Nonprofit · EIN 86-3784512
ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · GILBERT, AZ 85233
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $328,840 | $321,910 | $6,930 | $86,558 | $520 | $86,038 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $263,735 | $322,802 | -$59,067 | $79,108 | $0 | $79,108 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $294,939 | $316,420 | -$21,481 | $138,741 | $566 | $138,175 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $328,840
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $91,800
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $91,800
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $13,187
- Depreciation
- $830
- Program services (functional)
- $282,939
- Management and general (functional)
- $19,665
- Fundraising (functional)
- $19,306
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $79,108
- Total assets, end of year
- $86,558
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $520
- Net assets, end of year
- $86,038
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $2,068
- Gross receipts
- $328,840
- Employees
- 0
- Year formed
- 2021
- State of legal domicile
- AZ
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, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC PORTEOUS | Executive Dir. Officer | 30 | $91,800 |
| TOM PATTERSON | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SCOT MUSSI | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| VICKI VAUGHN | Director Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC PORTEOUS | Executive Dir. Officer | 30 | $85,200 |
| TOM PATTERSON | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SCOT MUSSI | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| VICKI VAUGHN | Director Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC PORTEOUS | Executive Dir. Officer | 30 | $76,800 |
| TOM PATTERSON | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SCOT MUSSI | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| VICKI VAUGHN | Director Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 835 W WARNER RD STE 101 PMB 439, GILBERT, AZ 85233-7268
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- ERIC PORTEOUS, 835 W WARNER RD 101-439, GILBERT, AZ 85233
- Signed the 990
- ERIC PORTEOUS, Executive Dir.
- Phone
- (602) 228-8277
- Website
- azfreedomfoundation.org
- Return prepared by
- Paul Rambeau & Associates CPAs PC
Mission
The Foundation's mission is to foster independent journalism and provide the general public with access to news, research and information not covered by traditional corporate media outlets. To that end, the Foundation operates AZ Free News (www.azfreenews.com), an online news site that offers reporting, analysis and occasional commentary on a wide array of local news stories in Arizona. Although some national and international news stories are compiled from reputable third party news sources (such as the Wall Street Journal), the site consists primarily of original local news content generated by journalists and analysts commissioned by the Foundation.
Program accomplishments
- Independent News: The organization managed its website, azfreenews.com, which is made available free of charge. Website traffic exceeded 750,000 page views for the year. Free newsletter subscriptions also maintained at more than 18,000 subscribers. The content of the website is generated by freelance journalists and promoted primarily through social media channels, free email newsletters, and search engines.Expenses $153,939
- Investigative Journalism: The organization contracted with five freelance journalists during the year. These journalists wrote 914 original news stories on a wide array of topics related to Arizonamany of which often elude attention from mainstream commercial media outlets. In these stories, readers are provided with the pertinent facts to help them form their own opinions and conclusions.Expenses $117,000
- Research: The organization contracts with a Researcher on an ongoing basis. This person is responsible for initiating public records requests and doing other necessary research as needed for the journalists to ensure that they have the proper facts and documents. By performing these duties, the Researcher helps the journalists to be more efficient and focus on telling the stories that the people of Arizona need to hear. In 2025, the Researcher filed multiple public records requests to assist with these stories and assisted with research on dozens of stories and investigative pieces.Expenses $12,000
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 | 990 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
- 86-3784512
- 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
- 2022
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $86,558
- Income (IRS master file)
- $328,840
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $328,840 | $321,910 | $86,558 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $263,735 | $322,802 | $79,108 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $294,939 | $316,420 | $138,741 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 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 86-3784512).
Questions about ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION is 86-3784512.
- Is ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ARIZONA FREEDOM 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 ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names ERIC PORTEOUS.
- Who are the officers and directors of ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $91,800 (ERIC PORTEOUS, Executive Dir.).
- How much revenue does ARIZONA FREEDOM FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $328,840, expenses of $321,910 and total assets of $86,558 at year end.
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