The Freedom Fund
The Freedom Fund is a public charity based in Brooklyn, New York, that invests in frontline efforts to end modern slavery. It supports organisations and movements working in places and sectors where slavery is highly prevalent, and describes its approach as combining frontline investment, movement building, evidence and capital raising.
The Freedom Fund at a glance
In short: The Freedom Fund gave $2.5M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $126K), top state District of Columbia. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,526,998
- -12.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +17.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $126,350
- -25.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $118,500
- Total assets
- $37,919,285
- -7.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (5 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Freedom Fund
- How to Apply
-
The Survivor Leadership Fund page describes an application process for eligible survivor-led organisations, followed by a discussion with Freedom Fund staff for applicants meeting the criteria. The listed 21 September 2026 deadline for that round has passed. The Convening Fund is not accepting requests or applications at this time.
- Contact
Mailing address: 315 Flatbush Avenue 406, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (929) 224-2448
Website: https://freedomfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Freedom Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Transparentem Ltd ($300K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 26 grants of 75 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Freedom Fund says it works in countries and sectors where modern slavery is highly prevalent and invests in “hotspots” where slavery is most prevalent. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were DC (45%), NY (16%), CA (14%), IL (9%) and MD (7%).
The Survivor Leadership Fund page specified central and eastern Indonesia—East Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Timur and Nusa Tenggara Barat—for the round with the now-past September 2026 deadline.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Freedom Fund open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 20 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $109K; repeat grants $132K. How we count
Medians: $117K first-time, $120K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2021) to $2.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Transparentem Ltd New York, NY | End Modern Slavery | $300,000 |
| Human Trafficking Legal Centre Washington, DC | End Modern Slavery | $287,500 |
| Polaris Washington, DC | End Modern Slavery | $253,125 |
| Tides Center San Francisco, CA | End Modern Slavery | $205,000 |
| Greenpeace Fund Washington, DC | End Modern Slavery | $200,000 |
| Norc Bethesda, MD | End Modern Slavery | $185,840 |
| GLJ-Ilrf Washington, DC | End Modern Slavery | $150,000 |
| Busara Center for Behavioral Economics Inc Princeton, NJ | End Modern Slavery | $133,108 |
| Free the Slaves Washington, DC | End Modern Slavery | $125,625 |
| Corporate Accountability Lab Chicago, IL | End Modern Slavery | $120,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Freedom Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,919,285 | $19,705,081 | $22,789,774 | $2,526,998 | 20 | $1,797,723 |
| 2023 | $40,897,993 | $16,745,454 | $22,499,766 | $2,897,670 | 17 | $1,097,102 |
| 2022 | $45,895,614 | $13,472,289 | $19,583,402 | $2,386,077 | 13 | $99,895 |
| 2021 | $51,719,352 | $51,201,158 | $12,709,141 | $1,225,236 | 9 | $6,275 |
| 2020 | $12,548,545 | $18,685,548 | $14,948,943 | $1,376,534 | 16 | $26,041 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Freedom Fund’s mission is to identify and invest in effective frontline efforts to eradicate modern slavery where it is most prevalent. Its 2024 filing describes work through hotspot projects, movement building and global initiatives. These include investing in community-based organisations, supporting collaboration among anti-slavery actors, and coordinating efforts around sectoral or other slavery-related issues. Its website also describes corporate accountability work, including advocacy and litigation intended to increase accountability for forced labour and influence corporate behaviour.
The funder says it invests in and partners with frontline organisations and leaders. Its 2024 grants included organisations whose own stated missions span supply-chain investigations, labour rights, anti-slavery work and corporate accountability. For example, Transparentem says it works with workers and communities to uncover supply-chain abuses and advance labour and environmental justice; Free the Slaves says its mission is to end slavery and human trafficking worldwide; and Corporate Accountability Lab says it uses law to protect people and the planet from corporate abuse. The Freedom Fund’s website also describes support for survivor-led organisations and movement-building activities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Freedom Fund reported 20 grants totaling $2,526,998. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $300,000, with a median of $118,500. The largest reported grants included $300,000 to Transparentem Ltd, $287,500 to Human Trafficking Legal Centre, $253,125 to Polaris, $205,000 to Tides Center and $200,000 to Greenpeace Fund. The filing listed “END MODERN SLAVERY” as the purpose for these grants.
Other 2024 recipients included NORC ($185,840), GLJ-ILRF ($150,000), Busara Center for Behavioral Economics Inc. ($133,108), Free the Slaves ($125,625), Corporate Accountability Lab ($120,000), Institute of Food ($117,000) and International Labor Rights Forum ($90,000). The filing’s grant agreements identify deliverables and require financial reports; the filing says deliverables are monitored and that, where applicable, later installments may be delayed until they are met.
The Survivor Leadership Fund page describes one-year unrestricted grants of up to US $20,000 for eligible survivor-led organisations, with a possible second-year grant of $25,000 for selected partners. The funding can support an organisation’s overall needs, including programmes, staff and office costs. Eligibility requires at least one person with lived experience of exploitation in a leadership position; applicants who meet the criteria are invited to discuss their work with a panel of Freedom Fund staff. The page listed a deadline of 21 September 2026 for its round in central and eastern Indonesia; that deadline has passed. The Convening Fund page says it is not accepting requests or applications at this time. It describes small grants for existing Freedom Fund movement-building partners to support inclusive regional or international anti-slavery convenings or individual survivor participation; funding for other convening costs, including staff costs, is excluded.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Molly Gochman as chair; Shruti Chandrasekhar, Natasha Dolby, Michelle Yue, Andre Doust, Mahendra Pandey and Katharine Bryant as trustees; Nicholas Grono as CEO/president; Zoe Marshall as director of finance/secretary; and Amy Rahe as managing director of North America.
The Freedom Fund is led by Nicholas Grono, CEO & President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nicholas Grono
CEO & President
CEO & President → CEO, 2021
CEO → CEO & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$302K (2020) → $272K (2024)
Erin Phelps
Senior Adviser to the CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$109K (2022) → $126K (2024)
Molly Gochman
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Vexler
Managing Director of Programs
Director of Programs → Managing Director of Programs, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $139K (2024)
Amy Rahe
Managing Director of North America
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$149K (2021) → $202K (2024)
Zoe Marshall
Director of Finance & Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$109K (2020) → $136K (2024)
Havovi Wadia
Director of Programs
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$100K (2022) → $117K (2024)
Mahendra Pandey
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natasha Dolby
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andre Doust
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Bryant
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Yue
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shruti Chandrasekhar
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yuki Lo
Head of Research & Evaluation
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$103K (2021) → $108K (2024)
Danielle Stouck
Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2024)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Alan McCormick (2020–2023) — Chair · Filing note: Thru nov
- Former: Felicity Gooding (2020–2023) — Treasurer · Filing note: Thru nov
- Former: Grace Forrest (2020–2023) — Trustee · Filing note: Thru nov
- Former: Philippe Sion (2020–2023) — Trustee · Filing note: Thru nov
- Former: Maggie Gardner (2021) — Managing Director of Development & Partnerships
- Former: Diane Miller (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Ed Marcum (2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Thru March 2020
- Former: Kevin Bale (2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Thru July 2020
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $272K, to Nicholas Grono (CEO/President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Freedom Fund
How much does The Freedom Fund give each year?
The Freedom Fund gave $2.5M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 17 grants.
What is The Freedom Fund's typical grant size?
The Freedom Fund's median grant in 2024 was $118,500, and its average grant was $126,350, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Freedom Fund that year got $109K on average.
Where does The Freedom Fund give grants?
The Freedom Fund's top state is District of Columbia, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (16%) and California (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Berkeley, CA (2 grants).
Does The Freedom Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on The Freedom Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "End Modern Slavery" (20 grants).
Who are The Freedom Fund's largest grantees?
The Freedom Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Transparentem Ltd ($300,000), Human Trafficking Legal Centre ($287,500) and Polaris ($253,125), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Freedom Fund?
The Freedom Fund reported $37.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19.7M.
What does The Freedom Fund fund?
The Freedom Fund’s mission is to identify and invest in effective frontline efforts to eradicate modern slavery where it is most prevalent. Its 2024 filing describes work through hotspot projects, movement building and global initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Freedom Fund?
The Survivor Leadership Fund page describes an application process for eligible survivor-led organisations, followed by a discussion with Freedom Fund staff for applicants meeting the criteria. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Freedom Fund's EIN?
The Freedom Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0805768. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Freedom Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Freedom Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-freedom-fund-morg_4c44bdde2afd4d8bb89c4921d4e04209
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300805768_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Freedom Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-freedom-fund-morg_4c44bdde2afd4d8bb89c4921d4e04209},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 The Freedom Fund'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.
The Freedom Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?