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Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Inc

EIN 73-1142462 · Oklahoma City, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

OKLAHOMA INDIAN LEGAL SERVICES IS DEDICATED TO REPRESENTATION WHERE FEDERAL INDIAN, TRIBAL AND TREATY LAW ARISE. OILS IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION PRIMARILY FUNDED BY THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC). ESTABLISEHD IN 1981, ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICE TO LOW-INCOME NATIVE AMERICANS LIVING IN OKLAHOMA. OILS ATTORNEYS PROVIDE REPRESENTATION WITH INDIAN LAND ISSUES, THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT AND TRIBAL COURT CIVIL AND CRIMINAL REPRESENTATION. OILS PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES STATEWIDE TO ONE OF THE LARGEST NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE ORGANIZATION IS GOVERNED BY A FIFTEEN MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHO OVERSEE POLICY DECISIONS.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 79%
Employees
31
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$147,406, executive director

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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 109% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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

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

    15 of 15 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.6 million spent. WITH LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION FUNDING, OILS ATTORNEYS PROVIDE FREE AND QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME OKLAHOMA TRIBAL MEMBERS. OUR ATTORNEYS ARE EXPERTS IN FEDERAL INDIAN LAW AND IN THE COURTS OF THE INDIAN NATIONS OF OKLAHOMA. OILS HELPS TRIBAL ELDERS NAVIGATE COMPLICATED INDIAN LAND PROBLEMS. WE ALSO PREPARE END OF LIFE DOCUMENTS FOR THE ELDERS. OILS KEEPS TRIBAL FAMILIES TOGETHER BY ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAWS MEANT TO PROTECT THEM. OILS EDUCATES TRIBAL MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS INCLUDING WEARING INDIGENOUS REGALIA AT GRADUATION, ASKING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INVESTIGATE MISSING AND MURDERED INDIAN WOMEN, AND INFORMING OFFICIALS ABOUT EXPERIENCES WITH FEDERALLY RUN INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS.
  2. $817,275 spent. WITH OTHER FUNDING, OILS REPRESENTS NATIVE AMERICANS IN TRIBAL COURTS WITH ADOPTIONS, GUARDIANSHIPS, AND GUARDIAN AD LITEM APPOINTMENTS. OILS ASSISTS TRIBAL MEMBERS WITH EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS, WHICH ARE BARRIERS TO TRIBAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRIBAL HOUSING. OILS ATTORNEYS UNDERSTAND HOW TO REPRESENT INDIGENT TRIBAL MEMBERS WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES IN TRIBAL COURT, CONSIDERING RECENT SUPREME COURT RULINGS THAT HAVE CAUSED CHANGES IN JURISDICTION.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 1984.

    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 November 4, 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.