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East Bay Childrens Law Offices Incorporated

EIN 26-4504468 · Oakland, CA

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

The mission of the East Bay Childrens Law Offices, Inc. is to protect and defend the rights of children and youth through holistic, vigorous and compassionate legal advocacy. EBCLO strives to provide a voice for children in and out of court and to promote positive outcomes for them.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
36
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$168,160, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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

    12 of 13 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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $3.3 million spent. Dependency Advocacy Program: East Bay Childrens Law Offices is appointed by the Alameda County Superior Court to represent children and youth in juvenile dependency cases at all stages of juvenile dependency court proceedings which begin when Alameda County Social Services files a petition alleging abuse or neglect of children by their parents or guardians. From the initial detention hearing through the child exiting the system, our multi-disciplinary model of representation focuses on empowering the childs voice in decisions that really matter and identifying and requesting services needed by our clients. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) We consistently advocate for their educational, developmental, physical and mental health needs and enforce the wide variety of rights attached to their status as dependents of the court. In 2025, we served over 1400 children in dependency court. Over the course of the year, 278 child clients exited the system after court intervention because they were safely home with their families. Of the children who could not safely return home, 59 children were adopted, and 63 children entered into a legal guardianship. Our collaborative and multi-disciplinary practice continues to ensure that each new client is assessed by our social work team. In 2025, we evaluated 344 new clients. Of those, 83 clients (24%) were assigned social workers for ongoing support, service follow-up, or early childhood consultation. In 2025, we developed an extensive list of free and low-cost resources for clients so our staff can easily locate and share opportunities with clients.
  2. Probate Guardianship Counsel for Children Program: EBCLO is appointed to represent children in a limited number of probate guardianship proceedings. The multi-disciplinary EBCLO team assesses the appropriateness of the guardianship and assists the children and their families in obtaining necessary community-based services through comprehensive case management. While children are not entitled to an attorney in probate court proceedings, EBCLO is appointed in the most complex and challenging cases before the court. In 2025, we represented 72 children in probate court and helped to secure guardianship orders for 16 children. We also successfully advocated for 3 children to stay with or return to their parents care.
  3. Community-based Advocacy for Resources and Education (CARE): The CARE program uses a trauma-informed approach to address the needs of our child clients beyond the four walls of the courtroom. CARE provides intensive and individualized support through specialist attorneys and social workers who hone in on key areas of practiceeducation, mental health, juvenile justice and early childhood developmentto maximize positive outcomes for our child clients. Staff provided education-related services to over 250 children in over 30 different school districts, which included advocacy at 77 school meetings. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 June 2009.

    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 November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.