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Arts, Culture, Humanities : Public Broadcasting and Media

Free To Choose Network

Using accessible and entertaining media to build popular support for personal, economic, and political freedom.

85.80

2002 Filmore Avenue Erie, PA 16506
tel: (800) 876-8930   Web Site
EIN: 52-1455677

Board Leadership
Chris J. Rufer
Chairman

CEO
Robert Chatfield
President & CEO

Charity Navigator

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  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 85.80
  Financial 80.15
  Accountability & Transparency 97.00
This rating was published 04/01/2022 and includes data from FY2020, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Free To Choose® Network is a global media 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brought you Milton Friedman's original 1980 10-part television series, Free To Choose. It continues to use accessible and entertaining media to build popular support for personal, economic, and political freedom thus advancing human well-being.

Free To Choose® Network is a global media 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brought you Milton Friedman's original 1980 10-part television series, Free To Choose. It continues to use accessible and entertaining media to build popular support for personal, economic, and political freedom thus advancing human well-being.

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

Financial

80.15

Accountability & Transparency

97.00

This rating was published 04/01/2022 and includes data from FY2020, 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)		 74.5%
  Administrative Expenses 11.1%
  Fundraising Expenses 14.3%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.15
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.32
  Program Expenses Growth -7.4%
  Liabilities to Assets 16.8%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Free To Choose Network on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Free To Choose Network 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 To Choose Network (PA) 85.80
StoryCorps (NY) 90.99
KVIE (CA) 88.09
WNET (NY) 94.20
Art21 (NY) 85.99

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $2,767,327
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $2,767,327
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $2,767,327
   Other Revenue $127,199
TOTAL REVENUE $2,894,526
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $2,794,865
   Administrative Expenses $372,279
   Fundraising Expenses $454,742
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $3,621,886
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-727,360
   
Net Assets $1,175,229

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.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Educational Programming $2,794,865 100.0%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2020-06 04/01/2022 85.80
2020-06 10/01/2021 85.80
2019-06 05/01/2020 82.65
2018-06 05/01/2019 88.55
2017-06 06/01/2018 90.10
2016-06 11/01/2017 86.37
2016-06 09/01/2017 85.81
2015-06 03/01/2017 90.80
2015-06 12/21/2016 88.14

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

EIN 52-1455677
Name in IRS Master File FREE TO CHOOSE NETWORK
NTEE Code A31
NTEE Classification Film, Video
NTEE Type Arts, Culture and Humanities
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (122) Producing films
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 August, 1986
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
$167,498 4.62% Robert Chatfield President & CEO

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Free To Choose Network (PA) 85.80
Art21 (NY) 85.99
KVIE (CA) 88.09
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (AK) 87.30
Center for Asian American Media (CA) 92.32

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Free To Choose Network
2002 Filmore Avenue
Erie, PA 16506
tel: (800) 876-8930
fax: (814) 833-7415
EIN: 52-1455677

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Chris J. Rufer
Chairman

CEO

Robert Chatfield
President & CEO

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