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Free Russia Foundation

EIN 47-2437810 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WORK OF FREE RUSSIA FOUNDATION IS FOCUSED IN THREE KEY MISSION AREAS: 1. ADVANCING THE VISION OF A DEMOCRATIC, PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL RUSSIA GOVERNED BY THE RULE OF LAW BY EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RUSSIAN LEADERS COMMITTED TO THESE IDEALS; 2. STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY IN RUSSIA AND DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PERSECUTED BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT; AND 3. SUPPORTING FORMULATION OF AN EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE RUSSIA POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE BY EDUCATING POLICY MAKERS AND INFORMING PUBLIC DEBATE.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
2
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$184,743, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 2024, 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. $5.0 million spent. SUPPORTING GLOBAL RUSSIAN PRO-DEMOCRACY FORCES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT RUSSIA-RELATED ISSUES AMONG WESTERN POLICY-MAKERS INCLUDING SEMINARS AND BRIEFINGS FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS, STATE DEPARTMENT, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, NATIONAL EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTS, THINK TANKS, DEMOCRACY PROMOTION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS; CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN RUSSIA AND PROSPECTS FOR PRO-DEMOCRACY FORCES, ON THE WAYS THE CURRENT RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT UNDERMINES WESTERN INSTITUTIONS, SPREADS FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION AND BRINGS ITS CORRUPT PRACTICES TO THE WEST. FORMULATING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WESTERN GOVERNMENTS, PARLIAMENTS, EXPERT AND MEDIA COMMUNITY, AND CIVIL SOCIETY TO COUNTER KREMLIN'S DISINFORMATION AND KLEPTOCRACY. CONSOLIDATING EXILED PRO-DEMOCRACY RUSSIANS AND TRAINING THEM ON HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR RUSSIA-RELATED PRO-DEMOCRACY CAUSES AND INITIATIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.