Freedom Together Foundation
The Freedom Together Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation based in New York, NY, established in 2012. Originally known as The JPB Foundation, it was created by Barbara Picower. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation focused on grantmaking and philanthropy to support social justice movements and democratic participation.
Key facts about Freedom Together Foundation
- EIN
- 90-0747216
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $469,997,302
- Grants made (2024)
- 595
- Average grant
- $789,911
- Median grant
- $500,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (102 of 442, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,362,377,321
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Freedom Together Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Freedom Together Foundation's 595 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (29%), New York (26%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (136 grants), New York, NY (115 grants), Oakland, CA (30 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (24 grants). 22% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Freedom Together Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 102 of 442 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $397K; repeat grants $1.3M. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $650K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 265% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4B
+22.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$470.0M
+10.8% YoY
Grant Count
595
+17.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$790K
-5.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Freedom Together Foundation reported a distributable amount of $186.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's core mission centers on building a deeper and broader pro-democracy movement, with organizations led by working-class people from diverse backgrounds at the center. The Foundation believes that protecting and expanding multiracial democracy is the defining challenge of our time, and that philanthropy has a crucial role to play in this work.
The Foundation supports people who have been denied power to build it, so they can change unjust systems and create a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable society. Key focus areas include:
- Democracy and civic engagement
- Poverty and economic justice
- Environment
- Gender and LGBTQ+ issues
- Community organizing and grassroots movements
Grantmaking
The Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant distribution capacity. In 2024, the Foundation made distributions of approximately $495 million across 597 grants. Grant sizes vary considerably, with a median grant of $500,000 and maximum grants reaching $14 million.
Grant Range
s vary considerably, with a median grant of $500,000 and maximum grants reaching $14 million.
Ready to take the next step with Freedom Together Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 595 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $3.36 billion to $4.1 billion
- Annual Revenue: $1.13 billion
- Annual Expenses: $520 million
- Distributions: $495 million
- Total Liabilities: $64,700
2023 Financial Data:
- Revenue: $323.9 million
- Expenses: $458.2 million
- Assets: $2.75 billion
The Foundation maintains substantial financial resources and demonstrates consistent grantmaking activity year over year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,362,377,321 | $2,750,408,293 | $2,884,777,601 |
| Revenue | $1,132,105,563 | $323,861,107 | $157,991,321 |
| Expenses | $520,151,983 | $458,231,361 | $385,377,151 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $494,506,702 | $438,456,177 | $371,931,481 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,123,239,366 | $300,724,683 | $131,203,042 |
| Distributable Amount | $186,817,427 | $198,792,619 | $212,981,087 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
2,385 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc ($22,811,000 across 14 grants), Community Change ($16,025,000 across 7 grants), Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc ($15,750,000 across 10 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS INC NEW YORK, NY | BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS: GENERAL PARTNERSHIP RECOMMITMENT | $14,000,000 |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | SOLIDARITY FUND | $12,500,000 |
| MOVEMENT STRATEGY CENTER OAKLAND, CA | ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR ALL | $8,000,000 |
| VOTER REGISTRATION PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $8,000,000 |
| COMMUNITY CHANGE WASHINGTON, DC | TOWARD A FREEDOM TO THRIVE | $7,000,000 |
| COMMUNITY CHANGE WASHINGTON, DC | 2024 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RAPID RESPONSE | $6,500,000 |
| NEW VENTURE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | TRUSTED ELECTIONS FUND | $6,250,000 |
| WINDWARD FUND WASHINGTON, DC | ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE FUND TO BUILD GRASSROOTS POWER | $6,150,000 |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MA | THE PICOWER INSTITUTE INNOVATION FUND (PIIF) | $5,550,000 |
| BEND THE ARC A JEWISH PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | YOUTH ORGANIZING FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND RACIAL EQUITY | $5,000,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Deepak Bhargava - President (assumed role February 2024) Deepak brings over 30 years of expertise in social justice movements as a leader, campaigner, and strategist. Before becoming Freedom Together's President, he led the grassroots organization Community Change for 16 years, working to strengthen the community organizing field and launch coalitions that won major policy victories on issues such as poverty, health care, and immigration. He also served as a distinguished lecturer at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute. He co-founded the Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice institute at CUNY, which trains and supports early and mid-career activists working for social change.
Barbara Picower - President Emerita/Chair (from February 2024) Founder of the Foundation in 2011.
Other Key Leadership:
- Gerald C. McNamara - Chief Investment Officer
- April C. Freilich - Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President (through December 2024)
- Michael Vaccaro - Chief Financial Officer
- William W. Ribbecke - Senior Vice President, Investments
- Dana Bourland - Senior Vice President, Environment
- Betsy Krebs - Senior Vice President, Poverty
- Arianne R. Jimenez - Senior Vice President, Democracy and Gender
- Deepak Pateriya - Senior Vice President, Strategy & Management
- Rakim Brooks - General Counsel
- Daniel Altschuler - Treasurer (from December 2024)
Board Members:
- Susan C. Frunzi - Trustee
- Hahrie Han - Trustee (from January 2024)
- Alan Jenkins - Trustee (from January 2024)
- Kierra Johnson - Trustee (from January 2024)
- Cecilia Munoz - Trustee (from January 2024)
- Mary Kay Henry - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald C McNamara | CIO | 40 | $1,208,652 |
| April C Freilich | COO, Ex. VP (Thru 12/13/24) | 40 | $933,860 |
| Barbara Picower | President Emerita/Chair (From 2/15/24) | 40 | $71,186 |
| Deepak Bhargava | President/Vice Chair (From 2/15/24) | 40 | $785,322 |
| Daniel Altschuler | Treasurer (From 12/13/24) | 40 | $346,641 |
| Deepak Pateriya | SVP, Strategy & Mgmt (From 2/6/24) | 40 | $375,793 |
| Rakim Brooks | General Counsel (From 5/15/24) | 40 | $217,182 |
| Susan C Frunzi | Trustee | 3 | — |
| Hahrie Han | Trustee (From 1/1/24) | 3 | $35,000 |
| Alan Jenkins | Trustee (From 1/19/24) | 3 | $35,000 |
| Kierra Johnson | Trustee (From 1/1/24) | 3 | $35,000 |
| Cecilia Munoz | Trustee (From 1/1/24) | 3 | $35,000 |
| Mary Kay Henry | Trustee (From 1/1/24) | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has been active in recent philanthropic initiatives and public engagement:
Featured in discussions about funding strategies to stop authoritarianism
What Every Funder Needs to Know about Stopping AuthoritarianismParticipated in launching a National Coalition of Nonprofits and Funders award to celebrate civic bravery
National Coalition of Nonprofits and Funders Launch New Award to ...Involved in The Courage Project, a collaborative effort among major funders taking a symbolic stand on key issues
President Deepak Bhargava published a letter titled "Courage Is Contagious" addressing the Foundation's commitment to supporting courageous action
Action Fund Expands Commitment to Protect Historically Black ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Freedom Together Foundation fund?
The Foundation's core mission centers on building a deeper and broader pro-democracy movement, with organizations led by working-class people from diverse backgrounds at the center. The Foundation believes that protecting and expanding multiracial democracy is the defining challenge of our time, and that philanthropy has a crucial role to play in this work. The Foundation supports people who have been denied power to build it, so they can change unjust systems and create a more democratic, incl…
How do I apply for a grant from Freedom Together Foundation?
The Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant distribution capacity. In 2024, the Foundation made distributions of approximately $495 million across 597 grants. Grant sizes vary considerably, with a median grant of $500,000 and maximum grants reaching $14 million. The Foundation maintains a structured grantmaking approach with dedicated leadership for different program areas, including senior vice presidents overseeing poverty, environment, democracy, and gender initiatives.
What size grants does Freedom Together Foundation award?
In 2024, Freedom Together Foundation awarded 595 grants totaling $470.0M — an average of about $790K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Freedom Together Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Freedom Together Foundation reported a distributable amount of $186.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Freedom Together Foundation's EIN?
Freedom Together Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0747216. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Freedom Together Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Tides Foundation
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Ford Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$891.5M
Grants
1,153
Total Given
$275.0M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PRINCETON, NJ
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
The Ojc Fund
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
3,410
Total Given
$386.1M
The New York Community Trust
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
American Express Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$48.9M
Grants
1,495
Total Given
$23.2M
Equitable Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$112.4M
Grants
1,453
Total Given
$5.5M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
More Funders in New York
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.