CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM FOUNDAT… - Form 990 Financial Data

🔒

Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

Sign in with your work email to view Tuckman-Chang indicators

Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

2021

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

COLBY WILTSE

Phone

5135777380

Tax Period

2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM FOUNDATION INC, founded in 2021, is a community nonprofit in the Civil Rights & Advocacy sector that reported $5.9M in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. The organization ran a surplus of $2.0M, a strong 34% operating margin.

Mission

CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR COUNTY CITIZENS. THESE ACTIVITIES CONSIST OF TWO KEY COMPONENTS: CIVIC EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $2,966,463

CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR COUNTY CITIZENS. THESE ACTIVITIES CONSIST OF TWO KEY COMPONENTS: CIVIC EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. CIVIC EDUCATION - THE FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO INFORM COUNTY CITIZENS REGARDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND ORDINANCES INCLUDING PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM, APPROVED PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY AND CLASSROOM BOOKS AND MATERIALS, AND CITY AND COUNTY ORDINANCES. THE FOUNDATION INFORMS CITIZENS OF THESE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETINGS AND SPECIAL SEMINARS AND/OR EVENTS AT LOCAL CHURCHES AND OTHER MEETING VENUES. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES THIS INFORMATION TO EDUCATE CITIZENS WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE AWARE OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES (BOTH EXISTING AND PROPOSED) AS WELL AS LOCAL MUNICIPAL PROCEEDINGS AND RELATED AGENDA. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENGAGE CITIZENS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO TRAIN THEM WITH TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING ISSUES OF CONCERN TO CITIZENS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR BUSINESSES. THESE ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON HELPING THOSE CITIZENS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN EFFECTIVE RESPONSES FROM, OR INITIATE COMMUNICATION WITH, THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. BY ENGAGING AND EQUIPPING THE CITIZENS, THEY CAN NOW HAVE A PART IN INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

🔒

Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

Sign in to view Trantor Score and financial metrics

Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $5,852,758

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $92

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $5,852,850

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $456,800

Salaries & Benefits $2,567,252

Fundraising Expenses $257,087

Program Expenses $2,966,463

Other Expenses $862,764

TOTAL EXPENSES $3,886,816

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2025	2024	Change
Revenue	$5,852,850	$5,499,048	+0.1%
Expenses	$3,886,816	$5,716,705	-0.3%
Net Income	$1,966,034	$-217,657	-10.0%

Key Indicators

✓ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

🔒

Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

Sign in to view all financial metrics

Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

250

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$504,225

Total Directors

$213,998

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
STEVE MAXWELL	PRESIDENT / EXEC. DIRECTOR	3.00	Officer Director	$213,998	$0	$213,998
JOHN DURHAM	VICE PRESIDENT	2.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID BENDETT	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
KEVIN RESPRESS	DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
KEITH ROSE	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KEITH SMITH	DIRECTOR (PART YEAR)	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STEVE BLACKWELDER	CEO (PART YEAR)	5.00	Officer	$117,038	$0	$151,605
COLBY WILTSE	INTERIM CEO	5.00	Officer	$80,204	$24,764	$138,622
SETH JAHN	DIRECTOR OF SECURITY	5.00	Highest	$114,129	$539	$156,264
LUIS CABRERA	TX FAITH DIRECTOR	5.00	Highest	$92,341	$14,531	$141,872
TARA SCHULTE	TX COUNTY DIRECTOR	5.00	Highest	$75,275	$10,523	$113,529
NICOLE NOLTE	MARKETING DIRECTOR	5.00	Highest	$76,181	$9,198	$112,819
SARAH CALAMUNCI	FL STATE DIRECTOR	5.00	Highest	$76,998	$385	$105,114

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$5,852,850	$3,886,816	$767,060	$1,966,034
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$2,676,897	$4,074,217	$172,416	$-1,397,320
2022	$1,616,299	$1,748,562	$607,778	$-132,263

CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM FOUNDATION INC