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Freedom Life Ministries

EIN 46-1322178 · Marion, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Freedom Life is a faith-based nonprofit grounded in values of restoration and accountability helping justice involved individuals and their families break the cycle of incarceration. We provide inclusive evidence-informed support to justice-involved people to help them achieve long-term stability. FL offers two service tracks to ensure care is accessible respectful and effective for everyone we serve. The Personal Development Track non-faith-based provides evidence-based services focused on behavioral change life skills employment readiness and successful community reintegration. The Faith-Based Track includes all core services with the additional of optional spiritual support pastoral care and opportunities for faith-centered growth and connection. With a 15% recidivism rate well below the state and national average of 44% Freedom Life demonstrates the power of consistent community-based support.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 63%
Employees
25
Volunteers
67
Highest pay
$65,860, 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. Freedom Life Ministries FL provides comprehensive reentry services to justice-involved individuals across Western North Carolina with a focus on reducing recidivism stabilizing individuals and families and strengthening community outcomes. In 2025 FL served 967 individuals including 745 in McDowell County 121 in Avery County and 101 in Yancey County. Participants face significant barriers to successful reintegration including substance use disorders housing instability limited transportation and lack of employment opportunities. Through its integrated service model FL achieved a recidivism rate of approximately 14% among participants significantly below typical state and national benchmarks. FL delivered 8,568 service instances during the year including case management mentoring recovery support employment readiness and coordination with community partners. Transportation remains a critical component of service delivery in rural areas; FL provided 32,190 miles of transportation to ensure access to court appointments treatment services employment and other essential resources. Pre-release engagement is a core component of FLs model. In 2025 FL processed 229 jail-based applications including 160 in McDowell County 42 in Avery County and 27 in Yancey County. Within local detention centers FL provided structured programming to address criminogenic risk factors. A total of 128 individuals 72 men and 56 women participated in jail-based support groups while 24 individuals 13 men and 11 women participated in cognitive behavioral classes. Additionally FL provided 420 hours of mentoring within the jail setting to support reentry planning and behavior change. FL also conducted outreach efforts designed to build engagement and provide encouragement to incarcerated individuals. In 2025 FL distributed gift bags and conducted jail outreach for 300 individuals in McDowell County 80 in Avery County and 40 in Yancey County. The organization also provided 600 hot meals to inmates at Marion Correctional Institution supporting both basic needs and relationship-building with individuals preparing for reentry. Housing stability is a key determinant of successful reentry. In 2025 FL provided housing support to 175 individuals in McDowell County. To expand capacity and address regional housing shortages for justice-involved individuals FL is developing transitional housing infrastructure across its service area. In Avery Yancey and Mitchell counties FL is developing two 20-bed short-term stage-one transitional housing facilities one for men and one for women a 24-unit long-term stage-two transitional housing apartment complex and a community services delivery building. In McDowell County FL is developing two 20-bed short-term stage-one transitional housing facilities for men one for women a 44-unit long-term transitional housing apartment complex and a centralized community services delivery building to support integrated service provision. FL serves as the Local Reentry Council LRC Intermediary Agency for Avery McDowell Mitchell and Yancey counties facilitating coordination among community partners service providers and government agencies. FL also serves as a state reentry liaison supporting alignment between local communities and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction to ensure continuity of care for individuals transitioning from incarceration to community-based services. Through direct services system coordination and infrastructure development FL continues to reduce recidivism improve individual outcomes and strengthen communities across Western North Carolina.

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

  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 2025.

    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 February 2013.

    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.