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Nonprofit · EIN 41-1856806

BREAKING FREE

Tax-exempt · SAINT PAUL, MN 55104

Financials

$2.1M$1.8M2023$1.9M$2.3M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of BREAKING FREE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$1,918,055$2,339,953-$421,898$491,047$199,833$291,214
June 30, 2024990$2,144,896$1,819,478$325,418$1,251,103$546,888$704,215
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,890,651
of which government grants
$1,627,462
Program service revenue
$24,722
Investment income
-$57
Net gain from sales of assets
-$147
Other revenue
$2,739

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$409,011
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$276,768
Other salaries and wages
$650,458
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,116,962
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$27,852
Occupancy
$457,143
Travel
$17,197
Depreciation
$13,102
Program services (functional)
$1,916,999
Management and general (functional)
$348,360
Fundraising (functional)
$74,594

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$1,251,103
Total assets, end of year
$491,047
Total liabilities, end of year
$199,833
Net assets, end of year
$291,214
Land, buildings and equipment
$43,164
Net assets without donor restrictions
$278,609
Net assets with donor restrictions
$12,605
Gross receipts
$1,918,202
Employees
29
Volunteers
36
Year formed
1996
State of legal domicile
MN

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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Lori QuistExecutive Director
Officer
40$137,841$6,703
Samantha JacobsonFinance Director until April 2025
Officer
40$88,805$4,542
Carla ReilingTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Amelia BeardChair
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Joel CessnaVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Jana DeachSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Darnell BakerMember
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Amy VallenMember
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Geoff SeperMember
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Connie ClarkFinance Director
Officer
40$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 10 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Lori QuistExecutive Director
Officer
40$122,708$8,449
Samantha JacobsonCFO
Officer
40$78,843$29,677
Kevin DotsonSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Carla ReilingTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Amelia BeardChair
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Joel CessnaVice Chair
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
Ann Haines Holy EagleMember
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Nicole EagleMember
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Grace ChildMember
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Sam TurnerMember
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
770 UNIVERSITY AVE W, SAINT PAUL, MN 55104-4805
In care of
% VENITA CARTER
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Lori Quist, PO Box 4366, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Signed the 990
Lori Quist, Executive Director
Phone
(651) 645-6557
Return prepared by
Abdo LLP

Mission

Empowering survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution to build new lives through safe housing, direct services, healing programs, survivor advocacy, worldwide policy change, and hope.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • Housing: As part of our housing improvements Breaking Free implemented a SMART goal format for housing plans. The SMART goals are determined by the client and could be completing a resume, addressing mental health, or working on housing related goals. The advocates offer follow-up and support as needed.Breaking Free successfully transitioned from a master-lease and scattered-site housing model to becoming a fully scattered site housing program. With our client's success and safety in mind we chose not to renew our three master-leased buildings and moved those clients to scattered site apartments to either graduate from our program with a Section 8 voucher or to continue with Breaking Free as a scattered site client.
    Expenses $1,286,621 · grants $393,491 · revenue $24,722
  • Advocacy: Breaking Free expanded access to survivor-centered services this year through the implementation of LIFT, a new virtual support group designed to reduce barriers and increase connection for survivors. LIFT provides participants with a safe, trauma informed space to build community, strengthen coping skills, and access peer support regardless of location, transportation challenges, or safety concerns. By offering this group in a virtual format, Breaking Free has been able to reach survivors who may be unable to participate in in person programming, increasing engagement while responding to evolving survivor needs.This year, Breaking Free also prioritized strengthening our advocacy workforce by investing in expanded training opportunities for our advocates. Staff participated in new, specialized trainings focused on trauma informed care, emerging best practices, and the complex, intersecting needs of survivors. In addition, we broadened our internal training curriculum to ensure advocates are equipped with consistent, high quality tools and knowledge across all programs. These enhancements have increased our organizational capacity, improved service quality, and ensured that survivors receive informed, responsive, and culturally competent support.
    Expenses $367,653 · grants $8,687
  • Outreach: Breaking Free expanded its outreach efforts this year through continued mobile outreach using our outreach bus to engage individuals living in homeless encampments and other high risk environments. This approach has been instrumental in building trust with unsheltered and marginalized individuals while providing immediate access to stabilization support, essential resources, and connections to housing and ongoing services. Through coordinated anti trafficking street outreach across Ramsey County and participation in community tabling events, Breaking Free increased awareness of available services and strengthened connections with individuals most in need.To further enhance outreach impact, Breaking Free established new partnerships with local community businesses including Chuck & Don's, Whole Foods, Kowalski's, and others to provide food, hygiene items, and supplies directly to clients during outreach. These collaborations, alongside ongoing partnerships with community organizations and law enforcement, have strengthened our ability to respond to immediate needs while offering compassionate, survivor centered pathways toward safety, recovery, and long term stability.
    Expenses $262,725 · grants $6,833

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
41-1856806
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
1997
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P43)
Assets (IRS master file)
$491,047
Income (IRS master file)
$1,918,202

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$1,918,055$2,339,953$491,047IRS
990June 2024$2,144,896$1,819,478$1,251,103XML
990June 2023$1,773,771$1,811,547$1,543,194IRS
990June 2022$2,044,536$2,221,916$849,745IRS
990June 2021–––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 41-1856806).

Questions about BREAKING FREE

What is the EIN of BREAKING FREE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of BREAKING FREE is 41-1856806.
Is BREAKING FREE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1997.
Are donations to BREAKING FREE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does BREAKING FREE 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 BREAKING FREE 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 BREAKING FREE 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 BREAKING FREE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Lori Quist.
Who are the officers and directors of BREAKING FREE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 10 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $137,841 (Lori Quist, Executive Director).
How much revenue does BREAKING FREE have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,918,055, expenses of $2,339,953 and total assets of $491,047 at year end.

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