Oar of Fairfax County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% 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 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
0 of 10Reports 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)
- $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.
- $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.
- $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.
- $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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.