Passes our checks

Oakland County Bar Foundation

EIN 38-2170426 · Bloomfld Hls, MI

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

What it says it does

The Oakland County Bar Foundation is dedicated to ensuring access to justice and an understanding of the law in our community.

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 76.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
20 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15
Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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

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

Programs described in its return (2)

$201,536 spent. The foundation provides grants to outside 501(c)(3) organizations to provide legal aid and education throughout the metro Detroit area. The primary objective is to provide legal services to low-income members of the Oakland County community. A few programs also provide legal education to students in the Oakland County school system. Legal service clinics run at different times of the year based on the provider's calendar. Clients served depend on the program and the amount of work that is required. One grant funds a legal education program that local Michigan high schools participate in dealing with the process of the legal system.
$38,880 spent. The foundation provides a grant to the Oakland County Bar Association to fund multiple law related programs and to provide free legal education and free legal aid throughout Oakland County. The law-related education programs are geared to high school and elementary students. These programs teach students the use of the law and the importance of following it. The legal aid clinics travel throughout cities in Oakland County to provide an avenue for residents to meet with an attorney and get basic questions answered. Numbers of individuals served, and dates of the law-related education programs vary per program. In general, about 400-500 students are able to participate in OCBF funded programs per fiscal year. The clinics service anywhere from 100-300 people depending on their area of interest and location.

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

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 September 2015.
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.