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The Freecycle Network

Tucson, AZ · EIN 200938414 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE C99 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.freecycle.org
revenue
$297K
expenses
$370K
net assets
$883K
employees
2
volunteers
1,750
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

Our mission is to build a worldwide sharing movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Freecycle Network is a global grassroots nonprofit movement that facilitates the free exchange of unwanted items within local communities. It aims to reduce waste, conserve resources, and foster community connections by keeping usable goods out of landfills. The network operates through local "Town groups" managed by volunteer moderators.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Friends Circles
A feature allowing members to form smaller, private groups with local friends for gifting items.
Local Town Groups
Online platforms where members can post items they want to give away or receive for free, managed by volunteer moderators.
activities · 5 groups

what they do

  • Local Group Network Support and Expansion 17 activities
    • Build moderator capacity and provide onboarding resources
      Offers a New Moderator Orientation guide that outlines guidelines, responsibilities, use of Moderator Tools, and available support resources to ensure effective local group leadership.
    • Community moderation and group management
      Supports local group operations through an Interim Moderator (IMOD) team that moderates 50–100 groups each until new moderators are trained, and a New Town Group Approver (NGA) Team that evaluates and sets up new groups based on population and service gaps.
    • Expand and manage local group network
      Establishes new local groups only in unserved areas where there is a minimum population of 20,000 within a 30-minute radius, ensuring sustainable and non-overlapping coverage.
    • Facilitate free exchange of items through local Town groups
      Operates more than 5,000 local Town groups across over 110 countries with over 11 million members, enabling the gifting of items to reduce landfill waste. Each group functions as a hyperlocal platform where members post and claim free items.
    • Facilitating local item exchange networks
      Operates a global network of over 5,000 local Town groups with over 11 million members in more than 110 countries, facilitating the free exchange of items to reduce landfill waste and providing online resources for posting and communication.
    • Facilitating local item exchange networks
      Operates a global network of over 5,000 local Town groups with over 11 million members in more than 110 countries, facilitating the free exchange of items to reduce landfill waste and providing online resources for posting and communication.
    • Facilitating local item exchange networks
      Operates a global network of over 5,000 local Town groups with over 11 million members across more than 110 countries, providing online platforms for members to give away and receive items for free, thereby diverting over one thousand tons of waste per day from landfills.
    • Global item gifting network via local Town groups
      Operates more than 5,000 local Town groups across over 110 countries with over 11 million members, facilitating the free exchange of items to reduce landfill waste and divert over one thousand tons of waste per day from landfills.
    • Local group expansion and geographic service planning
      Establishes new local Freecycle groups only in areas not already served, requiring a minimum population of 20,000 within a 30-minute radius to ensure viability.
    • Moderate and support local group operations
      The Interim Moderator (IMOD) team manages 50–100 groups each during transitions, ensuring continuity until new moderators are trained and installed. The New Town Group Approver (NGA) Team evaluates and sets up new groups based on population and service gaps.
    • Provide member and moderator support services
      The Help Team assists members with account issues such as password resets and website navigation, while Translators make site content accessible in multiple languages. The New Moderator Orientation guide supports onboarding with training on responsibilities, tools, and policies.
    • Providing moderator training and resources
      Offers a New Moderator Orientation guide that covers guidelines, moderator responsibilities, use of Moderator Tools, and available support resources to help individuals manage local Freecycle groups effectively.
    • Supporting and managing local group operations
      Provides support for local groups by establishing new groups in underserved areas (requiring a minimum population of 20,000 within a 30-minute radius), processing new group requests, and offering an Interim Moderator team to manage groups until new moderators are recruited.
    • Supporting and managing local groups
      Provides support to local groups through interim moderators, a New Town Group Approver Team that processes and sets up new groups, and a New Moderator Orientation guide covering guidelines and responsibilities.
    • Supporting and managing local groups
      Provides support to local groups through interim moderators, a New Town Group Approver Team that processes and sets up new groups, and a New Moderator Orientation guide covering guidelines and responsibilities.
    • Trademark and branding protection
      Holds registered trademarks for "Freecycle.org" and related logos in 32 countries including the U.S., Canada, EU, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, and approves third-party gifting services using the term "Freecycle" to ensure adherence to standards.
    • Volunteer moderator onboarding and support
      Provides a New Moderator Orientation guide covering guidelines, responsibilities, use of Moderator Tools, and support resources to train and equip new local group moderators.
  • Recycling & Reuse Education and Advocacy 5 activities
    • Environmental advocacy and awareness promotion
      Uses social media platforms to promote The Freecycle Network, sharing content on upcycling, recycling, and climate change to raise public awareness about waste reduction.
    • Promote environmental awareness and network visibility
      The Social Media Team promotes The Freecycle Network on major platforms and shares educational content on upcycling, recycling, and climate change to raise public awareness.
    • Promoting waste reduction and environmental awareness
      Promotes The Freecycle Network on social media platforms and shares articles related to upcycling, recycling, and climate change.
    • Promoting waste reduction and environmental awareness
      Utilizes social media platforms to promote The Freecycle Network and shares articles related to upcycling, recycling, and climate change to raise awareness about environmental issues.
    • Promoting waste reduction and environmental awareness
      Promotes The Freecycle Network on social media platforms and shares articles related to upcycling, recycling, and climate change.
  • Elder Fraud & Cybercrime Victim Support 5 activities
    • Maintaining website functionality and user support
      Assists members with website usage issues such as password resets and login problems, and identifies and addresses accounts posting spam or scams to ensure a secure and functional platform.
    • Online platform for free gifting and reuse
      Provides online resources including free gift-item postings, email and board posting services, and website functionality support through a Help Team that assists with login issues, password resets, and usage instructions.
    • Providing member and moderator support
      Offers assistance to members with website usage issues like password resets and login problems, and employs a Spam Control Team to identify and address spam or scam accounts.
    • Providing member and moderator support
      Offers assistance to members with website usage issues like password resets and login problems, and employs a Spam Control Team to identify and address spam or scam accounts.
    • Spam and scam prevention
      Operates a Spam Control Team that monitors and responds to reports of spam or scam accounts, taking action to protect the integrity of the gifting network.
  • Translation and Bilingual Support Services 4 activities
    • Translating website content
      Translates portions of the website into multiple languages to ensure accessibility of information for members and moderators globally.
    • Translating website content
      Translates portions of the website from English into other languages to make instructions and information accessible to a global audience of members and moderators.
    • Translating website content
      Translates portions of the website into multiple languages to ensure accessibility of information for members and moderators globally.
    • Website translation and accessibility
      Translates key website content from English into other languages to ensure accessibility for non-English-speaking members and moderators.
  • Holiday Gift and Family Support Programs 2 activities
    • Disaster relief and community giving initiatives
      Organizes targeted giving events such as the 'Hurricane Help Project' and coordinated donations like a truckload of supplies for an orphanage in Haiti, mobilizing community members to provide free furniture, building materials, and essential goods.
    • Organize community gifting events for charitable causes
      Coordinates targeted gifting initiatives such as the 'Hurricane Help Project' and collection drives for humanitarian aid, including a truckload of supplies for an orphanage in Haiti.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$297K
Contributions & grants$129K44%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5K2%
Other revenue$162K
expenses
Total expenses$370K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$238K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$892K
Cash$770K
Investments$0
Liabilities$9K
Net assets$883K
Liquid reserves24.9 mo
2 years on record · 2021–2022 · YoY revenue +19.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Deron Beal Executive Dir. 40 $120K
board members · 2
  • Jennifer Columbus — Vice President
  • Jolie Sibert — Secretary
relationships · 10

who they work with

  • BlueSky Partner — Social media platform used by the Social Media Team to promote The Freecycle Network.
  • Facebook Partner — Social media platform used by the Social Media Team to promote The Freecycle Network.
  • FedEx Partner — Donated shipping for a truckload of supplies collected for an orphanage in Haiti.
  • Google Partner — Uses Google Maps to display existing Freecycle Town group locations.
  • Instagram Partner — Social media platform used by the Social Media Team to promote The Freecycle Network.
  • Intuit Funder — Sponsor of The Freecycle Network
  • Native Seeds /SEARCH Partner — Deron Beal, founder of The Freecycle Network, previously worked as Director of Foundation Giving & Venture Philanthropy and Development Director for Native Seeds /SEARCH, a conservation group.
  • Nokia Funder — Sponsor of The Freecycle Network
  • RISE Partner — Deron Beal, founder of The Freecycle Network, previously worked with RISE, a nonprofit providing recycling services and transitional employment.
  • Waste Management Funder — Sponsor of The Freecycle Network