Freedom House is a U.S.-based non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1941 by Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie to promote democracy and human rights. It is best known for its annual Freedom in the World report, along with Freedom on the Net and Nations in Transit. The organization conducts research, advocacy, and grantmaking. It is primarily funded through federal grants from the U.S. government. 5
Revenue increased from $28.8 million in 2016, peaking at $103.8 million in 2022 and $93.5 million in 2023, before declining to $90.3 million in 2024. 6
Funding:
Freedom House’s primary funding came through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) prior to its dissolving in 2025, and the U.S. Department of State. 8 and the Ford Foundation, which made three grants earmarked for “equality and social justice” totaling $2 million between 2021-2025. 9
Freedom House also acknowledges financial support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery, Google, the Hurford Foundation, the Jyllands-Posten Foundation, the Merrill Family Foundation, Meta Platforms, Inc., and Robert Tuttle & Maria Hummer-Tuttle. 11
Political Activities:
Freedom House’s primary work consists of its flagship annual reports, Freedom in the World and Freedom on the Net, which assess countries on political rights, civil liberties, and internet freedom. These ratings classify nations as “Free,” “Partly Free,” or “Not Free.” 0){
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