The Freedom Forum Inc
The Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) foundation based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all. Established on July 4, 1991, by founder Al Neuharth, the organization champions the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. The Freedom Forum operates as a private grantmaking foundation and serves as the nation's foremost advocate for First Amendment freedoms.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$650.2M
+7.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$465K
+0.7% YoY
Grant Count
93
-15.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+19.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To foster First Amendment freedoms for all.
Vision: An America where everyone knows, values and defends the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.
The Freedom Forum advances its mission through education, engagement, and inspiration. The organization teaches students, teachers, journalists, community leaders and lifelong learners about First Amendment freedoms, explores vital debates about these rights through expert content and digital storytelling, and surveys Americans annually about their First Amendment freedoms.
Grantmaking
The Freedom Forum makes grants to advance its mission of First Amendment advocacy and education. Recent grant activity includes awards to organizations such as:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Freedom Forum's grantmaking focuses primarily on Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $650,188,749
- Total Revenue: $25,784,721
- Total Expenses: $27,724,041
- Total Liabilities: $49,800,000
- Number of Employees: 52
The organization's work is supported by income from an endowment of diversified assets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $650,188,749 | $606,497,548 | $568,822,608 |
| Revenue | $25,784,721 | $46,038,530 | $6,577,550 |
| Expenses | $27,724,041 | $24,757,541 | $23,369,872 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,434,928 | $28,597,024 | $36,058,276 |
| Net Investment Income | $33,465,822 | $48,504,921 | $3,603,982 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
232 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dow Jones News Fund ($25,000), Helen Keller International ($20,000), East Coast Zoological Association of Florida ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY BOONE, NC | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TEMPE, AZ | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| BERRY COLLEGE INC MOUNT BERRY, GA | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY BOISE, ID | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY WILLIAMSBURG, VA | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| DEPAUL UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, IL | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY DES MOINES, IA | FREE SPIRIT SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAN NEUHARTH | CHAIR AND TRUSTEE | 40 | $794,216 |
| SHERRY MINEAR | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER | 40 | $351,251 |
| CINDY KEITH | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER | 40 | $219,567 |
| MICHAEL COLEMAN | SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 10 | $54,466 |
| JAMES ABBOTT | TRUSTEE | 5 | $22,500 |
| LUCY DALGLISH | TRUSTEE | 5 | $20,500 |
| R DAVID EDELMAN | TRUSTEE | 10 | $41,500 |
| JACK KIRSCHENBAUM | TRUSTEE | 10 | $34,487 |
| JOSH KIRSCHENBAUM | TRUSTEE | 5 | $31,000 |
| MALCOLM R KIRSCHENBAUM | TRUSTEE | 10 | $70,064 |
| JOHN LEE IV | TRUSTEE | 10 | $61,500 |
| DANIELLE NEUHARTH-KEUSCH | TRUSTEE | 5 | $32,000 |
| PETER S PRICHARD | TRUSTEE | 10 | $67,008 |
| ORAGE QUARLES III | TRUSTEE | 10 | $70,500 |
| BARBARA WALL | TRUSTEE | 5 | $59,500 |
| JUDY WOODRUFF | TRUSTEE | 5 | $21,000 |
| BRENT JONES | TRUSTEE | 5 | $20,500 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Freedom Forum Inc fund?
**Mission:** To foster First Amendment freedoms for all. **Vision:** An America where everyone knows, values and defends the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. The Freedom Forum advances its mission through education, engagement, and inspiration. The organization teaches students, teachers, journalists, community leaders and lifelong learners about First Amendment freedoms, explores vital debates about these rights through expert content and digital storytelling, and su…
How do I apply for a grant from The Freedom Forum Inc?
The Freedom Forum makes grants to advance its mission of First Amendment advocacy and education. Recent grant activity includes awards to organizations such as: • UND Alumni Association and Foundation ($25,000 for Trustee Initiatives) • University of South Dakota Foundation ($25,000 for James Abbott Scholarship Fund) • Special Operations Warrior Foundation ($25,000 for Trustee Initiatives) The organization distributed approximately $464,500 in grants in 2024, with typical awards ranging from $4…
Where does The Freedom Forum Inc make grants?
The Freedom Forum's grantmaking focuses primarily on Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Freedom Forum Inc award?
In 2024, The Freedom Forum Inc awarded 93 grants totaling $465K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Freedom Forum Inc's EIN?
The Freedom Forum Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1604427. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Freedom Forum Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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