Freedom Center for Social Justice
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Freedom Center for Social Justice FCSJ is a culture-shifting organization committed to the growth, safety and empowerment of marginalized populations.
- Income
- $573,812
- Spending
- $444,745
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $74,647, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 June 30, 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 (9)
- $66,004 spent. Intersectional - We have also deepened our partnerships to amplify the work of the Union of Southern Service Workers USSW and other labor organizations through our "Faith & Labor" series of talks and actions, mobilizing over 500 people of faith towards the cause of economic justice and inclusion. We successfully led the charge for trans-inclusive health coverage to be in contracts being negotiated across North Carolina.
- $50,582 spent. TFAAN The Transgender Faith and Action Network is a collective of trans people of faith who recognize the value of being connected to one another and providing mutual support. The TFAAN Retreat is a virtual experience featuring workshops by and for transgender, non-binary, genderqueer/gender non-conforming people on topics that feel urgent and necessary to explore within community. The TFAAN Retreat is a non-denominational space and is open to trans* people of all and no religious identities. As with all of our work at The Freedom Center for Social Justice, the TFAAN Retreat is intentionally intersectional and inter-generational. TFAAN began as ?TransFaith in Color,? a collaborative effort among trans people of various faith traditions to create more welcoming and affirming houses of worship. TransFaith in Color hosted convenings in North Carolina to promote learning, networking, healing, and empowerment. TFAAN proudly builds upon the work done by the trans people of color and faith who founded these efforts.
- $46,205 spent. Southern faith organizing, LGBTQ advocacy, and civil rights engaged in the planning and organizing efforts of several key campaigns, including the North Carolina NAACP-led Moral Monday Movement. We are also key coordinators for the LGBTQ arm of the Poor People's Campaign and their efforts to shift the moral narrative in our nation that supports the poor and marginalized populations.
- $45,824 spent. DEV-Development - We continue to find ways to grow our donor base while uplifting the work of our key partners, such as through our ICONIC Awards. This annual event serves as a way to fund the efforts of FCSJ while honoring the work of our peers, including Trans advocates, faith leaders, and nonprofits.
- $35,484 spent. Liberating Theologies Speaker Series, presented in partnership with the Union Theological Seminary, is an event that is an expansion of the Freedom Center for Social Justice's Do No Harm campaign. This event works with people of faith and the broader community in North Carolina to shift culture and narratives that cause harm through the interpretation of holy text and other religious writing. We reached thousands via in-person and online programming with messages of liberation, inclusion, and resistance. Liberating Theologies is more than sermons - it is a time of equipping for collective action.
- $34,544 spent. TRAN - The year-long Trans Seminarian Cohort is done in partnership with the Pacific School of Religion and the LGBTQ Task Force. Celebrating over 10 years and 100 seminarians, this program provides support and training to trans and gender non-conforming people in seminaries and religious study programs. In addition to helping them achieve a degree or ordination, the Cohort is resourced to find work that aligns with their calls.
- $13,394 spent. LATN Our intersectional efforts have included deepening partnerships with Hispanic/Latine partners, including the Carolina Migrant Network and the Hispanic Federation. With the Hispanic Federation, we were partners in the souths first "Fuerza Fest", highlighting LGBTQ+ Latine people and cultures. Our advocacy work with the Carolina Migrant Network included pushing back on legislation that targeted our immigrant neighbors. We mobilized local faith communities to push back on laws that would weaponize local law enforcement against immigrants. We also co-hosted over 12 Know Your Rights clinics this year, helping to equip people to stand with our immigrant communities.
- $13,014 spent. Pride - Building on past successes of our Vote with Pride voter engagement and education campaign, our revamped Clack the Vote efforts reached over 45,000 voters throughout the Charlotte metro, providing resources encouraging folks to consider pro-Equality and pro-Justice issues as they completed their ballots in municipal elections. In partnership with the National LGBT+ Task Force, Charlotte Pride, and the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, we were able to expand our efforts into door knocking and phone-banking, in addition to community engagement.
- FAITH - In addition to hosting Know Your Rights clinics, weve been mobilizing faith communities to take action for their immigrant neighbors, from organizing protests to supporting local organizations. We also have continued our work to educate people of faith on the importance of standing up for pro-Equality and pro-Justice issues.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 June 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 October 2014.
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 October 21, 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.