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Freedom Project Network

EIN 81-3494728 · Sunflower, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Freedom Project Network (FPN) carries forward the spirit of the 1964 Freedom Schools by holding space for young people - Freedom Fellows - to share their personal and community struggles, to create healing for themselves and their communities, and to study, train, and act on solutions. We aim to build community and power alongside young Mississippians by providing holistic and liberatory educational experiences.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$751,096
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$60,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 338% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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 August 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. $504,070 spent. FREEDOM PROJECT PROGRAMMING: Through afterschool programming during the fall and spring semesters, FPN Fellows explore past and present movements, express themselves through the arts, and build organizing efforts to gain racial, educational, and social equity in their communities. FPN staff lead students in academic, extracurricular, experiential learning, and youth empowerment programming, aimed at both empowering Fellows as students and as young people.
  2. $53,706 spent. ALUMNI COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM: The Alumni College Success Program supports all Freedom Project alumni who matriculate into college by providing mentorship calls, academic coaching, mental health support, and monthly stipends. We have a part-time Program Director who oversees the administration of this program and part-time coordinators for each of our 3 Freedom Project sites who lead the student-facing program. This year we supported 23 Alumni fellows enrolled at colleges and universities across the country.
  3. $25,715 spent. FREEDOM SUMMER: During the summer, Freedom Project programming expands to whole day intensive sessions with students in core academic subjects, enrichment, and leadership development. Current undergraduate students from around the country, as well as local teachers, join the summer staff as Teacher Advisors. Fellows also travel for experiential learning to cities and places where pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement happened and tour different college campuses as part of college access programming. Our Fellows also engage in travel relevant to the ongoing work that they are doing, for example in art, or history, throughout the year.
  4. $21,484 spent. FREEDOM SUMMER COLLEGIATE: Freedom Summer Collegiate recruits, trains, and funds doctoral candidates to design and facilitate transformative summer seminars at each Freedom Project site. In this program, high-school Freedom Fellows experience a powerful college simulation from the comfort of the Freedom Project and earn college credit from Millsaps College. In 2024, five Freedom Summer Collegiate instructors led college-bridge courses at the Meridian FP, the Sunflower County FP, and the Rosedale FP. Each FP had additional site coordinators to support course logistics. This year, FSC students explored science fiction; theories of education; food, land, and the environment; theories of race & power; and AI large-language models.
  5. $10,864 spent. FPN PROGRAM SUPPORT: Professional development for staff members; site visits by leadership team of FP sites; data management & analysis; other program expenses.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 December 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 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.