Nonprofit · EIN 87-3023665
FREEDOM READS
Tax-exempt · HAMDEN, CT 06517
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $3,608,736 | $6,058,378 | -$2,449,642 | $13,192,974 | $1,492,852 | $11,700,122 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $14,531,468 | $4,637,427 | $9,894,041 | $15,645,672 | $1,495,890 | $14,149,782 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,428,171
- of which government grants
- $850,000
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $180,565
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $241,343
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,357,895
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,941,094
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $21,099
- Accounting fees
- $130,958
- Occupancy
- $210,322
- Travel
- $292,055
- Depreciation
- $103,218
- Program services (functional)
- $4,466,854
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,049,224
- Fundraising (functional)
- $542,300
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $15,645,672
- Total assets, end of year
- $13,192,974
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,492,852
- Net assets, end of year
- $11,700,122
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $719,396
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $10,243,151
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,456,971
- Gross receipts
- $3,608,736
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 17
- Year formed
- 2021
- State of legal domicile
- CT
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS | FOUNDER & CE Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $211,330 | $30,013 |
| IVAN DOMINGUEZ | CCO Officer | 40 | $155,170 | $17,081 |
| TYLER SPERRAZZA | CPO Officer | 40 | $128,953 | $13,462 |
| TRACEY MEARES | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DEBORAH LEFF | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE LEVITT | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HELENA HUANG | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALVA GREENBERG | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR CARLA HAYDEN | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANTHONY W MARX | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEX DURAN | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GARA LAMARCHE | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT SEMPLE | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRYAN STEVENSON | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT RABEN | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS | FOUNDER & CE Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $172,218 | $14,339 |
| TYLER SPERRAZZA | PRODUCTION D Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,631 | $10,257 |
| TRACEY MEARES | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DEBORAH LEFF | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HELENA HUANG | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT RABEN | BOARD DIRECT Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2666 STATE ST STE 5A, HAMDEN, CT 06517-2232
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS, 2666 STATE STREET SUITE 5A, HAMDEN, CT 06517
- Signed the 990
- REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS, FOUNDER & CEO
- Phone
- (240) 765-5470
- Website
- FREEDOMREADS.ORG
- Return prepared by
- ANSTISS & CO PC
Mission
FREEDOM READS' MISSION IS TO BRING JOY, INSPIRE HOPE, AND HELP THOSE INSIDE CONFRONT WHAT PRISON DOES TO THE SPIRIT. WE BRING BEAUTIFUL, HANDCRAFTED BOOKCASES INTO PRISONS, TRANSFORMING CELLBLOCKS INTO FREEDOM LIBRARIES. THE FREEDOM LIBRARY IS A PHYSICAL INTERVENTION INTO THE LANDSCAPE OF PLASTIC AND STEEL AND LONELINESS THAT CHARACTERIZES PRISON. IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE FREEDOM TO THINK, TO CONTRIBUTE TO A COMMUNITY, AND EVEN TO DREAM ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE IS TOO OFTEN CURTAILED, FREEDOM READS REMINDS THOSE INSIDE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN.
Program accomplishments
- FREEDOM READS BUILDS FREEDOM LIBRARIES, CURATED 500-BOOK COLLECTIONS HOUSED IN HANDMADE WOODEN BOOKSHELVES OPENED IN PRISON CELLBLOCKS. THE FREEDOM LIBRARIES ARE IN PROXIMITY TO WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND ARE AVAILABLE 24/7. FREEDOM LIBRARIES OPENINGS ARE LITERARY EVENTS, BRINGING WRITERS AND ARTISTS INTO PRISONS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH INCARCERATED READERS, CREATING SPACES FOR REFLECTION, JOY, AND IMAGINATION.Expenses $3,692,085
- FREEDOM READS MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM AMPLIFIES THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION OF DELIVERING TRANSFORMATIVE LITERARY EXPERIENCES IN PRISON. THROUGH STORYTELLING, TARGETED OUTREACH, DIGITAL CONTENT, AND MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, FREEDOM READS RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE POWER OF LITERATURE TO CULTIVATE GROWTH, DIGNITY, AND REFLECTION BEHIND BARS. OUR WORK ALSO DEEPENS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING, HELPING TO BROADEN THE IMPACT AND REACH OF FREEDOM READS PROGRAMS ACROSS CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE.Expenses $533,153
- THE INSIDE LITERARY PRIZE IS THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL LITERARY AWARD JUDGED BY PEOPLE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED. EACH YEAR, FREEDOM READS CONVENES 300 INCARCERATED READERS FROM 12-15 PRISONS TO READ, DISCUSS, AND DEBATE FOUR TITLES DRAWN FROM THE MOST ACCLAIMED RECENT WORKS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE. OUR TEAM DISTRIBUTES COPIES OF THE BOOKS TO EACH JUDGE, FACILITATES VIRTUAL ORIENTATION AND DISCUSSION SESSIONS, AND THEN TRAVELS TO EVERY PARTICIPATING PRISON FOR IN-PERSON DELIBERATIONS AND BALLOTING. THE PRIZE OFFERS A SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR INCARCERATED READERS TO SHAPE OUR NATIONAL LITERARY CONVERSATIONAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ESSENTIAL VOICES WITHIN IT.Expenses $241,616
- OTHER.
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
- 87-3023665
- 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
- Category (NTEE)
- Human services (P20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $13,192,974
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,608,736
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $3,608,736 | $6,058,378 | $13,192,974 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $14,531,468 | $4,637,427 | $15,645,672 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $6,175,615 | $1,919,726 | $4,796,992 | 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 87-3023665).
Questions about FREEDOM READS
- What is the EIN of FREEDOM READS?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FREEDOM READS is 87-3023665.
- Is FREEDOM READS tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to FREEDOM READS tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FREEDOM READS 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 READS 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 READS 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 READS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS.
- Who are the officers and directors of FREEDOM READS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 15 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $211,330 (REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS, FOUNDER & CE).
- How much revenue does FREEDOM READS have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $3,608,736, expenses of $6,058,378 and total assets of $13,192,974 at year end.
Other nonprofits in HAMDEN
- WHITNEY CENTER INC EIN 06-0924891 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CLIFFORD BEERS HEALTH INC EIN 85-3627666 · last filed 990 for 2025
- YOUTH CONTINUUM INC EIN 06-0848949 · last filed 990 for 2025
- THE CONNECTICUT WOMENS CONSORTIUM INC EIN 06-1531384 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CHILDRENS CENTER EIN 06-0653066 · last filed 990 for 2025
- HOMEHAVEN INC EIN 46-0776884 · last filed 990 for 2025
- INTERFAITH VOLUNTEER CARE GIVERS OF GREATER NEW HAVEN INC EIN 48-1306407 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SERVICE FOR PEACE INC EIN 03-0388426 · last filed 990 for 2025