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Brooklyn Community Bail Fund Inc

EIN 90-1014588 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENVISION FREEDOM FUND WORKS ALONGSIDE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TO DISMANTLE THE OPPRESSIVE AND INTERCONNECTED CRIMINAL LEGAL AND IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS. WITH FREEDOM AS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE, WE INVEST IN INNOVATIVE CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO WIN LONG-TERM, TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, WHILE MEETING THE URGENT NEEDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE PRESENT.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
29.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$166,840, interim co-executive director (beg. nov)

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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 (3)
  1. $453,015 spent. IMMIGRATION BONDS - ENVISION FREEDOM'S BOND PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2018 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN ADVISORY COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING TO DISMANTLE PUNITIVE IMMIGRATION AND DETENTION SYSTEMS. LEVERAGING THE EXPERTISE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPED OVER FOUR YEARS AS A CHARITABLE BAIL FUND, ENVISION FREEDOM'S BOND PROGRAM PAYS IMMIGRATION BOND FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD IT, REUNITES THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDES URGENTLY NEEDED POST-RELEASE SUPPORT. ENVISION FREEDOM'S POST-RELEASE SUPPORT PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS RECENTLY FREED FROM IMMIGRATION DETENTION. FOR CLIENTS WITH LONGER TERM, SIGNIFICANT NEEDS, ENVISION FREEDOM OFFERS REFERRALS TO SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE AREAS OF MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING AND COUNSELING. IN 2020, ENVISION FREEDOM EXPANDED ENVISION FREEDOM'S EMERGENCY POST-RELEASE SUPPORT, DISTRIBUTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS PPE, METROCARDS, AND DIAPERS, AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES AND ONGOING MUTUAL AID THROUGH ENVISION FREEDOM'S PARTNER NETWORKS. IN ADDITION TO PAYING INDIVIDUAL BONDS, ENVISION FREEDOM HARNESSED THE PROGRAM'S RESULTS TO STRATEGICALLY INFLUENCE LARGER POLICY CONVERSATIONS.
  2. $359,921 spent. CRIMINAL JUSTICE - AS A CORE PART TO ITS MISSION, ENVISION FREEDOM WORKS TO ELIMINATE PRETRIAL DETENTION AND END THE MONEY BAIL SYSTEM. ENVISION FREEDOM WAS A KEY MEMBER OF THE COALITION THAT HELPED PASS BAIL REFORM IN NEW YORK STATE IN 2019. THEY CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF PRETRIAL DETENTION AND MONEY BAIL AS A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER OF NEW YORK'S STATEWIDE BAIL REFORM COALITION AND THROUGH ITS OWN ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES. IN 2018, ENVISION FREEDOM CO-LAUNCHED COURT WATCH NYC, A PROGRAM THAT TRAINS AND MOBILIZES A COMMUNITY OF NEARLY 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO DOCUMENT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NYC COURTROOMS. AT THE END OF 2019, COURT WATCH NYC BECAME AN IN-HOUSE PROGRAM OF ENVISION FREEDOM. COURT WATCH NYC IS NOW TRANSITIONING TO A VOLUNTEER-DIRECTED INITIATIVE THAT WILL OPERATE SEMI-INDEPENDENTLY.
  3. $312,286 spent. DATA & STORYTELLING - IN 2022, THE DATA AND STORYTELLING TEAM WAS CREATED TO LEVERAGE THE POWER OF NARRATIVE AND DATA TO SUPPORT ONGOING PROJECTS AND ADVANCE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THE TEAM HAS DEVELOPED REPORTS, PUBLIC AND POLITICAL EDUCATION RESOURCES, MULTI-LINGUAL PUBLIC EDUCATION VIDEOS, STRATEGIC SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AND THE DISMANTLING INJUSTICE PODCAST. THE PODCAST OFFERS INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS ON ISSUES IMPACTING BLACK, IMMIGRANT, AND OTHER DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES, HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK OF EXPERTS AND DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE ON ISSUES SUCH AS SAFETY, HEALTH, AND POLICY. BUILDING OFF THE FINDINGS OF A PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH STUDY COMMISSIONED IN 2022, THE TEAM IS DEVELOPING PERSUASIVE NARRATIVE STRATEGIES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CENTER THE VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE IN THE ONGOING PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY, LIBERATION, AND EQUITY.

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 August 2014.

    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.

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