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Education : Youth Education Programs and Services

Free Spirit Media

Free Spirit Media (FSM) cultivates youth and young adult voices to transform media and society.

four stars

92.57

906 South Homan Avenue Chicago, IL 60624
tel: (312) 444-0562   Web Site
EIN: 36-4456215

Board Leadership
Jon Desir
President

CEO
Jeff McCarter
Founder and Executive Director

 
 

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  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 92.57 four stars
  Financial 92.18 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 93.00 four stars
This rating was published 06/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Free Spirit Media transforms media and society by providing opportunities for emerging creators, primarily from communities of color, to produce and distribute original content and to pursue artistic, personal and professional aspirations.

Free Spirit Media transforms media and society by providing opportunities for emerging creators, primarily from communities of color, to produce and distribute original content and to pursue artistic, personal and professional aspirations.

Impact Information

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Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

92.18

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

93.00

This rating was published 06/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 83.9%
  Administrative Expenses 7.8%
  Fundraising Expenses 8.2%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.11
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.79
  Program Expenses Growth 10.9%
  Liabilities to Assets 7.9%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Free Spirit Media on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Free Spirit Media on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Free Spirit Media (IL) 92.57 four stars
The Harmony Project (CA) 97.68 four stars
Third Street Music School Settlement (NY) 93.48 four stars
Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (OH) 85.40 three stars
The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (CA) 90.77 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,445,141
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $61,777
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $17,600
Total Contributions $1,524,518
   Program Service Revenue $763,304
Total Primary Revenue $2,287,822
   Other Revenue $-3,692
TOTAL REVENUE $2,284,130
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $1,726,611
   Administrative Expenses $188,993
   Fundraising Expenses $178,505
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $2,094,109
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $190,021
   
Net Assets $1,467,662

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Due to an error on this organization's Form 990, we are unable to display program information.

Ratings History
Free Spirit Media has received 4 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-06 06/01/2019 92.57 four stars
2017-06 07/01/2018 92.74 four stars
2016-06 06/01/2017 93.98 four stars
2015-06 12/21/2016 93.62 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 36-4456215
Name in IRS Master File FREE SPIRIT MEDIA NFP
NTEE Code O50
NTEE Classification Youth Development Programs, Other
NTEE Type Youth Development
Classification Educational Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date July, 2002
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2018
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$120,075 5.73% Jeff McCarter Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Free Spirit Media (IL) 92.57 four stars
Merit School of Music (IL) 90.98 four stars
The Wooden Floor (CA) 89.60 three stars
Center for Creative Education (FL) 100.00 four stars
Exploring the Arts (NY) 86.43 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Free Spirit Media
906 South Homan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60624
tel: (312) 444-0562
EIN: 36-4456215

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Jon Desir
President

CEO

Jeff McCarter
Founder and Executive Director

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