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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: March 2024 Expires: March 2026

Freedom from Religion Foundation

Unable to Verify
Unable to Verify
13
(608) 256-8900
Post Office Box 750
Madison, WI, 53701
https://ffrf.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 13

Freedom from Religion Foundation meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism."

Year, State Incorporated:
1978, WI

Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) advances the constitutional principle of church-state separation by educating about the law, responding to and investigating potential violations of the law, and enforcing or attempting to change the law via education, litigation and lobbying. The organization seeks to inform lawmakers and the public about the importance of secular laws and oppose measures that use religion as the basis for public policy. FFRF seeks to increase understanding about freethought and the value of church-state separation for all, regardless of religious faith or the lack thereof. Specific activities include an annual convention and other events featuring freethought viewpoints, annual awards, support of 19 local chapters, dozens of student scholarships and activist awards, radio and TV broadcasts, newspaper, advertising, books and music. In 2022, FFRF reports that it received 2,136 reports of potential violations of the Establishment Clause from citizens throughout the nation. In response, FFRF's legal team sent 515 letters to local government officials, advising them of potential violations of the law. Those letters halted 112 significant violations, without litigation, most in public school settings.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, Freedom from Religion Foundation's program expenses were:

Program services $9,074,806
Total Program Expenses $9,074,806

Chief Executive
Daniel Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-Presidents

Chair of the Board
Stephen Hirtle

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Professor, School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh

Board Size
11

Paid Staff Size
38

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: In 2022, Mr. Barker received $144,450 and Ms. Gaylor received $117,759.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements

Fundraising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $10,255,234, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Freedom from Religion Foundation's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Source of Funds
Bequests $4,708,961
Donations $3,417,749
Membership dues and fees $1,790,968
Miscellaneous $234,976
Legal fund donations $174,177
Sales $130,751
Student activist donations $94,063
Convention income $87,185
Combined Federal Campaign $40,816
Grants $28,500
Investment loss $-3,098,375
Total Income $7,609,771

Programs: 91% Fundraising: 1% Administrative: 7%

Total Income $7,609,771
Total expenses: $9,928,595
  Program expenses $9,074,806
  Fundraising expenses $117,178
  Administrative expenses $736,611
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-2,318,824
Beginning Net Assets $26,066,328
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $23,747,504
Total Liabilities $532,453
Total Assets $24,279,957

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance