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Institute For Free Speech

Organization summary

Type of Nonprofit

Designated as a Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Category: Public, Society Benefit — Multipurpose and Other / Government and Public Administration (NTEE)

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Details

According to its Dec. 2023 tax filing, this nonprofit:

Reported conflict of interest transactions
Organizations must report loans, grants or business transactions with interested parties, which may include key employees and officers, their family members and any businesses in which they hold a controlling interest. These transactions must be reported on Schedule L.

Summary charts: organization finances over time

Revenue
$3.68M (2023)

Expenses
$3.15M (2023)

Total Assets
$9.16M (2023)

Total Liabilities
$2.02M (2023)

Source: Form 990 tax filings from 2011 to 2023

Tax Filings by Year

Form 990 is an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS. Nonprofit Explorer has IRS digitized Form 990 data for filings processed in 2012 and later. If this organization filed an amended return, it may not be reflected below. Duplicate download links may indicate a resubmission or amendment to this organization's original return. Form 990 data is from the IRS.

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2023

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,683,677
Expenses
$3,147,692
Net Income
$535,985
Net Assets
$7,144,884
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $3,110,649
84.4%
Program Services $380,722
10.3%
Investment Income $78,762
2.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $82,400
2.2%
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $13,356
0.4%
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $17,788
0.5%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $441,266
14.0%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,584,608
50.3%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $9,162,310
Total Liabilities $2,017,426
Net Assets $7,144,884
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Alan Gura (Vice President For Litigation) $230,834 $0 $4,433
Endel Kolde (Senior Attorney) $190,563 $0 $10,287
David Keating (President) $187,742 $0 $18,258
Brett Nolan (Senior Attorney) $139,080 $0 $8,733
Ryan Morrison (Attorney) $132,914 $0 $4,045
Charles Miller (Senior Attorney) $124,418 $0 $3,351
Courtney Corbello (Attorney) $104,283 $0 $5,278
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $96,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Secretary And Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Cleta Mitchell (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzelewski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2022

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,882,053
Expenses
$3,036,081
Net Income
$845,972
Net Assets
$6,384,234
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $3,157,682
81.3%
Program Services $574,150
14.8%
Investment Income $101,919
2.6%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $35,750
0.9%
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$2,128
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $14,680
0.4%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $416,202
13.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,442,985
47.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $8,602,156
Total Liabilities $2,217,922
Net Assets $6,384,234
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Alan Gura (Vice President For Litigation) $208,066 $0 $1,934
David Keating (President) $188,231 $0 $17,969
Endel Kolde (Senior Attorney) $172,455 $0 $19,378
Donald Daugherty Jr (Senior Counsel) $134,835 $0 $15,702
Ryan Morrison (Attorney) $128,941 $0 $4,326
Scott Blackburn (Research Director) $100,550 $0 $2,468
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $86,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Secretary And Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Cleta Mitchell (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzelewski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director (Term Ended 2022)) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2021

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,314,675
Expenses
$2,732,506
Net Income
$582,169
Net Assets
$5,470,941
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $3,231,497
97.5%
Program Services $12,902
0.4%
Investment Income $212
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $57,000
1.7%
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $13,064
0.4%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $356,662
13.1%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,376,974
50.4%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,172,959
Total Liabilities $702,018
Net Assets $5,470,941
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Alan Gura (Vice President For Litigation) $184,860 $0 $1,290
David Keating (President) $155,352 $0 $15,161
Owen Yeates (Senior Attorney And Deputy Vp For Litigation) $144,358 $0 $6,619
Endel Kolde (Senior Attorney) $121,750 $0 $19,200
Matthew Nese (External Relations Director) $114,661 $0 $9,563
Ryan Morrison (Attorney) $113,754 $0 $18,309
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $66,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Cleta Mitchell (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzelewski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2020

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,293,250
Expenses
$2,453,045
Net Income
$840,205
Net Assets
$4,887,237
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,832,692
86.0%
Program Services $355,592
10.8%
Investment Income $59,498
1.8%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $42,750
1.3%
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $2,718
0.1%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $422,293
17.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,103,676
45.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $5,786,005
Total Liabilities $898,768
Net Assets $4,887,237
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Allen Dickerson (Secretary/Legal Director) $224,244 $0 $17,970
Zac Morgan (Attorney) $157,266 $0 $10,171
David Keating (President) $152,321 $0 $27,757
Owen Yeates (Director) $132,392 $0 $15,939
Tyler Martinez (Attorney) $119,333 $0 $5,830
Ryan Morrison (Attorney) $108,974 $0 $16,923
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $66,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Cleta Mitchell (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzelewski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2019

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,564,214
Expenses
$2,302,467
Net Income
$261,747
Net Assets
$4,047,032
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,486,518
97.0%
Program Services $2,562
0.1%
Investment Income $70,542
2.8%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $4,592
0.2%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $538,737
23.4%
Professional Fundraising Fees $60,000
2.6%
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $4,364,788
Total Liabilities $317,756
Net Assets $4,047,032
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Allen Dickerson (Secretary/Legal Director) $172,278 $0 $17,600
Parker Douglas (Senior Attorney) $158,545 $0 $11,173
David Keating (President) $154,176 $0 $24,964
Owen Yeates (Attorney) $107,638 $0 $8,296
Tyler Martinez (Attorney) $105,000 $0 $6,150
Zac Morgan (Attorney) $103,947 $0 $6,773
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $66,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Cleta Mitchell (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzelewski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2018

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,646,991
Expenses
$2,106,292
Net Income
$540,699
Net Assets
$3,780,149
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,567,314
97.0%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $65,186
2.5%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $14,491
0.5%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $371,520
17.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $60,213
2.9%
Other Salaries and Wages $899,886
42.7%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $4,009,976
Total Liabilities $229,827
Net Assets $3,780,149
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Allen Dickerson (Secretary/Legal Director) $171,073 $0 $16,400
David Keating (President) $153,479 $0 $30,568
Owen Yeates (Attorney) $104,943 $0 $13,998
Tyler Martinez (Attorney) $103,333 $0 $6,916
Zachary Morgan (Attorney) $101,050 $0 $12,758
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $66,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Cleta Mitchell (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzelewski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2017

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,433,660
Expenses
$1,939,035
Net Income
$494,625
Net Assets
$3,239,450
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,179,442
89.6%
Program Services $220,000
9.0%
Investment Income $27,747
1.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $6,471
0.3%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $367,402
18.9%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $765,946
39.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,421,584
Total Liabilities $182,134
Net Assets $3,239,450
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Allen Dickerson (Secretary/Legal Director) $157,246 $0 $17,511
David Keating (President) $152,067 $0 $40,579
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $60,500 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Cleta Mitchell (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzelewski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2016

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,154,786
Expenses
$1,815,747
Net Income
$339,039
Net Assets
$2,744,825
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,021,188
93.8%
Program Services $125,000
5.8%
Investment Income $217
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $8,381
0.4%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $352,739
19.4%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $680,131
37.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,891,323
Total Liabilities $146,498
Net Assets $2,744,825

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2015

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,956,529
Expenses
$1,596,794
Net Income
$359,735
Net Assets
$2,405,786
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,999,911
> 100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $101
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising -$44,868
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $1,385
0.1%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $422,519
26.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $529,215
33.1%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,510,309
Total Liabilities $104,523
Net Assets $2,405,786
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
David Keating (President) $156,439 $0 $34,233
Allen Dickerson (Secretary/Legal Director) $152,400 $0 $13,447
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $66,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzeleski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2014

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,951,006
Expenses
$1,495,165
Net Income
$455,841
Net Assets
$2,046,051
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,948,931
99.9%
Program Services $300
0.0%
Investment Income $108
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $1,667
0.1%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $407,554
27.3%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $498,493
33.3%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,138,391
Total Liabilities $92,340
Net Assets $2,046,051
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
David Keating (President) $159,787 $0 $23,890
Allen Dickerson (Secretary/Legal Director) $146,663 $0 $11,203
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $66,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry Michael (Director(service Ended June 2, 2014)) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen Modzeleski (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2013

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,754,752
Expenses
$1,545,035
Net Income
$209,717
Net Assets
$1,590,210
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,737,254
99.0%
Program Services $18,000
1.0%
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$1,153
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $651
0.0%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $333,054
21.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $484,393
31.4%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,717,372
Total Liabilities $127,162
Net Assets $1,590,210
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
David Keating (President) $163,684 $0 $21,456
Allen Dickerson (Secretary/Legal Director) $138,934 $0 $8,980
Bradley A Smith (Chairman) $66,000 $0 $0
John Snider (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Eric O'keefe (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward H Crane (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry Michael (Director) $0 $0 $0
Hunter Bates (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2012

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,420,276
Expenses
$1,252,639
Net Income
$167,637
Net Assets
$1,380,493
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,375,391
96.8%
Program Services $35,532
2.5%
Investment Income $553
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $400
0.0%
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $8,400
0.6%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $294,497
23.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $10,925
0.9%
Other Salaries and Wages $381,364
30.4%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,472,971
Total Liabilities $92,478
Net Assets $1,380,493

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2011

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,816,786
Expenses
$1,577,324
Net Income
$239,462
Net Assets
$1,212,856
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,814,679
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $817
0.0%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $1,290
0.1%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $365,699
23.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $386,006
24.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,369,684
Total Liabilities $156,828
Net Assets $1,212,856

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2010

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2009

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2008

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2007

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2006

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

About This Data

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

The summary data contains information processed by the IRS during the 2012-2019 calendar years; this generally consists of filings for the 2011-2018 fiscal years, but may include older records. This data release includes only a subset of what can be found in the full Form 990s.

In addition to the raw summary data, we link to PDFs and digital copies of full Form 990 documents wherever possible. This consists of separate releases by the IRS of Form 990 documents processed by the agency, which we update regularly.

We also link to copies of audits nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year since 2016. These audits are copied from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Which Organizations Are Here?

Every organization that has been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS has to file Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets, in which case they have to file form 990-EZ. Organizations making less than $50,000 don’t have to file either form but do have to let the IRS they’re still in business via a Form 990N "e-Postcard."

Nonprofit Explorer has organizations claiming tax exemption in each of the 27 subsections of the 501(c) section of the tax code, and which have filed a Form 990, Form 990EZ or Form 990PF. Taxable trusts and private foundations that are required to file a form 990PF are also included. Small organizations filing a Form 990N "e-Postcard" are not included in this data.

Types of Nonprofits

There are 27 nonprofit designations based on the numbered subsections of section 501(c) of the tax code. See the list »

Get the Data

For those interested in acquiring the original data from the source, here’s where our data comes from:

  • Raw filing data. Includes EINs and summary financials as structured data.
  • Exempt Organization profiles. Includes organization names, addresses, etc. You can merge this with the raw filing data using EIN numbers.
  • Form 990 documents. Prior to 2017, these documents were obtained and processed by Public.Resource.org and ProPublica. Bulk PDF downloads since 2017 are available from the IRS.
  • Form 990 documents as XML files. Includes complete filing data (financial details, names of officers, tax schedules, etc.) in machine-readable format. Only available for electronically filed documents. Electronic data released prior to October 2021 is also available through Amazon Web Services.
  • Audits. PDFs of single or program-specific audits for nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year. Available for fiscal year 2015 and later.

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