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Freedom Reads

EIN 87-3023665 · Hamden, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FREEDOM READS' MISSION IS TO BRING JOY, INSPIRE HOPE, AND HELP THOSE INSIDE CONFRONT WHAT PRISON DOES TO THE SPIRIT. WE BRING BEAUTIFUL, HANDCRAFTED BOOKCASES INTO PRISONS, TRANSFORMING CELLBLOCKS INTO FREEDOM LIBRARIES. THE FREEDOM LIBRARY IS A PHYSICAL INTERVENTION INTO THE LANDSCAPE OF PLASTIC AND STEEL AND LONELINESS THAT CHARACTERIZES PRISON. IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE FREEDOM TO THINK, TO CONTRIBUTE TO A COMMUNITY, AND EVEN TO DREAM ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE IS TOO OFTEN CURTAILED, FREEDOM READS REMINDS THOSE INSIDE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
18.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
22
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$241,343, founder & ce

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 68% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 2024, 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. $3.7 million spent. FREEDOM READS BUILDS FREEDOM LIBRARIES, CURATED 500-BOOK COLLECTIONS HOUSED IN HANDMADE WOODEN BOOKSHELVES OPENED IN PRISON CELLBLOCKS. THE FREEDOM LIBRARIES ARE IN PROXIMITY TO WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND ARE AVAILABLE 24/7. FREEDOM LIBRARIES OPENINGS ARE LITERARY EVENTS, BRINGING WRITERS AND ARTISTS INTO PRISONS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH INCARCERATED READERS, CREATING SPACES FOR REFLECTION, JOY, AND IMAGINATION.
  2. $533,153 spent. FREEDOM READS MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM AMPLIFIES THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION OF DELIVERING TRANSFORMATIVE LITERARY EXPERIENCES IN PRISON. THROUGH STORYTELLING, TARGETED OUTREACH, DIGITAL CONTENT, AND MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, FREEDOM READS RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE POWER OF LITERATURE TO CULTIVATE GROWTH, DIGNITY, AND REFLECTION BEHIND BARS. OUR WORK ALSO DEEPENS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING, HELPING TO BROADEN THE IMPACT AND REACH OF FREEDOM READS PROGRAMS ACROSS CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE.
  3. $241,616 spent. THE INSIDE LITERARY PRIZE IS THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL LITERARY AWARD JUDGED BY PEOPLE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED. EACH YEAR, FREEDOM READS CONVENES 300 INCARCERATED READERS FROM 12-15 PRISONS TO READ, DISCUSS, AND DEBATE FOUR TITLES DRAWN FROM THE MOST ACCLAIMED RECENT WORKS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE. OUR TEAM DISTRIBUTES COPIES OF THE BOOKS TO EACH JUDGE, FACILITATES VIRTUAL ORIENTATION AND DISCUSSION SESSIONS, AND THEN TRAVELS TO EVERY PARTICIPATING PRISON FOR IN-PERSON DELIBERATIONS AND BALLOTING. THE PRIZE OFFERS A SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR INCARCERATED READERS TO SHAPE OUR NATIONAL LITERARY CONVERSATIONAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ESSENTIAL VOICES WITHIN IT.
  4. OTHER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 2022.

    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 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.