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The Commons Law Center

EIN 81-2672973 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak19 out of 100GovernanceFair60 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.
  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 149 cents.

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

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL HELP FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE - BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO TIMELY AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO JUSTICE.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
17
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$90,340, 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: 19 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (education, $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 111% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 139% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 149 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
  1. $322,405 spent. IN 2024 THE COMMONS LAW CENTER SECURED FUNDING WITH MULTNOMAH COUNTY. WE EXPANDED OUR STAFF TO INCLUDE TWO PARALEGALS AND FOUR ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE HELPED PREVENT AND MITIGATE THE WORST EFFECTS OF EVICTION FOR 1,384 HOUSEHOLDS, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED IN 2023.
  2. $312,590 spent. THIS YEAR OUR ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE TEAM HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY. RILEY AND EKUA WERE JOINED BY THREE SPPE CANDIDATES: ALEX, CASEY AND COURTNEY. THIS DREAM TEAM HAS HELPED 45 INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES CREATE THEIR ESTATE PLANS AND GUIDED 28 FAMILIES THROUGH PROBATE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING 75 MORE ESTATE PLANS AND MANAGING 90+ PROBATE CASES. WITH THE EXPANSION FROM NORTH PORTLAND TO ALL OF PORTLAND, OUR ATTORNEY EKUA HACKMAN HELPED 33 FAMILIES WITH ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE, A 57% INCREASE FROM 2023.
  3. $168,584 spent. OUR EXPERT FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS HELPED GUIDE CLIENTS THROUGH THEIR CASES WITH 398 COACHING CALLS. WE BROUGHT ON JEFFREY MATTHEWS, J.D. WITH 40 YEARS OF FAMILY LAW EXPERIENCE TO MENTOR OUR ATTORNEYS AND COACH OUR CLIENTS. WE DEVELOPED A FAMILY LAW 101 SERIES ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS MAKE SENSE OF THE LEGAL PROCESS AND NAVIGATE THEIR CASES WITH CONFIDENCE. THE OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND THE DISTRICT COURT ATTORNEY ADMISSION FUND ARE FUNDING LEGAL SERVICES FOR ROSE HAVEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAMILY LAW HELP, NAME & GENDER CHANGES AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY & ADVANCE DIRECTIVES.
  4. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY WE RAISED $31,504, EXCEEDING OUR INITIAL GOAL OF $20,000. WITH THIS SUPPORT, THE COMMONS IS BUILDING OUT A BUSINESS LAW PROGRAM, EXPANDING EVICTION DEFENSE SERVICES TO THE EAST COUNTY COURTHOUSE, FURTHER DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORTING OUR LEGAL SERVICE PRACTITIONERS AS THEY GUIDE THEIR CLIENTS THROUGH THEIR FAMILY LAW, ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE, BUSINESS LAW AND TENANT LAW ISSUES.

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 March 2017.

    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.