Free the Oppressed
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To bring help hope and love to people of all faiths and ethnicities in the conflict areas to shine a light on the actions of oppressors to stand with the oppressed and support leaders and organizations committed to liberty justice and service.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $85,000, director ceo
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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 11 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, 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 (4)
- $4.2 million spent. Burma Ministries - Throughout 2024 Free the Oppressed was able to provide help hope and love to oppressed people on the run from violence and in villages throughout Burma. We provided food medicine and spiritual training to Internally Displaced People IDPs throughout Burma including the following states: Karen Karenni Kachin Chin and Shan state. We had the opportunity to provide aid to IDPs seeking refuge from the Burma Army attacks. While doing this teams came together to provide medical care and spiritual care for those in need. Setting up in the jungle in difficult circumstances our medics were able to provide lifesaving care to thousands of people. We conducted our ranger training program and advanced ranger program again this year. We then send teams out to go on mission throughout Burma. Each team has a medic trained to diagnose and treat the medical problems of internally displaced people living in Burma. We also continued to support our Jungle School of Medicine Kawthoolei JSMK during 2024. Through the JSMK program FTO provides medical care to IDPs as well as trains future medics & doctors. For our teams in Karen State FBRs medic training is conducted at the JSMK. Established in 2011 JSMK trains approximately 25 medics each year in a 15-month course of study. JSMK provides care for patients from the nearby villages with some patients coming from further away. JSMK also manages surgical emergencies such as ectopic pregnancy. The inpatient department has 12 beds which are often full. This year we successfully started a mass blood typing project for all Rangers. Blood saves lives when it comes to trauma medicine Part of our spiritual training program includes something called the Good Life Club program. It is a vital part of caring for those in need. It is through these GLC programs that we are able to provide safety education uplifting songs fun games and we share the gospel to thousands of men women and children impacted both physically & spiritually by the war. Free the Oppressed served the families in the villages throughout Burma with Good Life Club Programs. Overall our FBR mission is going to where the need is greatest. In Burma this is often in the frontlines during active fighting. We go to bring help hope and love through medical care and evacuate the injured civilians and soldiers to casualty collection points. We pray with them provide food and water and treat their wounds. Every year we lose brave men and women Rangers at sacrifice their lives to love their brothers and sisters caught in the mist of conflict. During 2024 we lost five amazing Rangers. You can read more of our accomplishments in our annual report located here: https: www.freeburmarangers.org post free-burma-rangers-annual-report-2024-2025.
- $421,538 spent. Middle East Ministries - In 2024 Free the Oppressed had the privilege of delivering medical care to 906 patients across 21 different Internally Displaced People IDP camps in northeast Syria. We performed various procedures such as fracture splinting and wound cleaning for diabetic foot infections. For patients needing specialty care such as those with congenital heart diseases and cancers we referred them to more advanced facilities for further treatment. We also provided prenatal care to 12 pregnant women and treated over 100 chronic disease patients. Among them six were newly diagnosed with type two diabetes and two with high blood pressure. We also followed up with 15 young patients suffering from congenital heart diseases; we found some families are struggling to access or afford the complex surgeries their children need. In Syria one of the most devastated families we encountered consisted of four members who were sick three of whom face serious life-threatening conditions. We provided the father with medications for three months and some financial support for his next chemotherapy session as well as set up consultations for the other family members to see medical specialists. In addition to providing physical care we also offered emotional and spiritual support through our gospel formation and spiritual support program. We created a safe space for individuals and families to share their stories offering a listening ear a shoulder to cry on and prayer for those who welcomed it. Our team also conducted Good Life Club programs for children where we sang songs in English Kurdish and Norwegian played games shared Bible stories using colorful bracelets and distributed Lion and Lamb stuffed animals that play music and Bible stories in Kurdish. Overall Free the Oppressed had to opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the families children and communities who have suffered greatly in Iraq & Syria. The FBR projects in 2024 extend well beyond financial aid; it symbolized hope healing and unwavering solidarity with the people. You can read more of our Middle East accomplishments in our annual report located here: https: www.freeburmarangers.org post free-burma-rangers-annual-report-2024-2025.
- $370,386 spent. Thailand Ministries - In 2024 Free the Oppressed provided much needed help hope and love to many individuals and communities throughout Thailand. We purchased and installed solar electricity equipment to provide electricity to villagers and communities that live in darkness. In addition to solar projects we supplied medical aid to patients in Thailand including hospital fees food transportation and spiritual support. During 2024 many people were devastated by massive flooding throughout Thailand and Burma. Our teams were able to provide support and relief to people in the surrounding communities who were affected by the flooding. Our Good Life Club teams also provided six different Good Life Club programs throughout villages. Through these programs FTO focuses on childrens needs in the conflict areas. We address spiritual and physical health as well as provide relief supplies including clothes and personal necessities. The teams provide a lesson in basic health and hygiene teaching basic practices and ideas to protect against preventable illness. Our teams brought joy education and hope to over 500 kids in Thailand through the Good Life Club programs. We also provided aid to thousands of people and numerous communities throughout the country. You can read more of our Thailand accomplishments in our annual report located here: https: www.freeburmarangers.org post free-burma-rangers-annual-report-2024-2025.
- $264,414 spent. Advocacy
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
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 2024.
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 2015.
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.