Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Oakland Leaf Foundation

EIN 81-0565800 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Oakland Leaf spurs creative and educational growth for Oakland youth by providing programs that cultivate critical thinking skills, emphasize socioemotional learning opportunities, and support authentic leadership development. They facilitate dynamic after-school programs for K-8 students at six high need schools: Ascend, Bret Harte, Encompass Academy, International Community School, Learning Without Limits, and Think College Now. Oakland Leaf youth created intentional communities, experienced new creative experiences, and developed confidence in their unique voice.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
111
Highest pay
$135,000, exec director

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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (12)
  1. $417,185 spent. Cleveland Elementary After-School Program:Oakland Leaf provides free, culturally responsive after-school programming at Cleveland Elementary, offering activities likes sports, arts, gardening, homework help, and STEAM enrichment.
  2. $375,125 spent. Ascend after-school program (ASP):Ascend ASP aims to provide wrap-around/holistic support to students of the ascend school offering academic and enrichment classes that engage and challenge students in an environment that values and fosters youth leadership, empowerment, a sense of community, and critical thinking. Ascend serves on average 110 students per day that range from kindergarten to 8th grade.
  3. $368,557 spent. Bret Harte After-School Program:The Bret Harte After-School program provides 140 youth in the 6th to 8th grade range the environment to be creative, stewards, critical thinkers, and active participants in their school in order to bring change to their immediate community. Youth are supported in creating alliances that are nurtured through individual development, cross cultural exchange, leadership, and exposure to the world beyond their immediate community.
  4. $357,909 spent. International Community Elementary After-School Program:Oakland Leaf provides free, culturally responsive after-school programming at International Community Elementary, offering activities likes sports, arts, gardening, homework help, and STEAM enrichment.
  5. $349,175 spent. Think College Now Elementary After-School Program:Oakland Leaf provides free, culturally responsive after-school programming at Think College Now Elementary, offering activities likes sports, arts, gardening, homework help, and STEAM enrichment.
  6. $303,590 spent. Encompass After-school program (ASP):Encompass after-school program provides extended academic and enrichment services to 100 students in 1st-5th grade. Students in program develop and strengthen their academic, physical, social, life, and leadership skills. We aim to offer a culturally sensitive, responsible, and responsive program aimed to develop students into confident and compassionate leaders. For this year, this program was considered a "thriving" program and scored a 4.77 out of a 5.0 scale according to the youth program quality assessment.
  7. $284,419 spent. Learning without limits after-school program:Learning without limits after-school program is dedicated to enhancing the learning experience of 85 students in 1st through 5th grade at learning without limits by offering academic and enrichment classes that engage, challenge, and empowers students to explore and take on youth leadership, think critically, and build a sense of community.
  8. $221,500 spent. Oakland Peace Camp (Elementary & Middle School):OPC is a free four-week summer camp for 120 youth 10-18 years old, that utilizes a project-based arts, social justice, and science based curriculum. OPC emphasizes youth empowerment, arts-based learning, community activism, cultural literacy, and reflection. OCP helps build a cohesive community by encouraging Oakland leaf students, interns, and families to interact and learn from each other.
  9. $148,147 spent. Roots Internship:Oakland Leaf's Roots internship program provides year-round positive youth development opportunities to 30 East Oakland High School students annually. Interns are trained to serve as classroom aides in after-school programs and provide daily social-emotional and academic support to students, and they facilitate creative play activities.
  10. $100,104 spent. Love Cultivating Schoolyards (LCS):LCS is Oakland Leaf's environmental justice program that transforms schoolyards into dynamic outdoor classrooms. LCS operates seven garden clubs at all of Oakland Leaf's after-school sites.
  11. $11,012 spent. La Escuelita Elementary After-School Program:Oakland Leaf provides free, culturally responsive after-school programming at La Escuelita, offering activities likes sports, arts, gardening, homework help, and STEAM enrichment.
  12. Common After-School Programming:Every year, Oakland Leaf provides quality, culturally responsive, and free after-school programming for approximately 1,300 East Oakland students at seven high-need elementary and middle schools.

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 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 June 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 May 2003.

    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.