Freedom Arts and Education Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Freedom Arts and Education Center creates artistic academic and advancement opportunities to feed heal and teach the youth of St. Louis. Since 2012 we have supported youth through accessible community arts programs educational resources academic enrichment and tutoring in-school advocacy job opportunities and mentoring.
- Income
- $193,403
- Spending
- $191,522
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $26,188, 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
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 (3)
- Arts: Our Arts programs ensure that the arts reach youth in systemically divested parts of the St. Louis region. We provide community arts training arts learning and arts education experiences in both in-school and out-of-school hours. Youth learn to create and consume art that is culturally relevant challenging to the status quo and uplifting to the community. They learn to leverage the arts to empower each other to build sustainable creative lives. 882 youth across the St. Louis region received ongoing arts education and learning experiences.
- Advancement: Our Advancement programs focus on group and one-on-one mentoring financial support for families in our community youth advocacy in our schools and legal system and job training and placement for youth within our organization. We believe that progress means every human being understands their God-given image realizes and utilizes the talents and abilities within is firmly rooted in a loving community and obtains the resources to live truly free.
- Academics: Our Academic programs create access to valuable educational resources including tutoring and academic enrichment in both the in-school and out-of-school hours. We work with our scholars to ensure they graduate at the top of their class earn high school equivalency and are leaders in their schools and communities without succumbing to intellectual colonization. Approximately 40 youth attended our after school program and showed measurable improvement in literacy mathematics and behavior in their schools.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.