Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc
To keep church and state separate and to educate the public about nontheism
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc gave $790K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $99K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $790,000
- +31.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $98,750
- +64.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $33,074,010
- +26.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc
Who Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was FFRF Action Fund ($650K). Together the top 8 received $790K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 33 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 310% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2019) to $1.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $790K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FFRF Action Fund Madison, WI | Operating and Lobbying Grant | $650,000 |
| Center for Reproductive Rights New York, NY | Operating Grant | $50,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Inc New York, NY | Operating Grant | $30,000 |
| Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine New York, NY | Operating Grant | $20,000 |
| Options Fund Eau Claire, WI | Operating Grant | $10,000 |
| Black Nonbelievers Inc Atlanta, GA | Operating Grant | $10,000 |
| The Freedom Fund Brooklyn, NY | Operating Grant | $10,000 |
| Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Operating Grant | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,074,010 | $15,351,878 | $10,832,635 | $790,000 | 8 | $751,305 |
| 2024 | $26,060,030 | $11,113,771 | $9,889,097 | $600,000 | 10 | $510,176 |
| 2023 | $23,482,447 | $7,663,963 | $10,073,846 | $1,070,000 | 4 | $437,568 |
| 2022 | $24,279,957 | $11,152,202 | $9,851,341 | $192,500 | 4 | $521,312 |
| 2021 | $25,982,708 | $9,398,786 | $8,363,117 | $406,000 | 7 | $1,191,431 |
| 2020 | $24,045,932 | $12,928,696 | $6,573,302 | $83,500 | 9 | $544,949 |
| 2019 | $15,419,685 | $6,106,724 | $7,603,889 | $10,000 | 1 | $543,610 |
About Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on religion, based in Madison, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $33.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $790K. Net investment income was $751K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc is led by Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-President on every filing since 2019; 7 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Annie Laurie Gaylor
Co-President
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$99K (2019) → $105K (2025)
Dan Barker
Co-President
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$101K (2019) → $104K (2025)
Michael Cermak
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Dann
Governmental Affairs Director
Director of Governmental Affairs → Director of Governmental A, 2024
Director of Governmental A → Governmental Affairs Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$112K (2023) → $122K (2025)
Patrick Elliott
Legal Director
Senior Counsel → Legal Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$128K (2023) → $154K (2025)
Sara Tetzloff
Director of Pr & Marketing
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$122K (2025)
Stephen Hirtle
Director
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Kocher
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Peissig
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Tamayo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeremiah Camara
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Cavell
Deputy Legal Director
Associate Counsel → Deputy Legal Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $142K (2025)
Sam Grover
Senior Litigation Counsel
Associate Counsel → Senior Litigation Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$110K (2023) → $138K (2025)
Cheryl Kolbe
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Salemson
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Granada L. Higgins (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Lisa Strand (2024) — Operations Manager
- Former: Rebecca Markert (2023) — Legal Director
- Former: Jim Zerwick (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Stefanie Moritz (2019–2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $154K, to Patrick Elliott (Legal Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc
How much does Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc give each year?
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc gave $790K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $600K across 10 grants.
What is Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $98,750, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc give grants?
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include FFRF Action Fund ($650,000), Center for Reproductive Rights ($50,000) and Doctors Without Borders USA Inc ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc?
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc reported $33.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.4M.
What is Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc?
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on religion, based in Madison, WI. It holds $33.1M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc's EIN?
Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1302520. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 3, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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