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Office of the Appellate Defender Inc

EIN 13-3468351 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OAD STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT POOR PEOPLE CONVICTED OF FELONIES RECEIVE FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL APPELLATE REPRESENTATION, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF INDIGENT DEFENSE REPRESENTATION THROUGH EDUCATION & TRAINING, AND ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMIC REFORM OF NYC'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
49
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$236,968, president & attorney-in-charge

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $5.4 million spent. THE OFFICE OF THE APPELLATE DEFENDER (OAD) IS ONE OF NEW YORK CITY'S OLDEST PROVIDERS OF APPELLATE REPRESENTATION TO POOR PEOPLE CONVICTED OF FELONIES, AND THE CITY'S SECOND OLDEST INSTITUTIONAL INDIGENT DEFENSE OFFICE. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1988, OAD HAS HELD A UNIQUE POSITION IN THE FIELD OF INDIGENT APPELLATE DEFENSE: IT NOT ONLY PROVIDES SUPERB APPELLATE ADVOCACY, IT IS ALSO A LEADER IN INNOVATIVE, HOLISTIC, AND CLIENT-CENTERED REPRESENTATION. SUPERVISION OF AN OAD SUPERVISOR, AND OAD CLIENT ON APPEAL. THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THE CLINIC IS A WEEKLY SEMINAR ON APPELLATE ADVOCACY. IN FY 2018, 8 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE NYU PROGRAM. OAD IS DEVOTED TO MAINTAINING AND TRAINING A STAFF OF LAWYERS WITH DVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES. THE OFFICE ATTRACTS SOME OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYERS IN THE NATION AND EVERY OAD STAFF MEMBER SHARES A PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING THE UNDERDOG AND TO PUBLIC SERVICE. MANY OF OAD'S STAFF ATTORNEYS HAVE CLERKED FOR PROMINENT JUDGES IN THE FEDERAL OR STATE COURTS. OAD ALSO EMPLOYS DISTINGUISHED LAW GRADUATES STRAIGHT OUT OF LAW SCHOOL AND LAWYERS WITH NON-JUDICIAL POST-GRADUATE EXPERIENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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