CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM FOUNDATION INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM FOUNDATION INC

EIN 86-3949080 · Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy N.E.C. (R99)

What they do

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.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $76.30 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders13 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

50.68%of revenue went to mission work76.3% of expenses · Program services

4.39%of revenue went to fundraising6.6% of expenses

$66.41spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

11.33%of revenue went to management and office costs17.1% of expenses

$0.20in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

100.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $213,998 for STEVE MAXWELL (PRESIDENT / EXEC. DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2025

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$5,852,850

Mission workProgram services$2,966,46350.68% of revenue76.3% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$663,26611.33% of revenue17.1% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$257,0874.39% of revenue6.6% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$1,966,03433.59% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$3,886,81666.41% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2025CurrentExpense mix: 76.3% mission · 17.1% management · 6.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 66.41% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 77.4% mission · 14.4% management · 8.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.96% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 88.8% mission · 8.8% management · 2.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 152.20% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 73.8% mission · 21.1% management · 5.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.18% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$5,852,850

Expenses$3,886,816

Annual surplus $1,966,034 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$2,966,463 · 76.3% of expenses

Management and office costs$663,266 · 17.1% of expenses

Fundraising$257,087 · 6.6% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$5,852,850

Expenses$3,886,816

Assets$767,060

Income$5,852,850

Contributions$5,852,758

Mission work (program services)$2,966,463

Fundraising$257,087

Grants given$647,419

Average grant$215,806

Management and general$663,266

Accounting fees$17,427

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

STEVE MAXWELLPRESIDENT / EXEC. DIRECTOR · 3 hrs/week $213,998

STEVE BLACKWELDERCEO (PART YEAR) · 5 hrs/week $117,038

SETH JAHNDIRECTOR OF SECURITY · 5 hrs/week $114,668Base $114,129 · Other $539

LUIS CABRERATX FAITH DIRECTOR · 5 hrs/week $106,872Base $92,341 · Other $14,531

COLBY WILTSEINTERIM CEO · 5 hrs/week $104,968Base $80,204 · Other $24,764

TARA SCHULTETX COUNTY DIRECTOR · 5 hrs/week $85,798Base $75,275 · Other $10,523

NICOLE NOLTEMARKETING DIRECTOR · 5 hrs/week $85,379Base $76,181 · Other $9,198

SARAH CALAMUNCIFL STATE DIRECTOR · 5 hrs/week $77,383Base $76,998 · Other $385

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (13)

STEVE MAXWELLPRESIDENT / EXEC. DIRECTOR

STEVE BLACKWELDERCEO (PART YEAR)

SETH JAHNDIRECTOR OF SECURITY

LUIS CABRERATX FAITH DIRECTOR

COLBY WILTSEINTERIM CEO

TARA SCHULTETX COUNTY DIRECTOR

NICOLE NOLTEMARKETING DIRECTOR

SARAH CALAMUNCIFL STATE DIRECTOR

DAVID BENDETTTREASURER

JOHN DURHAMVICE PRESIDENT

KEITH ROSEDIRECTOR

KEITH SMITHDIRECTOR (PART YEAR)

KEVIN RESPRESSDIRECTOR AND SECRETARY

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2022
Location: 590 NW 3RD STREET, MULBERRY, FL 33860
County: Polk
In care of: COLBY WILTSE
Primary officer: COLBY WILTSE, CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(513) 577-7380 Officer phone(956) 367-9599

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CRI CAPIN CROUSE ADVISORS LLC
NTEE classification: Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy N.E.C. (R99)
IRS tax category: Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy N.E.C.
Grant-giving organization: Yes