Passes our checks

Milwaukee Freedom Fund Incorporated

EIN 88-2570189 · Milwaukee, WI

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

What it says it does

MILWAUKEE FREEDOM FUND ADVOCATES FOR THE END OF MASS INCARCERATION AND AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN WISCONSIN.

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 49.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15
Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
5 of 7 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$214,314 spent. ENGAGING COMMUNITIES TO END MASS INCARCERATION: THE MILWAUKEE FREEDOM FUND (MFF) ADVOCATES FOR THE ABOLITION OF CARCERAL SYSTEMS BY DIRECTLY ENGAGING THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE, POVERTY, AND RACIAL INJUSTICE. THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND DIRECT ACTION, MFF ENGAGES MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CASH BAIL, PRETRIAL DETENTION, AND MASS INCARCERATION. BY CENTERING THE EXPERIENCES AND VOICES OF THESE COMMUNITIES, MFF SEEKS TO TRANSFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, RESTORE DIGNITY, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.
SUPPORTING LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND CHALLENGING SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE: THE MILWAUKEE FREEDOM FUND WORKS TO CHALLENGE THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY AND RACE BY PROVIDING BAIL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS HELD IN PRETRIAL DETENTION. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT AFFORD BAIL, HELPING TO RESTORE THEIR PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE AND REUNITE THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES. BY ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, MFF AIMS TO DISMANTLE THE CASH BAIL SYSTEM AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE EQUITABLE AND JUST FUTURE FOR ALL.

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

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? 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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 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.

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