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Pacific Ombudsman for Humanitarian Law

EIN 66-0804748 · Saipan, MP

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceWeak49 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Pacific Ombudsman for Humanitarian Law is organized and operate for the following purposes: to provide legal services and counseling to indigent nationals and aliens within the Pacific Region, which includes U.S. Territories, Freely Associated States, and Island Nations, who are victims of immigration abuse , fraud in foreign labor contracting, trafficking in persons, labor abuse, debt bondage, peonage, employment discriminations or other criminals activities.

Income
$271,750
Spending
$283,006
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$100,006, board of directors / secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% 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

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $204,451 spent. Specialized Services for Human Trafficking Victims: Improving Legal Services for Human Trafficking Victims. Original Solicitation OVC FY 2021 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking. Awardee PACIFIC OMBUDSMAN FOR HUMANITARIAN LAW. Award # 15POVC-21-GG-04222-HT. Pacific Ombudsman for Humanitarian Law (POHL) is the lead human trafficking pro bono legal service provider in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the surrounding region. POHL's office in Chalan Kanoa serves as a first point of contact for many victims and POHL actively engages with victims to determine what legal options are best for each respectively. Project funds will be used to (1) expand the availability of POHL's bilingual legal assistance by hiring an additional bilingual paralegal and increasing access to bilingual paralegals for the anticipated number of victims seeking assistance; (2) train POHL frontline personnel regarding a comprehensive education in legal assistance for victims of human trafficking to ensure sustainability after the ILS project; and (3) improve POHL's financial management system to a state of the art level and capacity. The overall goal of the project is to help victims of human trafficking to transition into living full and normal lives. At the end of the three-year project period, POHL will have provided at least 100 human trafficking victims legal services that will provide them the support in navigating the federal system while seeking return to the community.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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 December 2024.

    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 May 2021.

    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.