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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: February 2025 Expires: February 2027

Freedom Now

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
1 6
(202) 223-3733
1750 K Street NW, Suite 734
Washington, DC, 20006
https://freedom-now.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

Freedom Now does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

Freedom Now does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer at least once every two years.

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Freedom Now does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Freedom Now meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to protect individuals and communities from government repression and defend human rights through direct legal support, targeted high-leverage advocacy, and capacity-building analysis and assistance."

Year, State Incorporated:
2001, MD

Freedom Now seeks to end arbitrary detention and associated human rights abuses. The organization provides pro bono legal representation to wrongfully detained individuals throughout the world. Freedom Now works on interconnected issues, including prison conditions, transnational repression, rehabilitation of former prisoners of conscience, and supporting civil society and international action.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, Freedom Now's program expenses were:

Legal and policy advocacy $2,915,177
Total Program Expenses $2,915,177

Chief Executive
Andrea J. Prasow, Executive Director

Compensation*
$247,272

Chair of the Board
Jeremy Zucker

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Partner, Dechert LLP

Board Size
8

Paid Staff Size
6

*2024 compensation, as reported by the organization, includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet

Fundraising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,177,618, 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 Now's unaudited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source of Funds
In-kind contributions $2,297,700
Contributions $560,191
Grants $319,727
Interest income $15,561
Other income $200
Total Income $3,193,379

Programs: 94% Fundraising: 2% Administrative: 4%

Total Income $3,193,379
Total expenses: $3,105,959
  Program expenses $2,915,177
  Fundraising expenses $60,156
  Administrative expenses $130,626
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $87,420
Beginning Net Assets $1,324,999
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $1,412,463
Total Liabilities $3,718
Total Assets $1,416,181

Note: According to Freedom Now's 2023 CPA-reviewed financial statements, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $2,297,700 in the form of legal services.

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.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance