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Passes our checks

Oar of Fairfax County Inc

EIN 54-0952630 · Fairfax, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

To rebuild lives and create a safer community with opportunities, alternatives, and resources for justice-involved individuals and their families.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
19
Volunteers
37
Highest pay
$118,105, exec dir / ex-officio

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: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
  1. $806,372 spent. Re-Entry and Family Program: The organization provides services to Fairfax, Prince William, and Loudoun County residents who are justice-involved by assessing their needs and providing case management, employment, and/or emergency services aimed at addressing those needs. Family support and emergency services are provided to family members of the justice-involved individuals.
  2. $550,798 spent. Alternative Sentencing and Court Program: The Organization provides support services to Fairfax County residents through case management and community service placement in lieu of fines and/or jail time.
  3. $352,513 spent. Diversion Program: The Diversion Program is for the adult community members who are arrested and engaged with the criminal justice system in Fairfax County. OAR's Taking Root Diversion Program is designed as an alternative to prosecution. This program is designed to assist first time offenders, offenders with low-level crimes, and those without violent or sexual crimes with an opportunity to participate in the program. Participants are referred by the CA's office for an intake and assessment to ensure they are a good fit for the program. Once they have been assessed a service plan is completed and they go back to court for it to approved by a judge. See Schedule O for continuation After a participant has been officially enrolled into the program they work towards the completion of their goals on the service plan, which can include classes taught by OAR, applying for mainstream benefits, employment, housing, CSB, and any other goals that need to be addresses to assist a participant in becoming and remaining stable. Participants that complete their service plans return to court and their charges are dismissed and are made expungable from their record. Failure to complete the conditions required in the program contract results in prosecutorial review and appropriate legal action.
  4. $189,476 spent. Volunteer and other misclellaneous programs

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1975.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.