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EIN 73-1710135 · Long Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE NORTH KOREAN PEOPLE TO ACCELERATE CHANGE BY SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES, CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD SEES NORTH KOREA, AND INCREASING THE NORTH KOREAN PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO OUTSIDE INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
20
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$186,006, chief financial officer

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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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, 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. CAPACITY BUILDING: AS NORTH KOREANS RESETTLE AND BEGIN NAVIGATING THEIR NEW LIVES, MANY ASPIRE TO NOT ONLY FIND SUCCESS, BUT ALSO WORK TOWARDS IMPACTING THIS ISSUE. WE IDENTIFY CURRENT NEEDS IN THE DEFECTOR COMMUNITY AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, SKILL-BUILDING, AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED, NORTH KOREANS PROVE THEIR POTENTIAL AS AGENTS OF CHANGE ON CAMPUS, IN THE WORKPLACE, AND ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. IN 2025, 144 NORTH KOREANS WERE EMPOWERED THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT OUR CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, VISIT: HTTPS://LBRTYNK.ORG/AR-2025-CB
  2. $745,942 spent. INFORMATION ACCESS: INFORMATION ACCESS IS OUR SPACE TO COLLABORATE, INNOVATE, AND DEVELOP NEW INITIATIVES TO EMPOWER NORTH KOREAN PEOPLE WITH INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. IN 2025, WE LAUNCHED 7 TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND OVER 80,000 LINES OF CODE WITH THE AID OF 68 NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT OUR INFORMATION ACCESS PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, VISIT: HTTPS://LBRTYNK.ORG/AR-2025-IA
  3. $619,883 spent. CHANGING THE NARRATIVE: WHILE DICTATORS AND NUCLEAR MISSILES COMMAND HEADLINES ABOUT NORTH KOREA, THEY ERASE THE REAL HEART OF THE COUNTRY ITS PEOPLE. LINK AMPLIFIES NORTH KOREAN VOICES THROUGH ONLINE MEDIA, DOCUMENTARIES, AND EVENTS, AND EMPOWERS NORTH KOREANS TO TAKE AUTHORSHIP OVER THEIR OWN STORIES. IN 2025, 11,833,136 PEOPLE WERE REACHED ONLINE AND 2,746 PEOPLE WERE REACHED IN-PERSON. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT OUR CHANGING THE NARRATIVE PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, VISIT: HTTPS://LBRTYNK.ORG/AR-2025-CTN.
  4. $619,167 spent. RESCUE & RESETTLEMENT: WE HELP NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES REACH FREEDOM THROUGH A 3,000-MILE SECRET RESCUE ROUTE FROM NORTHERN CHINA TO SOUTHEAST ASIA. FROM THERE, NORTH KOREANS CAN SAFELY RESETTLE IN SOUTH KOREA OR THE US. OUR TEAM HELPS THEM SUCCEED IN THEIR NEW LIVES WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES. IN 2025, 17 NORTH KOREANS WERE RESCUED, 22 WERE RESETTLED, AND 122 WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH THEIR RESETTLEMENT. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT OUR RESCUE AND RESETTLEMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, VISIT: HTTPS://LBRTYNK.ORG/AR-2025-RR

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 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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 March 2005.

    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 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.