Nonprofit · EIN 04-3678807
FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · LONG BEACH, CA 90802
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,097,538 | $1,115,653 | -$18,115 | $488,266 | $485,167 | $3,099 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,405,485 | $1,418,481 | -$12,996 | $456,091 | $434,877 | $21,214 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $673,734
- Program service revenue
- $377,975
- Investment income
- $0
- Royalties
- $31,748
- Net income from sales of inventory
- -$229
- Other revenue
- $45,829
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $63,333
- Other salaries and wages
- $469,376
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $578,854
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $9,888
- Occupancy
- $21,840
- Travel
- $317,513
- Depreciation
- $659
- Program services (functional)
- $957,790
- Management and general (functional)
- $120,938
- Fundraising (functional)
- $36,925
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $456,091
- Total assets, end of year
- $488,266
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $485,167
- Net assets, end of year
- $3,099
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $257,963
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,099
- Gross receipts
- $1,178,653
- Employees
- 27
- Year formed
- 2002
- State of legal domicile
- DE
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Gruwell | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $63,333 | $13,826 |
| Bob Romney | Chairman Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Dr Robert Hill | Secretary Trustee or director, Institutional trustee | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Julie Broady | Treasurer Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Giovanna Dottore | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Margrit B Polak | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Gruwell | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $80,065 | $14,662 |
| Bob Romney | Chairman Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Julie Broady | Secretary Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Giovanna Dottore | Treasurer Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Dr Robert Hill | Board Member Trustee or director, Institutional trustee | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Margrit B Polak | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 444 W OCEAN BLVD, LONG BEACH, CA 90802-4518
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Erin Gruwell, PO Box 41505, Long Beach, CA 90853
- Signed the 990
- Erin Gruwell, President
- Phone
- (562) 475-4932
- Return prepared by
- Zuehls Legaspi & Co
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 04-3678807 or by the name FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
The Freedom Writers mission is to provide educators with tools to empower all students to succeed.
Program accomplishments
- The organizations primary objectives are to develop curriculum and create opportunities that empower students to reach their full academic potential and aspire to higher education to publicly and systematically promote an educational philosopy that values, upholds, and honors diversity and inclusion while supporting Social Emotional Learning to inspire students to recognize and embrace their roles as vital members of their communities and to train educators to teach every student through challenging, relevant, and project-driven curriculum and activities.Expenses $910,802
- Development of educational literature, informational DVDs, documentaries, and other projects.Expenses $46,988
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 04-3678807
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2003
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B99)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $488,266
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,178,653
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,097,538 | $1,115,653 | $488,266 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,405,485 | $1,418,481 | $456,091 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,337,995 | $1,250,575 | $533,335 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 04-3678807).
Questions about FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION is 04-3678807.
- Is FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2003.
- Are donations to FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Erin Gruwell.
- Who are the officers and directors of FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 6 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $63,333 (Erin Gruwell, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $1,097,538, expenses of $1,115,653 and total assets of $488,266 at year end.
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