Join Freeworld
Join Freeworld reported $20.5 million in revenue and $16.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.39 went to program services, $8.33 to management and general costs and $6.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 91.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $304,906 (FOUNDER & CEO). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 302% between 2022 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor context, the median across 274 covered crime & legal-related charities: $87.85 programs, $11.30 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.4% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.3% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 91.3% | 94.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 50.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $304,906 | $245,814 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.86% | 1.41% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.8 | 6.4 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 3 of 3 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseGeneral program - free world provides justice-impacted individuals with full support, education,and training to obtain their class a cdl license once a program participant graduates, we assist them with finding a career and continue to provide career and support services for three additional years to assist them with building wealth, ending generational poverty, and remaining prison - free
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNDER & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $295,536 | $0 | $9,370 | $304,906 |
| CTO Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $266,257 | $0 | $12,910 | $279,167 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,526 | $0 | $12,891 | $260,417 |
| ENGINEERING LEAD Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,663 | $0 | $7,628 | $189,291 |
| CFO Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,316 | $0 | $6,350 | $181,666 |
| DIRECTOR - PEOPLE Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,274 | $0 | $10,350 | $163,624 |
| DIRECTOR - DEVELOP Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,137 | $0 | $10,272 | $142,409 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Join Freeworld (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $565K (Part IX, line 5).
4 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b3 · 3 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 544
- Volunteers Part I, line 63
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ACE TRUCKING ACADEMY LLC Trucking | $511,780 |
| 3 RIVERS CDL Trucking | $465,000 |
| KINDLE TRUCKING SCHOOL Trucking | $405,825 |
| RIGHT LANE TRUCKING ACADEMY Trucking | $330,000 |
| THE GREENER THINGS LLC Trucking | $256,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
6 private foundations reported grants to Join Freeworld totaling $905K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Join Freeworld's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Join Freeworld, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Join Freeworld spent in 2025, $85.39 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Children's Advocacy Centers of IllinoisSpringfield, IL · revenue $20M · programs 99.5% · FY2025
- The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale FoundationBronx, NY · revenue $21M · programs 85.3% · 2024
- Inland Counties Legal ServicesRiverside, CA · revenue $20M · programs 79.3% · 2024
- South Jersey Legal ServicesCamden, NJ · revenue $21M · programs 88.9% · 2025
- Youth Opportunity CenterMuncie, IN · revenue $20M · programs 69.4% · FY2025
All crime & legal-related charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of Join Freeworld's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Join Freeworld reported that 85.4% of its $16.4 million in expenses went to program services, 8.3% to management and general and 6.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Join Freeworld pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Join Freeworld reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $304,906, for the role of FOUNDER & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Join Freeworld get its money?
Of $20.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 91.3% came from contributions and grants and 0.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Join Freeworld a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 85-4029841 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202612549349300306 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202542239349301119 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433139349303203 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202440169349302124 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 85-4029841: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.