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Fairness Center Inc

EIN 46-4482738 · Oklahoma City, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FAIRNESS CENTER, INC. IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT LITIGATION AS A (A) LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION; (B) HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS DEFENSE ORGANIZATION; (C) PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM; AND (D) ORGANIZATION ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE CHARITABLE GOALS THROUGH INSTITUTION OF LITIGATION.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
22
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$506,622, president & general counsel

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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 (1)
  1. $2.9 million spent. LEGAL SERVICES; THE FAIRNESS CENTER, INC. PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES TO THOSE HURT BY PUBLIC SECTOR UNION OFFICIALS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR A DESCRIPTION OF CASES LITIGATED AND THE RATIONALE FOR THE DETERMINATION THAT THE LITIGATION BENEFITS THE PUBLIC GENERALLY. THE FAIRNESS CENTER DETERMINES WHICH CASES TO ACCEPT BASED ON THE ISSUES INVOLVED, THE IMPACT FOR THE LITIGANT, AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND NOT BASED ON ANY EXPECTATION OF FINANCIAL AWARD OR BENEFIT FOR THE FAIRNESS CENTER. THE FAIRNESS CENTER'S MATTERS IN DISPUTE SEEK TO CLARIFY, DEFEND, OR EXPAND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS. SOME MATTERS INVOLVE PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO SEEK TO VINDICATE FREEDOMS OF SPEECH, ASSOCIATION, OR OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. OTHER MATTERS INVOLVE A UNION'S FAILURE TO REPRESENT EMPLOYEES AS REQUIRED BY LAW. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAIRNESS CENTER REPRESENTS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INVESTIGATING CORRUPTION OR WASTE WITHIN THEIR UNIONS OR WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, OR RETALIATION. THE FAIRNESS CENTER ALSO REPRESENTS CLIENTS CONCERNING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS MADE PURSUANT TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW. THE FAIRNESS CENTER'S LITIGATION BENEFITS THE PUBLIC AT LARGE BECAUSE CLIENTS' CASES ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF A BROAD PUBLIC INTEREST IN CLARIFYING, DEFENDING AND/OR EXPANDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. THE FAIRNESS CENTER DOES NOT ACCEPT FEES FOR SERVICES FROM ITS CLIENTS. HOWEVER, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS WILL BE SOUGHT AND AWARDED PURSUANT TO FEDERAL OR STATE LAW FROM OPPOSING PARTIES. ATTORNEYS' FEES RECEIVED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ARE RECORDED ON PART VIII, LINE 2A AS "NON-CLIENT LEGAL FEES."

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 June 2015.

    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.