Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc is located in Madison, WI. The organization was established in 1978. According to its NTEE Classification (X20) the organization is classified as: Christianity, under the broad grouping of Religion-Related and related organizations. As of 12/2023, Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc employed 51 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2023, Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc generated $7.7m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 9 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 5.0% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $10.1m during the year ending 12/2023. While expenses have increased by 11.6% per year over the past 9 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Since 2015, Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc has awarded 42 individual grants totaling $2,736,527. If you would like to learn more about the grant giving history of this organization, scroll down to the grant profile section of this page.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
TO KEEP CHURCH AND STATE SEPARATE AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT NONTHEISM
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
LAWSUITS CHALLENGING ENTANGLEMENT OF RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT OR PROMOTION OF RELIGION. FFRF WON FOUR LAWSUITS IN 2023: THE 5TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED IN FFRF'S FAVOR AGAINST TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT'S CENSORSHIP OF FFRF'S BILL OF RIGHTS NATIVITY DISPLAY IN THE CAPITOL. FFRF'S TOSONE V. WAY IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT STOPPED NEW JERSEY'S RELIGIOUS TEST FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. OUR SETTLEMENT IN MAYS V. CABELL CO. BOARD OF EDUCATION, W.VA., AT FEDERAL DISTRICT LEVEL WILL PREVENT FUTURE EMPLOYEES FROM PROSELYTIZING STUDENTS. OUR CASE IN SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COURT, PARKER V. MCMASTER, STOPPED $1.5 MILLION EARMARKED FOR CHRISTIAN LEARNING CENTERS OF GREENVILLE COUNTY TO PROVIDE BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS. ONGOING LAWSUITS: WITH A COALITION, FFRF FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IN JULY CHALLENGING THE NATION'S FIRST RELIGIOUS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL APPROVED IN OKLAHOMA AND ARE CHALLENGING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT AT THE ARKANSAS STATE CAPITOL IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT. FFRF FILED FIVE AMICUS BRIEFS, INCLUDING IN GROFF V. DEJOY (US SUPREME COURT) AND FOUR LOWER COURT BRIEFS. FFRF SENT MORE THAN 700 LETTERS OF COMPLAINT TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PLUS TWO MASS MAILINGS, ACHIEVING 147 VICTORIES HALTING STATE/CHURCH ENTANGLEMENTS IN 2023.
OPERATION OF FREETHOUGHT HALL IN MADISON, WI, AND MAINTENANCE OF LIBRARY FOR MEMBERS' USE, AND CHAPTER REBATES
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, CONVENTION, MEETINGS, MEDIA APPEARANCES, SPEECHES, DEBATES, TRAVEL, AND AWARDS. FFRF TOPPED MORE THAN 40,000 MEMBERS, AND HELD ITS 46TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MADISON, WIS., WITH MORE THAN 500 ATTENDEES FROM 45 STATES, D.C., AND CANADA. OFFERED FREETHOUGHT PROGRAMMING AND SPOKE AT 37 EVENTS, INVOLVING MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS AT CHAPTER, REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. FFRF ANNOUNCED THE $500,000 BRIAN F. BOLTON AND ANNE NICOL GAYLOR ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN SECULAR STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER. FFRF FORMED THE FFRF ACTION FUND, AN ADVOCACY ARM, THAT TRACKED 2,000 BILLS AND SENT 150 LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERTS TO MORE THAN 47,000 ADVOCATES WHO MADE 152,000 CONTACTS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS. FFRF ISSUED 367 NEWS RELEASES AND 192 BLOG POSTINGS ABOUT FFRF ACTIVITIES. AWARDED OVER $125,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS IN 5 SEPARATE ESSAY COMPETITIONS WITH 90 STUDENT WINNERS; TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO 6 STUDENTS OF COLOR/FIRST-IN-FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH BLACK SKEPTICS LOS ANGELES AND 15 STUDENT ACTIVIST SCHOLARSHIPS, SOME AWARDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH SECULAR STUDENT ALLIANCE.
PUBLISHING, BROADCASTING, AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. PUBLISHED 10 ISSUES OF FREETHOUGHT TODAY NEWSPAPER; 2 ISSUES OF PRIVATE LINE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER; BROADCAST WEEKLY EDITIONS OF FREETHOUGHT RADIO ON RADIO STATIONS IN 10 STATES, WITH PODCASTS REACHING MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION DOWNLOADS SINCE BEGINNING IN 2006. PRODUCED ANOTHER SEASON OF ITS TV SHOW, "FREETHOUGHT MATTERS," WHICH AIRED IN 13 CITIES AND ON YOUTUBE. AIRED "FFRF'S ASK AN ATHEIST" FACEBOOK LIVE! ALMOST WEEKLY. PRODUCED A MONTHLY "WE DISSENT" PODCAST WITH OTHER SECULAR ORGANIZATIONS SHOWCASING SECULAR WOMEN ATTORNEYS. MAINTAINED FFRF'S WEBSITE WITH NEWS UPDATES, DAILY CALENDAR, LEGAL AND FREETHOUGHT FAQS AND RESOURCES; ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK, X, INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK. PUBLISHED A FREETHOUGHT CALENDAR AND DISTRIBUTED FFRF-PUBLISHED BOOKS AND EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS PROMOTING ITS MISSION. RAN PERIODIC ADS IN THE NATION, PROGRESSIVE, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN AND SEVERAL OTHER PUBLICATIONS. RAN A 30-SECOND TV SPOT BY RON REAGAN ON CBS'S "60 MINUTES," "CBS SUNDAY MORNING," "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT," MSNBC'S "RACHEL MADDOW SHOW, AND "THE DAILY SHOW." FFRF HAD 20 CHAPTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Annie Laurie Gaylor Co-President | OfficerTrustee | 50 | $101,616 |
Dan Barker Co-President | OfficerTrustee | 50 | $102,340 |
Stephen Hirtle Chair | OfficerTrustee | 2.5 | $0 |
Cheryl Kolbe Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 2.5 | $0 |
Steve Salemson Treasurer | OfficerTrustee | 1.5 | $0 |
Todd Peissig Director | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $35,596 |
Membership dues | $1,732,539 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $0 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $5,144,094 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $230,106 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $6,912,229 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $214,081 |
Investment income | $437,568 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | -$5,156 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $7,663,963 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $1,082,357 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $273,000 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $22,498 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $264,600 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $9,255 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $2,212,523 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $177,476 |
Other employee benefits | $417,283 |
Payroll taxes | $187,936 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $127,351 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $26,232 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $30,809 |
Advertising and promotion | $2,762,420 |
Office expenses | $549,614 |
Information technology | $226,354 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $22,017 |
Travel | $71,472 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $254,707 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $122,405 |
Insurance | $61,739 |
All other expenses | $116,892 |
Total functional expenses | $10,073,846 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $382,271 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $1,440,919 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $128,941 |
Accounts receivable, net | $248,336 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $88,804 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $544,147 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $3,806,448 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $16,842,581 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $0 |
Total assets | $23,482,447 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $423,941 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $0 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $0 |
Total liabilities | $423,941 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $21,157,937 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $1,900,569 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $23,482,447 |
Over the last fiscal year, Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc has awarded $1,070,000 in support to 4 organizations.
Grant Recipient | Amount |
---|---|
WOMEN'S MEDICAL FUND PURPOSE: DIRECT ASSISTANCE | $20,000 |
FFRF ACTION FUND PURPOSE: OPERATING AND LOBBYING GRANT | $500,000 |
ENDING CLERGY ABUSE USA PURPOSE: OPERATING GRANT | $50,000 |
UW WHITEWATER PURPOSE: ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP | $500,000 |