Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION, ORANGE COUNTY (CRF-OC) IS A NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN EDUCATION ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH TO BE ACTIVE, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN HIGH-QUALITY, INTERACTIVE CIVIC AND LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT STUDENTS DIRECTLY WITH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. OUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY TEENS FOR 40 YEARS.
- Income
- $375,622
- Spending
- $407,629
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $69,792, executive director
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2547 of 47 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $149,481 spent. MOCK TRIAL COMBINES PERFORMANCE-BASED, LAW-RELATED EDUCATION WITH TOURNAMENT-STYLE, ACADEMIC COMPETITION. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WORKING IN TEAMS UNDER THE CAREFUL GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION OF VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY COACHES AND TEACHERS, ANALYZE THE FACTS OF A HYPOTHETICAL CRIMINAL COURT CASE, PREPARE TRIAL STRATEGY, AND ENACT EVERY ROLE IN THE TRIAL PROCEEDINGS, EITHER AS MEMBERS OF THE PROSECUTION OR DEFENSE. THE TEAMS PRESENT THEIR CASES IN REAL COURTROOMS BEFORE SITTING JUDGES AND ARE SCORED BY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS. ALL TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST FOUR ROUNDS OF COMPETITION. STUDENTS DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING, ANALYTICAL REASONING, COMMUNICATION, AND TEAM BUILDING SKILLS.
- $58,046 spent. PEER COURT IS A UNIQUE JUVENILE CRIME DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS BOTH A SECOND CHANCE FOR FIRST-TIME JUVENILE OFFENDERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED MISDEMEANORS AND A VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ORANGE COUNTY. PEER COURT SESSIONS ARE HELD BOTH VIRTUALLY WITH STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY AND IN PERSON ON VARIOUS HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES. AT EACH SESSION, A SITTING JUDGE PRESIDES, ATTORNEYS ADVISE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DESIGNATED AS "JURORS" ASSESS THE CASE PRESENTED AND ASSIGN APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS.
- $71,886 spent. LAW DAY CONFERENCE ANNUALLY BRINGS TOGETHER SEVERAL HUNDRED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND TEACHERS ON THE CAMPUS OF CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY'S FOWLER SCHOOL OF LAW TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE TOPICAL LEGAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES OF RELEVANCE TO THE STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC. WORKSHOPS ARE MODERATED BY LEADING EXPERTS IN RELEVANT FIELDS AND PROVIDE A LIVELY, ENGAGING FORUM IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUES. CONSTITUTION DAY COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT MANDATES REQUIRING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ACCEPTING PUBLIC FUNDS TO CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION DAY. CRF-OC PROVIDES AND OUTREACH PROGRAM PLACING VOLUNTEER JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS IN 8TH AND 12TH GRADE CLASSROOMS ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY FOR INTERACTIVE PRESENTATIONS. ORANGE COUNTY CAREER FORUM ANNUALLY CONNECTS NEARLY 1,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A WIDE DIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY COME TOGETHER ON THE CAMPUS OF ORANGE COAST COLLEGE TO ATTEND WORKSHOPS THAT EXPOSE THEM TO CAREERS IN SUCH DIVERSE FIELDS AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDICINE AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB INTERVIEW. THE PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ORANGE COAST COLLEGE.MOOT COURT IS DESIGNED AS AN ORAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE FORMAT OF SPEECH AND DEBATE. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE GIVEN A SET OF FACTS THAT RAISE A LEGAL ISSUE. USING A CLOSED LIBRARY OF CASES, STUDENTS PRESENT AN ARGUMENT AS TO WHY THE COURT SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE IN THEIR FAVOR. WINNERS FROM EACH SCHOOL ADVANCE TO THE COUNTY FINALS IN REAL COURTROOMS WITH JUDGES PRESIDING OVER THE PROCEEDINGS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.