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Non-profit

Freedom Frontier

Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

45-1582354
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2017):

Revenue: $2,249,297
Expenses: $2,189,066
Assets: $691,982
Founded:

2011 1

References

  1. “Freedom Frontier.” GuideStar. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-1582354

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Freedom Frontier was a right-leaning organization that critics identified as a “dark money” group because it did not have to disclose its donors. 1 2 Freedom Frontier was previously known as Citizens for a Secure Community, and appears to be no longer active as of late 2023. 3 4

The organization contributed money to a PAC supporting the 2016 presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), spent money toward the election of Republican Eric Greitens as Missouri governor in 2016 and spent to support Bill Montgomery’s mayoral campaign in Wilmington, Delaware, in 2012. 5 6 7

Background

Freedom Frontier was a right-of-center organization based in Washington, D.C., founded in 2011. 8 The organization appears to no longer be active, or has not filed an Internal Revenue Service Form 990 for several years. Its most recent tax filing appears to have been in 2017. 9

Critics called Freedom Frontier a “dark money” group because it did not disclose its donors. 10 11

The organization used the trading name Freedom Frontier from April 12, 2011 to July 24, 2012. It changed the trading name to Citizens for a Secure Community on July 25, 2012, according to Open Corporates. On May 16, 2015, the group changed its trading name back to Freedom Frontier. 12

Freedom Frontier had a certificate of termination on November 26, 2018, according to Open Corporates. 13

Advocacy

Freedom Frontier said it sought to educate people on economic and national security issues. The group has also said it supported free market solutions for multiple problems facing the United States. 14

In 2012, when the group was known as Citizens for a Secure Community, it sent direct mail pieces promoting Wilmington, Delaware, mayoral candidate Bill Montgomery’s public safety proposals and attacking eventual winner Dennis P. Williams (D). 15

Freedom Frontier gave $250,000 to Security is Strength, a political action committee based in South Carolina supporting Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) 2016 presidential campaign. 16 17

According to the liberal group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washinton (CREW), Freedom Frontier initially told the IRS on its tax form that it only raised $50,000 in 2015. 18 CREW compared that to a Federal Election Commission documents that showed the right-leaning group made the $250,000 donation to the Security is Strength PAC. 19

CREW made a complaint to the IRS in 2017, and about a month later, Freedom Frontier filed an amended tax return showing it raised $1.19 million in 2015. 20 The amended form included the $250,000 donation to the pro-Graham PAC, as well as more than $600,000 of previously unreported spending. 21

Freedom Frontier reported a total of $6.2 million revenue for 2016. The group spent $5.9 million on politics in 2016, a significant increase from $873,707 in 2015. Of the expenditures, 75 percent was on political activities, including a $4.4 million grant to a political action committee. 22

In 2018, CREW filed another IRS complaint against Freedom Frontier, alleging the organization failed to file a tax return with the IRS. CREW targeted Freedom Frontier in part because the group spent $4 million to promote the candidacy of Republican Eric Greitens, elected as Missouri governor in 2016 .23

Freedom Frontier had an affiliated political action committee known as Freedom Frontier Action Fund PAC. 24

Leadership

Kevin Obrien was the president of the board of Freedom Frontier. 25 Jim Robey was the secretary of the board for the organization. 26

John Jude was the treasurer of the board for the group. 27 Jude has also been the treasurer of the American Policy Coalition, formerly known as Bluegrass Vote. 28

Joel Ritter was previously listed as Freedom Frontier’s principal officer. Ritter was previously listed as the chairman of the Government Integrity Fund, and president of Citizens for a Working America. 29 Ritter was previously an aide to former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel (R). 30

James Nathanson, an Ohio political consultant, was listed as a director for Citizens for a Secure Community, The News-Journal in Wilmington reported. Nathanson was also executive director of Freedom Vote, an Ohio-based organization. 31 32

References

  1. [1] Irvin, Renee A. “How Dark Is It? An Investigation of Dark Money Operations in U.S. Nonprofit Political Advocacy Organizations.” Nonprofit Policy Forum. March 23, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2022-0032/html
  2. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  3. Corley, Matt. “Nonprofits funding super PACs benefiting Greitens have links behind the scenes.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. November 1, 2016. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/non-profits-funding-super-pacs-benefiting-greitens-links-behind-scenes/
  4. “Freedom Frontier.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/freedom-frontier,451582354/
  5. Staub, Andrew. “Mailers promote mayoral hopeful through loophole.” The News Journal. August 31, 2012. Accessed September 30, 2023. http://web.archive.org/web/20120902234440/http:/www.delawareonline.com/article/20120831/NEWS02/308310030/Mailers-promote-mayoral-hopeful-through-loophole
  6. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  7. Hancock, Jason. “Two nonprofits spent $6 million to help Eric Greitens. Now they face IRS complaints.” Kansas City Star. March 22, 2018. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article206356499.html
  8. “Freedom Frontier.” GuideStar. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-1582354
  9. “Freedom Frontier.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/freedom-frontier,451582354/
  10. Irvin, Renee A. “How Dark Is It? An Investigation of Dark Money Operations in U.S. Nonprofit Political Advocacy Organizations.” Nonprofit Policy Forum. March 23, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2022-0032/html
  11. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  12. Freedom Frontier. Open Corporates. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0801410985
  13. Freedom Frontier. Open Corporates. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0801410985
  14. “Freedom Frontier.” GuideStar. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-1582354
  15. Staub, Andrew. “Mailers promote mayoral hopeful through loophole.” The News Journal. August 31, 2012. Accessed September 30, 2023. http://web.archive.org/web/20120902234440/http:/www.delawareonline.com/article/20120831/NEWS02/308310030/Mailers-promote-mayoral-hopeful-through-loophole
  16. [1] “Freedom Frontier.” Foundation Center. Accessed September 30, 2023. http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/451/451582354/451582354_201512_990O.pdf
  17. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  18. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  19. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  20. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  21. Corley, Matt. “Following CREW Report, Dark Money Group Amends Taxes, Discovers Missing Million.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. August 17, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/following-crew-report-dark-money-group-amends-taxes-discovers-missing-million/
  22. Irvin, Renee A. “How Dark Is It? An Investigation of Dark Money Operations in U.S. Nonprofit Political Advocacy Organizations.” Nonprofit Policy Forum. March 23, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2022-0032/html
  23. Hancock, Jason. “Two nonprofits spent $6 million to help Eric Greitens. Now they face IRS complaints.” Kansas City Star. March 22, 2018. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article206356499.html
  24. “Freedom Frontier Action Fund PAC.” Bloomberg. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/0590920D:US
  25. [1] “Freedom Frontier.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/freedom-frontier,451582354/
  26. “Freedom Frontier.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/freedom-frontier,451582354/
  27. “Freedom Frontier.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/freedom-frontier,451582354/
  28. Corley, Matt. “Nonprofits funding super PACs benefiting Greitens have links behind the scenes.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. November 1, 2016. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/non-profits-funding-super-pacs-benefiting-greitens-links-behind-scenes/
  29. Corley, Matt. “Nonprofits funding super PACs benefiting Greitens have links behind the scenes.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. November 1, 2016. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/non-profits-funding-super-pacs-benefiting-greitens-links-behind-scenes/
  30. Corley, Matt. “Who filed a false report? A super PAC or the dark money group that funded it?” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. March 1, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/filed-false-report-super-pac-dark-money-group-funded/
  31. Staub, Andrew. “Mailers promote mayoral hopeful through loophole.” The News Journal. August 31, 2012. Accessed September 30, 2023. http://web.archive.org/web/20120902234440/http:/www.delawareonline.com/article/20120831/NEWS02/308310030/Mailers-promote-mayoral-hopeful-through-loophole
  32. Corley, Matt. “Who filed a false report? A super PAC or the dark money group that funded it?” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. March 1, 2017. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/filed-false-report-super-pac-dark-money-group-funded/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: July 1, 2011

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,249,297 $2,189,066 $691,982 $0 N $2,249,297 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $6,206,000 $5,905,454 $631,751 $19,912 N $6,206,000 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Freedom Frontier

    PO Box 60049
    Washington, DC 20039-0049