Freedom Lake Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Freedom Lake exists to help men be freed from old habits or destructive patterns of addiction and the revolving door of the prison system teaching them to become Jesus' disciples who multiply the Kingdom of God.
- Income
- $647,813
- Spending
- $685,298
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -41.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $80,100, board chair and president
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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 90% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $536,417 spent. Freedom Lake Ministries is led through the ministry of Tony and Kim Cash in serving those incarcerated in a halfway house (a prison with 328 beds) in West Louisville. During 2025, the organization worked in the institution six days-per-week to minister to and disciple the incarcerated men. It had been previously confirmed that there was a great need for a safe and quiet place to allow those committed to spiritual growth to further develop and practice the spiritual habits being taught. As a result, dedicated discipleship dorms inside the institution are maintained. A 12-week discipleship training program is offered to those inside the facility that wish to participate in the program. Active leaders within that more general discipleship group are then accepted into this more intensive training. These men then become eligible to be invited into a dedicated dorm through a vote by other participants. Freedom Lake has also acquired property to support program participants who wish to continue their journey after being released from incarceration. The organization launched a live-in refuge to house men for an extended period where they continue to focus on their spiritual growth, have structure, work responsibilities and develop the necessary self-discipline that will be required to continue their spiritual walk and successfully re-enter society. During 2025,the organization conducted 624 Bible studies, served 120 fellowship meals, held 208 discipleship activities, provided 3,650 hours of mentorship to 614 Mentees and baptized 149 men. Through its programming, the organization withnessed hundres of men find renewed hope and purpose in their lives.
- $38,164 spent. God's Harvest Event is held annually as an opportunity for those men participating in the Freedom Lake programming to further develop their testimony, develop presentation skills and present to a larger audience. This creates additional self-confidence and skills that will support their development into a life on mission to be disciples who make disciples who make disciples in the communities in which they ultimately live and serve. Attendees are provided insights into the challenges faced by those in the prison system both during their time in the system as well as upon their re-entry into society including challenges that often lead to recidivism. Attendees are also provided with opportunities to become more involved including mentoring, prayer support, financial support, etc.
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 April 2017.
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.