Nonprofit · EIN 27-2521943
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT
Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93109
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $842,784 | $881,885 | -$39,101 | $1,163,070 | $359,151 | $803,919 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 (amended) | $693,369 | $651,780 | $41,589 | $980,694 | $233,018 | $747,676 |
| December 31, 2022 | 990 (amended) | $549,035 | $431,508 | $117,527 | $721,660 | $14,453 | $707,207 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $806,984
- of which government grants
- $572,594
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $23,839
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $872
- Other revenue
- $11,961
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $1,200
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $132,510
- Other salaries and wages
- $431,335
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $670,709
- Professional fundraising fees
- $7,122
- Accounting fees
- $6,240
- Occupancy
- $29,000
- Travel
- $24,923
- Program services (functional)
- $747,204
- Management and general (functional)
- $86,272
- Fundraising (functional)
- $48,409
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $980,694
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,163,070
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $359,151
- Net assets, end of year
- $803,919
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $15,564
- Publicly traded securities
- $956,538
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $803,919
- Gross receipts
- $844,783
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 150
- Year formed
- 2010
- State of legal domicile
- CA
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORREST LEICHTBERG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $132,510 |
| BONNIE PAUL PHD | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| LELAND KEEL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| DAVID PAUL MD PHD | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| MICHAEL LATTIMORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| FRAN LEWBEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MICHAEL BALDWIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| MOLLY REID | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| KIRK SOUDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| KAREN PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 10 | $0 |
| KIM CULMONE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORREST LEICHTBERG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $45,231 |
| KAREN PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 10 | $19,039 |
| BONNIE PAUL PHD | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| LELAND KEEL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| DAVID PAUL MD PHD | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| MICHAEL LATTIMORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| FRAN LEWBEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MICHAEL BALDWIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MOLLY REID | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| KIRK SOUDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| KIM CULMONE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2022: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN PETERSON PHD | DIRECTOR & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $27,659 |
| BONNIE PAUL PHD | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| DAVID PAUL MD PHD | BOARD PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| CLAUDIA FLORES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MICHAEL LATTIMORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| HOLLY COOK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MICHAEL BALDWIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MOLLY REID | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 315 MEIGS RD A295, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93109-1900
- Mailing address (990-N for 2010)
- 535 La Marina, Santa Barbara CA 93103
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- FORREST LEICHTBERG, 315 MEIGS ROAD A295, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93109
- Principal officer (990-N for 2010)
- David Paul, 535 La Marina, Santa Barbara CA 93103
- Signed the 990
- FORREST LEICHTBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (805) 323-6543
- Return prepared by
- HINRICHER & COUSINO LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 27-2521943 or by the name FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT.
- 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 TO CHOOSE PROJECT EMPOWERS INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH A TRAUMA-INFORMED, EXPERIENTIAL CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON EMOTIONAL HEALING, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.
Program accomplishments
- OUR PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE INTERCONNECTED COMPONENTS THAT CREATE A POWERFUL CONTINUUM OF CARE: 1. IMMERSIVE IN-PRISON WORKSHOPS - LARGE WEEKEND INTENSIVES WHERE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH INCARCERATED PARTICIPANTS IN A BILINGUAL, HEALING-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT. 2. MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPS - ONGOING IN-PRISON CLASSES LED BY PEER FACILITATORS AND SUPPORTED BY FTC VOLUNTEERS, REINFORCING LIFE SKILLS AND PROVIDING CONTINUED GROWTH AND CONNECTION. 3. CORRESPONDENCE PROGRAM - A VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN INITIATIVE WHERE PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE WRITTEN GROWTHWORK AND RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED, COMPASSIONATE FEEDBACK. TOGETHER, THESE COMPONENTS PROVIDE CONSISTENT, LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS RECLAIM THEIR HUMANITY AND RETURN TO SOCIETY WITH THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED-IMPACTING NOT JUST THEIR OWN LIVES, BUT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AS WELL.Expenses $747,204 · grants $1,200 · revenue $566,184
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
- 27-2521943
- 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
- 2010
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I40)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,163,070
- Income (IRS master file)
- $844,783
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $842,784 | $881,885 | $1,163,070 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $693,369 | $651,780 | $980,694 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $549,035 | $431,508 | $721,660 | XML |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2010 Officer: David Paul | December 31, 2010 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 27-2521943).
Questions about FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT
- What is the EIN of FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT is 27-2521943.
- Is FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2010.
- Are donations to FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT 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 TO CHOOSE PROJECT 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 TO CHOOSE PROJECT 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 TO CHOOSE PROJECT?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names FORREST LEICHTBERG.
- Who are the officers and directors of FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $132,510 (FORREST LEICHTBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $842,784, expenses of $881,885 and total assets of $1,163,070 at year end.
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- BESUSTAINED EIN 93-2945983 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
All nonprofits in SANTA BARBARA · California · Crime and legal-related