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Shield of Freedom

EIN 93-3096298 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SHIELD OF FREEDOM IS AN ALL-VOLUNTEER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DIRECT AID TO PEOPLE IN DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES WHO ARE UNDER THREAT AND FACING HUMANTARIAN CRISES RESULTING FROM VARIOUS CAUSES, INCLUDING INVASIONS, CONFLICTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS. WE SEEK TO HELP BRIDGE GAPS IN SUPPORT WHERE U.S. AID FALLS SHORT.

Income
$370,618
Spending
$421,489
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2025, 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. $404,850 spent. THE HUMANITARIAN AID &CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING SUPPORT TO UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS AND DEFENDERS IN AREAS MOST SEVERELY IMPACTED BY ONGOING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES URGENT AND CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING NEEDS IN FRONTLINE REGIONS BY DELIVERING CRITICAL EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND RELIABLE COMMUNICATION TOOLS. ALL AID IS NON-LETHAL AND IS PROCURED, TRANSPORTED, AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH VETTED PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEER NETWORKS WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND FRONTLINE MEDICAL UNITS. OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE: TO SAVE LIVES, INCREASE RESILIENCE, AND ENSURE THAT FRONTLINE RESPONDERS HAVE THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS REQUIRED TO OPERATE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY.
  2. $9,014 spent. THE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES PROGRAM PRESERVES, CELEBRATES, AND SHARES UKRAINIAN CULTURE WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSE OF UKRAINE, NAMYSTO DANCE GROUP, AND THE UKRAINIAN ROCK BAND U3ZUB, THE PROGRAM CREATES MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH MUSIC, DANCE, ART, AND SHARED TRADITIONS. AT A TIME WHEN UKRAINES IDENTITY IS UNDER EXISTENTIAL THREAT, THESE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES SERVE AS BOTH A CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE AND A POWERFUL FORM OF RESILIENCE, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, ENGAGING PUBLIC EVENTS, SHIELD OF FREEDOM FOSTERS CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, STRENGTHENS THE UKRAINIAN DIASPORA, AND RAISES AWARENESS OF UKRAINES HISTORY, VALUES, AND CONTEMPORARY REALITY.
  3. $486 spent. THE HEALING HEROES COMMUNITY HUB PROVIDES WRAPAROUND SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN VETERANS, AMPUTEES, MEDICAL EVACUEES, REFUGEES, AND WAR-RELATED TRAUMA SURVIVORS RECEIVING CARE OR RESETTLING IN SAN DIEGO. THIS PROGRAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS REBUILD PHYSICAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, INDEPENDENCE, AND DIGNITY FOLLOWING LIFE-ALTERING INJURIES, DISPLACEMENT, AND LOSS CAUSED BY THE WAR IN UKRAINE. THROUGH A HOLISTIC, PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH, HEALING HEROES ENSURES PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT ONLY MEDICALLY SUPPORTED, BUT ALSO WELCOMED INTO A COMPASSIONATE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE HAVE DISBURSEMENT ON THIS PROGRAM, WE WILL REPORT THIS AS OUR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM.
  4. THE UKRAINE ADVOCACY MOBILIZES PUBLIC SUPPORT THROUGH EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND OUTREACH THAT COUNTERACTS MISINFORMATION AND ELEVATES THE ONGOING HUMANITARIAN AND SECURITY NEEDS OF UKRAINE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 December 2023.

    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 November 4, 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.