Free the Slaves Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO END SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 8
- Highest pay
- $239,231, executive di
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 60% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 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, 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 (5)
- $1.7 million spent. FRONT-LINE ANTI-SLAVERY PROGRAMS FTS AND ITS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS USE A COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL TO HELP COMMUNITIES RESIST FORCED AND BONDED LABOR AND SEX TRAFFICKING OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN INDIA, NEPAL, HAITI, GHANA, AND SENEGAL. WE PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE AND TRAINING FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION BY SLAVES AND FORMER SLAVES TO DEMAND FREEDOM, PAYMENT OF WAGES, AND PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE. WE ORGANIZE LEADERS TO EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT SLAVERY, TO TAKE ACTION TO RESCUE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE IN SLAVERY, AND TO WORK TO DEVELOP NEW SYSTEMS THAT ADDRESS KEY VULNERABILITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THESE VULNERABILITIES MAY INCLUDE ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN, VOCATIONAL PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITIES, OR ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION. WE ENGAGE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS TO PRESS FOR ENFORCEMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF ANTISLAVERY LAWS. WE SUPPORT LAWYERS WHO PRESS FOR JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS. WE SUPPORT OPERATION OF SHELTERS FOR SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING AND SLAVERY. WE EDUCATE AND PREPARE PEOPLE WHO ARE MIGRATING ABROAD FOR WORK ON WAYS TO AVOID THE TRICKS OF TRAFFICKERS, AND WE EDUCATE CHILDREN TO PREVENT THEIR ENSLAVEMENT LATER IN LIFE. FRONT-LINE ANTI-SLAVERY PROGRAMS FTS AND ITS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS USE A COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL TO HELP COMMUNITIES RESIST FORCED AND BONDED LABOR AND SEX TRAFFICKING OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN INDIA, NEPAL, HAITI, GHANA, AND SENEGAL. WE PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE AND TRAINING FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION BY SLAVES AND FORMER SLAVES TO DEMAND FREEDOM, PAYMENT OF WAGES, AND PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE. WE ORGANIZE LEADERS TO EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT SLAVERY, TO TAKE ACTION TO RESCUE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE IN SLAVERY, AND TO WORK TO DEVELOP NEW SYSTEMS THAT ADDRESS KEY VULNERABILITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THESE VULNERABILITIES MAY INCLUDE ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN, VOCATIONAL PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITIES, OR ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION. WE ENGAGE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS TO PRESS FOR ENFORCEMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF ANTISLAVERY LAWS. WE SUPPORT LAWYERS WHO PRESS FOR JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS. WE SUPPORT OPERATION OF SHELTERS FOR SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING AND SLAVERY. WE EDUCATE AND PREPARE PEOPLE WHO ARE MIGRATING ABROAD FOR WORK ON WAYS TO AVOID THE TRICKS OF TRAFFICKERS, AND WE EDUCATE CHILDREN TO PREVENT THEIR ENSLAVEMENT LATER IN LIFE.
- $36,650 spent. POLICY AND ADVOCACY IS A GLOBAL PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES. WITH GOVERNMENTS, OUR ADVOCACY AND POLICY PROGRAM SUPPORTS ALLIANCE 8.7 PATHFINDER COUNTRIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT SURVIVOR INFORMED ROADMAPS TO ACHIEVE TARGET 8.7 OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL (SDG), NOTABLY ERADICATING FORCED LABOR, MODERN SLAVERY, TRAFFICKING AND THE WORSE FORMS OF CHILD LABOR. THE PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN GUATEMALA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, KENYA, PHILIPPINES. WITH BUSINESSES, THE ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES SUPPORTING CHOCOLATE COMPANIES TO PREVENT, ADDRESS AND REMEDIATE FORCED LABOR IN COCOA PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY CHAIN AROUND THE WORLD. THE PROGRAM WORKS AT COMMUNITY LEVEL IN COCOA GROWING COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT LOCALLY-BASED SYSTEMS OF PREVENTING, MONITORING AND REPORTING AND REMEDIATING FORCED LABOR IN COCOA PRODUCTION. THE BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN CAMEROON, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, NIGERIA, ECUADOR, AND INDONESIA. POLICY AND ADVOCACY IS A GLOBAL PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES. WITH GOVERNMENTS, OUR ADVOCACY AND POLICY PROGRAM SUPPORTS ALLIANCE 8.7 PATHFINDER COUNTRIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT SURVIVOR INFORMED ROADMAPS TO ACHIEVE TARGET 8.7 OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL (SDG), NOTABLY ERADICATING FORCED LABOR, MODERN SLAVERY, TRAFFICKING AND THE WORSE FORMS OF CHILD LABOR. THE PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN GUATEMALA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, KENYA, PHILIPPINES. WITH BUSINESSES, THE ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES SUPPORTING CHOCOLATE COMPANIES TO PREVENT, ADDRESS AND REMEDIATE FORCED LABOR IN COCOA PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY CHAIN AROUND THE WORLD. THE PROGRAM WORKS AT COMMUNITY LEVEL IN COCOA GROWING COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT LOCALLY-BASED SYSTEMS OF PREVENTING, MONITORING AND REPORTING AND REMEDIATING FORCED LABOR IN COCOA PRODUCTION. THE BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN CAMEROON, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, NIGERIA, ECUADOR, AND INDONESIA.
- $332,329 spent. COMMUNITY LIBERATION INITIATIVE - FTS WORKS TO CATALYZE A CIVIL SOCIETY MOVEMENT AGAINST SLAVERY BY FACILITATING THE SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED RELATED TO COMMUNITY-BASED ANTI-SLAVERY APPROACHES, AND WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALREADY WORK AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL IN SLAVERY HOT SPOTS, AND FOCUSING ON SLAVERY-PROOFING ENTIRE COMMUNITIES RATHER THAN RESCUING INDIVIDUALS,CREATING SUSTAINED COMMUNITY RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE IT TRAINS AND COACHES FIELD STAFF, USING THE FTS CL TOOLKIT, MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THIS WORK THROUGH ITS MONITORING AND EVALUATION PROCESSES.
- $508,901 spent. MONITORING, LEARNING & EVALUATION FTS RIGOROUSLY ASSESSES THE IMPACT, EFFECTIVENESS, RELEVANCE, EFFICACY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY- BASED APPROACH TO ENDING SLAVERY USING WELL-DEFINED INDICATORS, WE TRACK ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR GRASSROOTS PARTNERS IN WORK PLANNING, QUARTERLY REPORTING, TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING MLE CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG PROPOSALS AND ACCURATE REPORTING TO FUNDERS, AND SUPPORTS CONTINUAL LEARNING AND INCREASED KNOWLEDGE FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT. COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY FTS INCREASES AWARENESS OF SLAVERY AND OUR METHODS TO ERADICATE IT, AND FOSTERS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN POLICY ADVOCACY, THROUGH MASS MEDIA, ONLINE OUTREACH, VIDEO PRODUCTION, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, CONFERENCES, PUBLIC EVENTS, COLLEGE CHAPTERS AND FAITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH. FTS TRAINS FRONT-LINE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS SKILLS TO IMPROVE OUTREACH TO SLAVERY VICTIMS, VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND RELIGIOUS, TRADITIONAL AND CIVIC LEADERS.
- MONITORING, LEARNING & EVALUATION FTS RIGOROUSLY ASSESSES THE IMPACT, EFFECTIVENESS, RELEVANCE, EFFICACY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY- BASED APPROACH TO ENDING SLAVERY USING WELL-DEFINED INDICATORS, WE TRACK ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR GRASSROOTS PARTNERS IN WORK PLANNING, QUARTERLY REPORTING, TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING MLE CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG PROPOSALS AND ACCURATE REPORTING TO FUNDERS, AND SUPPORTS CONTINUAL LEARNING AND INCREASED KNOWLEDGE FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT. COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY FTS INCREASES AWARENESS OF SLAVERY AND OUR METHODS TO ERADICATE IT, AND FOSTERS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN POLICY ADVOCACY, THROUGH MASS MEDIA, ONLINE OUTREACH, VIDEO PRODUCTION, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, CONFERENCES, PUBLIC EVENTS, COLLEGE CHAPTERS AND FAITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH. FTS TRAINS FRONT-LINE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS SKILLS TO IMPROVE OUTREACH TO SLAVERY VICTIMS, VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND RELIGIOUS, TRADITIONAL AND CIVIC LEADERS.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 June 2000.
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 November 4, 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.