job readiness program that includes wraparound case management and job and school placements for formerly incarcerated youths and adults; served 412 members in the Reentry Book Club. 90% of members were employed, in school, or in vocational training programs and 95% did not return to jail or prison. On the Same Page a community education and peacebuilding program in which formerly incarcerated Reentry Book Club members, known as Poet Ambassadors, share poetry and personal experiences with diverse audiences to build awareness of the systemic causes and impact of mass incarceration. We conducted 115 On the Same Page sessions with schools, corporate workplaces, and community groups, reaching 2,593 participants. Throughout 2025, Free Minds members continued to lift one another up, using the power of literature and community to heal and pursue their personal and professional aspirations. Free Minds members also stepped into leadership roles across the organization, with 168 members serving as peer supporters, advocates, and facilitators, strengthening pathways to successful reentry and long-term stability.
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 January 2005.
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.