Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Oakland Family Services

EIN 38-1358388 · Pontiac, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OAKLAND FAMILY SERVICES IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION SERVING THE AREA SINCE 1921. WITH THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS IN OAKLAND COUNTY, WE OFFER A CONTINUUM OF PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND TREATMENT SERVICES THAT SPAN THE HUMAN LIFE CYCLE, ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND REBUILD LIVES.

Income
$13.2 million
Spending
$13.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
206
Volunteers
142
Highest pay
$223,535, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $6.0 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - FAMILY, GROUP, COUPLES AND INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS: COMMUNICATION AND COPING, HEALING AND STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS, MARITAL STRESS, DIVORCE, STEP-FAMILIES, DOMESTIC ABUSE AND VIOLENCE, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, TREATMENT FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION, RELAPSE PREVENTION, INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT GROUPS AND TREATMENT FOR OLDER ADULTS.
  2. $3.8 million spent. FAMILY PRESERVATION - FAMILY-ORIENTED SERVICES: ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE OF CHILDREN AND LICENSING OF FOSTER CARE HOMES.
  3. $1.1 million spent. EDUCATION - SCHOOL READINESS AND SUCCESS PROGRAMS: PARENT, YOUTH AND ADOLESCENT GROUP EDUCATION, CHILDCARE AND PRE-SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN.
  4. $772,731 spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES - SERVICES RELATED TO INFANT/TODDLER CONCERNS: INFANT/TODDLER HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND HOME-BASED PARENT SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 May 1951.

    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.

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.