Nonprofit · EIN 31-1436217
NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC
Tax-exempt · CINCINNATI, OH 45202
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $7,881,954 | $7,341,870 | $540,084 | $34,041,674 | $5,254,682 | $28,786,992 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $4,523,107 | $7,371,913 | -$2,848,806 | $30,491,227 | $2,457,078 | $28,034,149 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $7,986,242 | $7,006,594 | $979,648 | $31,759,791 | $1,403,990 | $30,355,801 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $6,559,278
- of which government grants
- $532,585
- Program service revenue
- $906,458
- Investment income
- $510
- Net rental income
- $192,133
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $491
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $140,752
- Other revenue
- $415,708
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $37,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $241,628
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,229,993
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,777,470
- Professional fundraising fees
- $302,920
- Legal fees
- $19,520
- Accounting fees
- $46,285
- Occupancy
- $778,447
- Travel
- $98,511
- Depreciation
- $1,001,047
- Program services (functional)
- $4,659,256
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,478,659
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,203,955
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $30,491,227
- Total assets, end of year
- $34,041,674
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $5,254,682
- Net assets, end of year
- $28,786,992
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $20,414,648
- Publicly traded securities
- $9,470,705
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $16,293,418
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $12,493,574
- Gross unrelated business income
- $235,958
- Gross receipts
- $8,123,495
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 120
- Year formed
- 1995
- State of legal domicile
- OH
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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH PIERCE | CEO, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $414,893 | $52,791 |
| JILL BERKEMEIER | CFO, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $306,859 | $16,537 |
| WOODROW KEOWN | PRESIDENT AND COO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $232,615 | $0 | $3,938 |
| ADAM MORTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILL BAKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN SAND | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| C ED MASSEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLE WILLIAMS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES BROWN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARNELLA GROSSMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAMON JONES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAWN GILMORE | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| EDGAR SMITH JR | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| HON JEFFERY HOPKINS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JAIA THOMAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
24 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY DICKERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KENNETH PARKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KENNETH ROBINSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN WAKLATSI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LUKE BLOCHER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MEGGAN THOMPSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL CIOFFI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL MOORE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NICOLE REDUS | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PAUL BOOTH JR | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PETE STRANGE | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RICO GRANT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERT JONES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERT MCDONALD | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| ROY MITCHELL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RYAN KILPATRICK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SARAH WEISS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SEAN RUGLESS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SHAWN WARREN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SONYA WALTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE JONES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SUSAN ESLER | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TIM STEIGERWALD | BOARD MEMBER, CMC BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ZAHKI DAVIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 31 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH PIERCE | CEO, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $355,272 | $59,303 |
| JILL BERKEMEIER | CFO, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $271,868 | $15,191 |
| WOODROW KEOWN | PRESIDENT AND COO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $240,000 | $0 | $4,005 |
| ERIC NEWSOM | VP OF PHILANTHROPY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $138,328 | $0 | $12,237 |
| BARBARA TURNER | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN SAND | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN THOMAS | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| C ED MASSEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLE WILLIAMS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES BROWN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAMON JONES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAWN GILMORE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| EDGAR SMITH JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| EDWIN RIGAUD | HON CO-CHAIR, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| HON JEFFERY HOPKINS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JAIA THOMAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN PEPPER | HON CO-CHAIR, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| KENNETH ROBINSON | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MEGGAN THOMPSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL MOORE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLE REDUS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL BOOTH JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PETE STRANGE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PHILLIP LANHAM | OUTGOING VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| REV DAMON LYNCH JR | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT JONES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT MCDONALD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROY MITCHELL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SEAN RUGLESS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SUNDAR RAMAN | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN ESLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 24 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH PIERCE | CEO, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $365,098 | $55,602 |
| JILL BERKEMEIER | CFO, EX OFFICIO, TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $260,000 | $14,559 |
| WOODROW KEOWN JR | PRESIDENT AND COO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $245,000 | $0 | $4,358 |
| BARBARA TURNER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| BEVERLY GRANT | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN THOMAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| C ED MASSEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLE WILLIAMS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAWN GILMORE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| EDGAR SMITH JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| EDWIN RIGAUD | HON CO-CHAIR, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| HON JEFFERY HOPKINS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN PEPPER | HON CO-CHAIR, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| KALA GIBSON | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| KENNETH ROBINSON | BOARD CHAIR, EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARTIN MOONEY | OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLE REDUS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL BOOTH JR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PETE STRANGE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| PHILLIP LANHAM | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| REV DAMON LYNCH | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SEAN RUGLESS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SUNDAR RAMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN ESLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 50 E FREEDOM WAY, CINCINNATI, OH 45202-3413
- In care of
- % JILL BERKEMEIER
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- ELIZABETH PIERCE, 1301 WESTERN AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45203
- Signed the 990
- JILL BERKEMEIER, CFO
- Phone
- (513) 333-7500
- Website
- WWW.FREEDOMCENTER.ORG
- Return prepared by
- COHNREZNICK ADVISORY LLC
Mission
TO REVEAL STORIES ABOUT FREEDOM'S HEROES, FROM THE ERA OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO CONTEMPORARY TIMES, CHALLENGING AND INSPIRING EVERYONE TO TAKE COURAGEOUS STEPS FOR FREEDOM TODAY.
Program accomplishments
- MUSEUM OPERATION: TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE CONDUIT FOR THE PUBLIC DISSEMINATION ON THE IMPACT OF SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE EFFECTIVE USE OF HIGH-TECH INTERACTIVE PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS, ROTATING TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS, AND A COLLECTION OF OWNED AND BORROWED ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING AN AUTHENTIC 19TH CENTURY SLAVE PEN FROM MASON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. THE MUSEUM ALSO FEATURES A FULL SERVICE GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY, A GIFT SHOP OFFERING FAIR-TRADE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC GOODS, A TEACHER RESOURCE AND EDUCATION CENTER, AND MULTI-PURPOSE CLASSROOM SPACE.Expenses $2,935,332 · grants $37,000 · revenue $907,006
- EDUCATION: TO EDUCATE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (K-12), INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD THROUGH GUIDED TOURS, TEACHER WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS, SCHOLARLY LECTURES, PUBLIC FORUMS, FIRST-PERSON RE-ENACTMENTS, AND DIGITAL/DISTANCE LEARNING INITIATIVES, INCLUDING PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL CONTENT NATIONWIDE.Expenses $1,490,962 · revenue $156,877
- COMMUNITY: TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WITH LIKE PURPOSE ENTITIES AND TO HOST COMMUNITY FORUMS AND PARTNER PROGRAMS THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE FREEDOM CENTER. PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOR-PROFIT AND NON-PROFIT ENTITIES ENABLE THE FREEDOM CENTER TO EXPAND THE RESOURCES AND THE REACH OF ITS PURPOSE, INCLUDING THE AWARENESS OF THE SIX CONTEMPORARY UNFREEDOMS: RACISM, ILLITERACY, GENOCIDE, HUNGER, TYRANNY, AND SLAVERY.Expenses $232,962
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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 31-1436217
- 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
- 1995
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A540)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $34,041,674
- Income (IRS master file)
- $8,123,495
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $7,881,954 | $7,341,870 | $34,041,674 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $4,523,107 | $7,371,913 | $30,491,227 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $7,986,242 | $7,006,594 | $31,759,791 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $8,992,770 | $6,574,195 | $30,364,054 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | 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 31-1436217).
Questions about NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC
- What is the EIN of NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC is 31-1436217.
- Is NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1995.
- Are donations to NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC 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 NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names ELIZABETH PIERCE.
- Who are the officers and directors of NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 39 people; 1 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,881,954, expenses of $7,341,870 and total assets of $34,041,674 at year end.
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