Provide community legal education, practicing training for lawyers and Law students, and sliding scale legal services to income qualified people.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 20 volunteers and 20 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $61K a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
71%
of spending
Fine: 71% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$85K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $58K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$577K
111% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 111% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
+139% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
71%
Net assets
−$56K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +139%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$353K
FY2021$784K
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$441K
FY2024$1.1M
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +42%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$433K
FY2021$689K
FY2022$932K
FY2023$796K
FY2024$1.1M
Net assets
−$56K
FY2024▼ -191%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$14K
FY2021$109K
FY2022$245K
FY2023−$19K
FY2024−$56K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2017.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 71% · $804K Management & general 16% · $182K Fundraising 13% · $144K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $85K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$85,000Pt VII · Sec A
Board President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kamron Graham’s $85K as Executive Director is at the 22nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Amanda Caffall—$73,364$55,244$87,301$70,617
Kamron Graham$85,000$82,492———
John Grant——$16,000$4,000—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The Commons Law Center executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Offers legal education, lawyer training, and affordable legal help to low-income individuals.

Questions for The Commons Law Center

Tap to ask. The Commons Law Center sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. The Commons Law Center answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $804K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

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.

$322Kprogram expense
02

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.

$313Kprogram expense
03

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.

$169Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Larson LegacyFY2024$250
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$58K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$948K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$97K
Investment incomeLn 3$9K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$804K
Managementcol C$182K
Fundraisingcol D$144K
Owns and owesPt X
−$56K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$409K
Total assetsLn 16$521K
LiabilitiesLn 26$577K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$97K
Government grantsLn 1e$10K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$948K
Investment incomeLn 3$9K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$409K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$409K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K
Other assetsLn 15$60K
Total assetsLn 16$521K
LiabilitiesLn 26$577K
Net assetsLn 32−$56K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 520
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$10K$409K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6K$4K
Total assetsLn 16$136K$521K
LiabilitiesLn 26$155K$577K
Net assetsLn 32−$19K−$56K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$90K$15K$38K$38K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$644K$540K$52K$52K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$12K$6K$3K$3K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$103K$73K$15K$15K
Payroll taxesLn 10$132K$90K$21K$21K
Accounting feesLn 11c$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$10K$8K$622$622
Advertising and promotionLn 12$20$20
Office expensesLn 13$19K$8K$7K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$25K$17K$4K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$10K$8K$1K$1K
TravelLn 17$5K$5K$136$136
InterestLn 20$16K$16K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K$230$231
InsuranceLn 23$28K$19K$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$28K$12K$16K$662
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$154$1K$653
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$804K$182K$144K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $1.1M$1.1M−$76K−$56K 990 PDF
FY2023 $441K$796K−$355K−$19K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.0M$932K$114K$245K 990 PDF
FY2021 $784K$689K$95K$109K 990 PDF
FY2020 $353K$433K−$81K$14K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,053,668 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $104,358$96,842
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $335,579$948,047
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,337$8,779
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $441,274$1,053,668
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $667,423$981,137
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $128,820$148,791
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $796,243$1,129,928
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$354,969−$76,260
Part VI · Governance 8 of 9 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,053,668 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$9,579
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$87,263
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$96,842
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $948,047$948,047
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $8,779$8,779
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $948,047 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $8,779$1,053,668
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,129,928 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $15,135 · Management $37,602 · Fundraising $37,603$90,340
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $540,397 · Management $51,600 · Fundraising $51,600$643,597
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,363 · Management $2,765 · Fundraising $2,764$11,892
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $73,165 · Management $15,029 · Fundraising $15,029$103,223
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $89,808 · Management $21,139 · Fundraising $21,138$132,085
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $3,711$3,711
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $8,282 · Management $622 · Fundraising $622$9,526
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $20$20
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,587 · Management $6,950 · Fundraising $4,380$18,917
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $17,420 · Management $3,754 · Fundraising $3,754$24,928
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,000 · Management $1,000 · Fundraising $1,000$10,000
IX-17 TravelPrograms $4,510 · Management $136 · Fundraising $136$4,782
IX-20 InterestManagement $16,283$16,283
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,845 · Management $230 · Fundraising $231$2,306
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $19,354 · Management $4,341 · Fundraising $4,341$28,036
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $11,539 · Management $15,868 · Fundraising $662$28,069
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $154 · Management $1,406 · Fundraising $653$2,213
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $803,579 · Management $182,436 · Fundraising $143,913$1,129,928
Part X · Balance sheet $520,984 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $10,460$409,125
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $65,253$48,061
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $5,848$3,542
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $54,374$60,256
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $135,935$520,984
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $7,354$47,800
X-19 Deferred revenue$1,325
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $109,466$118,909
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $38,495$400,335
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $155,315$577,369
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$19,380−$56,385
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $135,935$520,984
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$56,385 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,053,668
XI-2 Total expenses$1,129,928
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$76,260
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$19,380
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$39,255
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$56,385

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.