Freedom Institute Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
The Freedom Institute exists to break the generational cycle of poverty and incarceration by rebuilding lives, restoring families and revitalizing communities.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $82,000, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 60% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 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
0 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 June 30, 2023, 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 (6)
- $439,226 spent. Western Slope WAGEES Through fostering strong partnerships with the Colorado Dept of Corrections and our community, the Western Slope WAGEEs program provides direct service support to help individuals successfully transition back into society, after incarceration. We are not about our participants past, we are about their future. We believe in and value our participants as worthy partners with lived-experience. And through healthy partnership, we all win. This success is achieved through reentry supportive services, case management, stabilization, mentorship, life skills development, educational and employment goal setting and placement as well as self-actualization, the process by which an individual reaches his or her full potential.
- $311,329 spent. Transitional Housing TFIs Housing Program exists to provide housing support, guidance, resources and hope for participants to avoid destitution and safely transition from incarceration or homelessness. This success is achieved by securing participants with a transitional-home then guiding them to stable housing, with the end goal of home ownership for those who qualify. We provide a healthy environment, where participants engage in a culture of care, responsibility and accountability. They receive guided support to develop the skills necessary to create practical pathways leading them to safe, stable and self-sufficient housing.
- $331,498 spent. Social Enterprise Freedom Industries was birthed out of a need to provide participants with training and employment opportunities that would supersede the stigma associated with incarceration. By validating our participants inherit worth and potential, we restore their dignity and offer them a career pathway. This success is achieved through apprenticeships and vocational employment. Freedom Industries partners with local community businesses to hire and train our participants in a specific trade. We develop skills for life stability and create community through teams, while cultivating work ethic and responsibility. It is our goal to to produce healthy, contributing members of society by training and staffing participants in all levels of employement including helping them to launch their own business, when possible.
- Program Service Expenses 152,902, Grants and allocations 831, Revenue 0 TFI Advocacy Program TFI understands the importance of maximizing the time and opportunity for affecting change. The TFI Advocacy Program was created to educate, develop and engage teams who aim to help the community care about important issues, understand the facts and know exactly how they can help. This success is achieved by a passionate team devoted to and focused on advocacy. Through effective coalition building, we are able to educate, influence and mobilize networks. Our teams are woven into and represent the fabric of our community, invested in and committed to having long-term and sustainable impact. We empower both adults and youth to occupy seats and influence decisions through advocacy, on platforms where resolutions are being made about money and community.
- Program Service Expenses 150,646, Grants and allocations 64,173, Revenue 0 Mesa County Reentry Program The Mesa County Re-Entry program assists participants in securing stable housing, developing employement skills, accessing mental healthcare, and engaging in pro-social activities. MCRP is an expansion of the services we offer to the parole population. MCRP focuses on individuals with high-acuity mental health needs and substance use disorders. TFIs case management approach addresses criminogenic factors, including family engagement and community-based support. A comprehensive case management system tracks progress towards defined outcomes. Participants receive the same supportive services case management, housing support, employment services, and recovery support as our parole population.
- Program Service Expenses 38,530, Grants and allocations 209, Revenue 0 Freedom Recovery Program TFI offers Recovery Support Services to increase the recovery capital of individuals seeking a new way of life. People suffer in isolation but can heal in the community. Recovery is a team sport. Thats why we focus on providing safe spaces and events for individuals to make connections and feel accepted. We accomplish this by offering face-to-face peer coaching, peer-led groups, recovery-friendly events, family support, and recovery education. All pathways to recovery are supported, and we focus on a strengths-based, participant-directed, whole-person approach. We combine our lived experience with state and nationally-approved training to help people in or seeking recovery discover what works for them. Providing a safe space to come as they are, we meet them right where theyre at and help them discover their best self among people who understand and care about what they are going through. Hope and inspiration permeate all that we do at The Freedom Community Center. Recovery is a life-long journey, and we are excited to walk it out together.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, 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 October 13, 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? Caution.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2023. Organizations that miss three years of returns lose their exemption.
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 March 2022.
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 October 21, 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.