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Free Geek

EIN 93-1292010 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RECYCLE TECHNOLOGY AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, THE INTERNET, EDUCATION AND JOB SKILLS IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
48
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$146,968, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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

    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 September 30, 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. $1.2 million spent. REUSE - IN 2023/24, FREE GEEK REUSED OVER 13,680 ITEMS INCLUDING COMPUTERS, MOBILE DEVICES, PRINTERS, AND MONITORS AND PROVIDED LOW INCOME ACCESSIBLE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. IN 2023/24, FREE GEEK RECEIVED $1.15 MILLION IN IN-KIND TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN REFURBISHED AND AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN ITS COMMUNITY CENTER, ONLINE STORE, OR FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION SOLD ALMOST $1 MILLION OF SUCH DONATED, REFURBISHED TECHNOLOGY.
  2. $836,470 spent. DIGITAL INCLUSION - IN 2023/24, FREE GEEK GRANTED 1,395 COMPUTERS AND DEVICES TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR DIGITAL NAVIGATORS SERVED 8,138 PEOPLE THROUGH IN-PERSON NAVIGATION, REFERRALS AND APPOINTMENTS, A HUGE 457% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS TAUGHT 72 DIGITAL SKILLS BUILDING CLASSES IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH. THIS INCREASE HAS BEEN DUE IN LARGE PART TO OUR EAST PORTLAND CENTER FOR DIGITAL EQUITY & TECHNOLOGY THE ORGANIZATION OPENED IN JULY 2023, WHICH ALSO OPERATES AS A COMCAST LIZONE AS WELL AS EXPANDING OUR DIGITAL EQUITY TEAM.
  3. $778,351 spent. RECYCLING - IN 2023/24, FREE GEEK RECEIVED OVER 1.5 MILLION POUNDS OF MAJOR ITEMS INCLUDING COMPUTERS, MOBILE DEVICES, PRINTERS, AND MONITORS, OF WHICH 705,684 POUNDS WERE RECYCLED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.