The Freedom Forum Inc
THE FREEDOM FORUM INC is based in Washington, DC, and is listed as a private foundation. Its stated mission is to foster First Amendment freedoms for all. It educates, engages and inspires people around the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.
Key facts about The Freedom Forum Inc
In short: The Freedom Forum Inc gave $465K across 93 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Florida. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 54-1604427
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $464,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 93
- Average grant
- $4,995
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (34 of 89, 2024)
- Total assets
- $650,188,749
- Primary geography
- Florida (21% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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
Is The Freedom Forum Inc open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 89 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Freedom Forum’s mission is to foster First Amendment freedoms for all. Its stated vision is an America where everyone knows, values and defends the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.
Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied stated missions. The National Constitution Center describes itself as a platform for nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue. The International Women’s Media Foundation says it works to advance women journalists as champions of press freedom. The University of South Dakota Foundation says it provides private resources to improve students’ educational experience, while the UND Alumni Association and Foundation says it engages alumni, friends and partners in building the University of North Dakota. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation describes its work as providing comprehensive educational support to children of special operations personnel.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Freedom Forum reported 93 grants totaling $464,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards included $25,000 each to Dow Jones News Fund, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, UND Alumni Association and Foundation, National Constitution Center, and University of South Dakota Foundation. The filing lists purposes including “Trustee Initiatives,” “General Support,” and the “James Abbott Scholarship Fund.”
Ready to take the next step with The Freedom Forum Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Florida (21%), New York (10%), South Dakota (10%), Washington, DC (9%), and Pennsylvania (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 93 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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
379 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DOW JONES NEWS FUND Princeton, NJ | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $25,000 |
| SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION Tampa, FL | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $25,000 |
| UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION Grand Forks, ND | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $25,000 |
| NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER Philadelphia, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA FOUNDATION Vermillion, SD | JAMES ABBOTT SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $25,000 |
| HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL New York, NY | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $20,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA FOUNDATION Vermillion, SD | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $15,000 |
| EAST COAST ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA Melbourne, FL | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $10,000 |
| FOOLPROOF FOUNDATION Cocoa, FL | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $10,000 |
| HEALTH FIRST FOUNDATION INC Rockledge, FL | TRUSTEE INITIATIVES | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $650,188,749 | $25,784,721 | $27,724,041 | $464,500 |
| 2023 | $606,497,548 | $46,038,530 | $24,757,541 | $461,401 |
| 2022 | $568,822,608 | $6,577,550 | $23,369,872 | $1,335,099 |
| 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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jan Neuharth as chair and trustee; Sherry Minear as chief financial officer and treasurer; Cindy Keith as chief human resource officer; and Michael Coleman as secretary and trustee. It also lists James Abbott, Lucy Dalglish, R. David Edelman, Jack Kirschenbaum, Josh Kirschenbaum and Malcolm R. Kirschenbaum as trustees.
The Freedom Forum Inc is led by Jan Neuharth, Chair & Trustee since 2024 (on filings since 2020); all 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jan Neuharth
Chair & Trustee
Chair & Chief Executive Officer → Chair & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$510K (2020) → $794K (2024)
Barbara Wall
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $60K (2024)
Jack Kirschenbaum
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $34K (2024)
James Abbott
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $23K (2024)
John Lee IV
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $62K (2024)
Judy C. Woodruff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $21K (2024)
Malcolm R. Kirschenbaum
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$43K (2020) → $70K (2024)
Michael Coleman
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $54K (2024)
Orage Quarles III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $71K (2024)
Peter S. Prichard
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$43K (2020) → $67K (2024)
R. David Edelman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$15K (2021) → $42K (2024)
Danielle Neuharth-Keusch
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$3K (2022) → $32K (2024)
Josh Kirschenbaum
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$3K (2022) → $31K (2024)
Lucy Dalglish
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$3K (2022) → $21K (2024)
Brent Jones
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$21K (2024)
Cindy Keith
Chief Human Resource Officer
Chief Human Resource Officer & Vice President → Chief Human Resource Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$144K (2020) → $220K (2024)
Sherry Minear
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Chief Administrator, Vice President & Controller → Treasurer, CFO & Chief Administrator Officer, 2021
Treasurer, CFO & Chief Administrator Officer → Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$190K (2020) → $351K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Nicole F. Mandeville (2020–2021) — Treasurer & CFO - Left
- Former: Pamela Y. Galloway-Tabb (2020) — Senior Vice President Conference
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
Contact
Mailing address: 610 Water Street Sw 300, Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 292-6100
Website: https://freedomforum.org
Frequently asked questions about The Freedom Forum Inc
How much does The Freedom Forum Inc give each year?
The Freedom Forum Inc gave $465K across 93 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $461K across 110 grants.
What is The Freedom Forum Inc's typical grant size?
The Freedom Forum Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $4,995, across 93 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Freedom Forum Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Freedom Forum Inc give grants?
The Freedom Forum Inc's top state is Florida, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (10%) and South Dakota (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (8 grants), San Francisco, CA (5 grants), Melbourne, FL (5 grants) and Cocoa, FL (4 grants).
Does The Freedom Forum Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of The Freedom Forum Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 93) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Trustee Initiatives" (60 grants) and "Free Spirit Scholarship" (28 grants).
Who are The Freedom Forum Inc's largest grantees?
The Freedom Forum Inc's largest 2024 grantees include University of South Dakota Foundation ($40,000 across 2 grants), National Constitution Center ($35,000 across 2 grants) and Dow Jones News Fund ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Freedom Forum Inc?
The Freedom Forum Inc reported $650.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $25.8M.
What does The Freedom Forum Inc fund?
Freedom Forum’s mission is to foster First Amendment freedoms for all. Its stated vision is an America where everyone knows, values and defends the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied stated missions. The National Constitution Center describes itself as a platform for nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue. The International Women’s Media Foundation says it works to advance women journalists as champions …
How do I apply for a grant from The Freedom Forum Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Freedom Forum Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Freedom Forum Inc by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Freedom Forum Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Ge Aerospace Foundation
Norwalk, CT
The GE Aerospace Foundation supports engineering education, workforce development, military and veterans causes, and disaster relief in communities where GE Aerospace employees live and work around the world. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10 to nearly $6 million, with a median of $429; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Tulsa Community Foundation
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa Community Foundation supports a broad range of charitable needs, including arts and humanities, healthcare, education, scholarships, emergency assistance, and endowments. Its 2024 grants had a median of $18,560 and primarily benefited the Tulsa area and eastern Oklahoma, with grants also reaching elsewhere in the U.S.; it administers application cycles for selected funds.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,066
Total Given
$158.6M
NCRC Community Development Fund Inc
Washington, DC
NCRC Community Development Fund supports affordable housing and homeownership, small businesses—especially minority-owned, women-owned, and low-income businesses—and certain nonprofit programs that provide capital or services to underserved communities. Its listed awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, though typical giving is not stated; it serves communities across the U.S., with some programs focused on Illinois. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$55.6M
Grants
2,666
Total Given
$149.3M
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Washington, DC
The Greater Washington Community Foundation supports nonprofits and community initiatives across areas including education, health, human services, arts, economic development, and workforce development, with a focus on equity and economic justice. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $9.1 million, with a median of $20,000; it centers its work on DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, and Northern Virginia. It accepts applications through scheduled competitive grant rounds and some solicited, invite-only opportunities; donor-recommended grants are not open to applicants.
Assets
$518.3M
Grants
1,417
Total Given
$116.9M
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Washington, DC
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds competitive projects that conserve or restore fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats, including habitat restoration, species recovery, and coastal and watershed resilience; it does not fund advocacy or litigation. It works across all 50 states and U.S. territories, with a 2024 median grant of $81,584 and awards ranging from $5,169 to $29 million. Applications are made through specific grant programs and their requests for proposals; whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.
Assets
$3.6B
Grants
1,286
Total Given
$464.4M
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc
Washington, DC
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation supports U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations working in areas including civil rights, democracy, education, health, community affairs, and the environment. Its 2022 filing reports grants ranging from roughly $3 million to $8.9 million among examples, but the typical giving level is not established. The available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$361.1M
Grants
1,134
Total Given
$165.7M
New Venture Fund
Washington, DC
New Venture Fund supports fiscally sponsored charitable projects and grantmaking in areas including conservation, education, health, civil rights, climate, international development, and the arts, with grants across multiple U.S. states and some global programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $101,000, though amounts varied widely; unsolicited requests are not addressed in the information provided.
Assets
$624.9M
Grants
854
Total Given
$359.6M
AARP
Washington, DC
AARP funds organizations working on aging-related issues, including technology access, caregiving, legal services, research, and community programs. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,020 to $7.4 million, with a median of $15,000; reported grant dollars were concentrated in New York, Washington, DC, and Colorado. The profile does not state whether AARP accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.1B
Grants
688
Total Given
$35.8M
Frontstream Global Fund
Washington, DC
FrontStream Global Fund distributes donations raised through workplace giving, corporate philanthropy, and other fundraising activities to donor-designated IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charities across the United States. Its 2025 grants had a median of $13,714 and ranged from $5,003 to $358,589. It distributes funds according to donor recommendations; unsolicited requests are not addressed in the information provided.
Assets
$421K
Grants
556
Total Given
$13.4M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Pfizer Foundation funds locally led health programs that improve access to care and strengthen health systems, as well as health-crisis and disaster responses, worldwide. In 2024, grants ranged from $2 to $4 million, with a median of $200. It supports only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
The foundation supports neighborhood revitalization, underserved small businesses, financial health, and economic mobility and career pathways, with 2024 grants ranging from $4 to $4,635,000 and a median of $550. Its grants reached organizations across multiple U.S. locations, including Washington, DC, New York, California, Illinois, Washington state, and Georgia. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
11,076
Total Given
$193.0M
More Funders in District of Columbia
The Freedom Forum Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?