Free Flow Nm Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
853613363
IRS 990 coverage
2025–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025, Form 990-EZ 2024, Form 990-N 2022
Location
Santa Fe, NM, USA
Phone
5056951208
Rating
73
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Personal Social Services

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$219,753
Expenses
$185,121
Assets
$126,084
Liabilities
$6,382

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

5 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • Laurie Merrill (Executive Director, Program Director, Program Coordinator: Period Pods, Period Cupboards)

Highest reported compensation

  • Laurie Merrill (Executive Director, Program Director, Program Coordinator: Period Pods, Period Cupboards): $46,800 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Since 2020, Free Flow NM has been dedicated to reducing period poverty and stigma around menstruation through seven key programs focused on education and distribution of menstrual supplies. Period poverty means that millions of individuals with periods are subjected to injustice and inequity due to menstruation. There is no federal program that assists with the costs of period products. EBT, WIC, and SNAP do not cover menstrual products, which are considered luxury items. Consequently, 1 in 3 low-income individuals with periods report missing work, school, or similar events due to inadequate access to period supplies. We aim to bridge this gap so individuals can stay fully engaged in their lives.

What it reported doing in 2025

Product Distribution Program 1. General Distribution Each month volunteers build period kits filled with a monthly supply of period products. The kits are distributed to 165+ community organizations across northern New Mexico. 2. Period Pods Similar to the Little Libraries you may find in your community, our pods are filled with period kits. Each kit contains a 1-month supply of menstrual products. These innovative pods provide year-round access to products, ensuring that anyone can obtain them with complete anonymity. There are no forms to fill out or registration required, reducing barriers for individuals to access essential period products. We currently have 13 Period Pods, with 5 more planned for 2026. Existing Pods: Santa Fe La Farge Library, Santa Fe Southside Library, ReUnity Community Cupboard, Ortiz Mountain Health Center (Cerrillos), Green Village Grocers (Madrid), Española Public Library, Nambe Pueblo Wellness Center, Pojoaque Pueblo Wellness Center, Santa Fe Downtown Library, Tewa Women United, Blue Door Neighborhood Center (South Valley ABQ), Mesa (Taos), Taos 3. Period Cupboards This program provides free period products in existing community spaces places people already know and feel comfortable visiting. At the heart of the program is choice. Participants select the products that work best for their bodies and flow, and each person receives a six-month supply. That extended access allows people to exhale instead of navigating month-to-month uncertainty, and helps reduce real barriers long drives, missed work, limited store options, and unpredictable schedules particularly in rural communities. Existing Cupboards: Umoja ABQ, Growing Up New Mexico, and Acoma Pueblo 4. Reusable Period Products As part of our commitment to sustainability and providing long-term solutions, each recipient of a period kit also receives an offer for complimentary reusable products, including period cups, underwear, and reusable pads. This initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens and mitigate obstacles associated with purchasing such items. At the same time, the program provides a sustainable solution that can alleviate the need for disposable products for up to 15 years. 5. Neurodivergent and disability Period Underwear Discovering suitable menstrual products can significantly impact individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism, intellectual disability, and cerebral palsy. Many of these individuals struggle with changes in routine and sensory sensitivities related to menstruation. Research indicates individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions often prefer period underwear due to its comfort and convenience. In response, we have launched a new program that aims to provide 5 pairs of period underwear to our community members. This initiative offers a practical and comfortable solution to menstrual care, promoting their independence, well-being, and dignity.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 99% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 67
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 69
  • Sustainability: 45
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 69.9%; rating input score 70
  • Program expense ratio: 82.7%; rating input score 83
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: Missing
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 15.8%; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.68; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 25.3%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: Limited
  • Revenue growth: 53.1% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 51.9% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 69.9% of revenue deployed · 82.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 4 of 4 board members independent · 2 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $145K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $47K · 5 people listed
  • Consistency: 40 of 40 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 3 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 4 of 6 not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 31/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 14/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 27/100.