Freed People
Freed People is a public charity based in Crowley, Texas, that works to rescue people from human trafficking and support survivors’ recovery. The organization says it partners with law enforcement and community organizations, while its 2025 filing describes assistance to organizations that rescue girls from sex trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and help people return to society.
Freed People at a glance
In short: Freed People gave $303K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Texas. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $303,075
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,256
- -38.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,350
- Total assets
- $453,680
- +10.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (4 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Freed People
- Contact
Mailing address: 824 S Crowley Rd, Crowley, TX 76036
Phone: (817) 584-1431
Website: https://freedpeople.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Freed People funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Texas Counter-Trafficking Initiative ($86K). Together the top 10 received $290K.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 28 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Texas. Freed People’s website describes its operations as beginning in Texas, including rapid-response teams positioned along the I-10 and I-35 corridors in Texas, and says the organization is expanding nationwide.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Freed People open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 12 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2023–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $262K (2023) to $411K (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $303K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Counter-Trafficking Initiative Houston, TX | rescue | $86,375 |
| 4theONE Foundation Carrollton, TX | Rescue | $77,000 |
| Rescue Hill Arlington, TX | restorative care | $28,000 |
| Milestone Ranch Rio Vista, TX | restorative care | $23,000 |
| Heaven's Army of Resources & Recreation Center Cleveland, TX | restorative care | $20,500 |
| The Fountains Fellowship Counseling Center Crowley, TX | restorative care | $15,200 |
| ReInspire Cleburne, TX | restorative care | $11,500 |
| Refuge City Richardson, TX | restorative care | $10,000 |
| Rescue Her Euless, TX | rescue | $9,500 |
| No Trafficking Zone Katy, TX | rescue | $8,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $453,680 | $1,220,573 | $1,175,718 | $303,075 | 12 |
| 2024 | $411,893 | $1,037,725 | $922,301 | $411,357 | 10 |
| 2023 | $289,469 | $825,413 | $560,292 | $261,650 | 6 |
| 2022 | $49,347 | $69,625 | $20,278 | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Freed People’s mission, as stated in its 2025 filing, is to “ignite hope by redeeming destinies and restoring families.” The filing says it provided assistance to organizations that rescue girls from sex trafficking and prosecute traffickers, and to organizations that help girls and men return to society.
The organization reports that its work includes analyzing information to locate missing or exploited people, supporting recovery operations with law enforcement, and connecting survivors to care. Its 2025 grants went to Texas organizations whose missions include rescue, restorative care, and survivor support. For example, Refuge City says it provides safe places for children in the Dallas–Fort Worth area who have been sex trafficked or sexually exploited, while Rescue Her says it empowers survivors of sex trafficking through crisis response and long-term advocacy. Different Day Foundation describes its work as community and recovery programs for women subjected to commercial sexual exploitation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Freed People awarded 12 grants totaling $303,075. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $86,375, with a median grant of $13,350.
The largest reported grants were $86,375 to Texas Counter-Trafficking Initiative for rescue; $77,000 to 4theONE Foundation for rescue; $28,000 to Rescue Hill for restorative care; $23,000 to Milestone Ranch for restorative care; and $20,500 to Heaven’s Army of Resources & Recreation Center for restorative care. Other recipients included The Fountains Fellowship Counseling Center ($15,200), ReInspire ($11,500), Refuge City ($10,000), Rescue Her ($9,500), No Trafficking Zone ($8,500), Different Day Foundation ($8,000), and Traffick911 ($5,500).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Matt Shelton as President; Carmen Shelton as Vice President; David Bream as Treasurer; and Brent Teeter, David Hargrave, Michael Wroughton, and Steve Stone as board members. It lists Brandy Zeigler, Donald Williams, and Angela Thorne as employees. The website identifies Matt Shelton as the organization’s founder.
Freed People is led by Matt Shelton, President on every filing since 2022; 6 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Matt Shelton
President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$158K (2023) → $128K (2025)
Carmen Shelton
Vice President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$47K (2024) → $75K (2025)
Brandy Zeigler
Employee
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$32K (2023) → $63K (2025)
David Bream
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $6K (2025)
Donald Williams
Employee
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$39K (2024) → $60K (2025)
Angela Thorne
Employee
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$29K (2025)
Brent Teeter
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Hargrave
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Wroughton
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Stone
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Cory Roberts (2023) — Employee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $128K, to Matt Shelton (President). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Freed People
How much does Freed People give each year?
Freed People gave $303K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $411K across 10 grants.
What is Freed People's typical grant size?
Freed People's median grant in 2025 was $13,350, and its average grant was $25,256, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Freed People that year got $15K on average.
Where does Freed People give grants?
Freed People gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Freed People give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Freed People's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Restorative Care" (7 grants) and "Rescue" (5 grants).
Who are Freed People's largest grantees?
Freed People's largest 2025 grantees include Texas Counter-Trafficking Initiative ($86,375), 4theONE Foundation ($77,000) and Rescue Hill ($28,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Freed People?
Freed People reported $454K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What does Freed People fund?
Freed People’s mission, as stated in its 2025 filing, is to “ignite hope by redeeming destinies and restoring families.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Freed People?
Freed People has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check freedpeople.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Freed People's EIN?
Freed People's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-3814746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Freed People's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Freed People funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/freed-people-morg_03c8504ceffc4848966dc03367ff8563
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_883814746_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Freed People funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/freed-people-morg_03c8504ceffc4848966dc03367ff8563},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Freed People's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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