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OREGON LAW CENTER

EIN 93-1194564 PORTLAND, OR

Revenue 2025
$15,795,139
Expenses 2025
$15,252,035

Program services were 89.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
I83
Classification
1000
Street
621 SW MORRISON ST STE 1450

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE FOR THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF OREGON BY PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

  • THE OREGON LAW CENTER (OLC) PROVIDES FREE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE (THOSE LIVING AT AND BELOW 125% OF THE NATIONAL POVERTY GUIDELINES); ADVOCATES TO SUPPORT THE INTERESTS OF LOW-INCOME OREGONIANS BEFORE JUDICIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BODIES; PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE; AND MAINTAINS A PANEL OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS. OLC EMPLOYS ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS WORKING IN ELEVEN OFFICES ACROSS OREGON TO PROVIDE THE FULL RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)THE TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY OLC INCLUDE: CONSULTATION AND ADVICE; BRIEF SERVICE; COMMUNITY EDUCATION/SELF-HELP/PRO SE FORMS/WEBSITES; NEGOTIATION/MEDIATION; REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS; COURT REPRESENTATION; LIMITED APPEALS; LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY; AND LIMITED LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. OLC PROVIDES FREE COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE TO HELP OUR CLIENT POPULATION BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW. OLC, WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HELPS TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE FREE COMMUNITY EDUCATION INFORMATION ONLINE AND IN PRINT FORM. OLC EMPLOYEES DO OUTREACH TO LOCATIONS THAT ARE CONVENIENT TO LOW-INCOME CLIENTS (HOMELESS SHELTERS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES SERVING LOW-INCOME CLIENTS, NURSING HOMES, LABOR CAMPS, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, AND SIMILAR LOCATIONS) AND OFFER FREE APPOINTMENTS TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND BRIEF SERVICE AND CONSIDER ACCEPTING A CASE FOR REPRESENTATION. OLC, WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, OPERATES A HOTLINE WHERE LOW-INCOME CLIENTS CALL TO RECEIVE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICE OR REPRESENTATION ON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO RECEIVING PUBLIC BENEFITS, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND SIMILAR MATTERS. OLC ATTORNEYS CONDUCT REGULAR INTAKE INTERVIEWS WITH APPLICANTS WHO CONTACT AN OLC OFFICE. THE ATTORNEYS OFFER ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICE OR FULL REPRESENTATION IN THESE INTERVIEWS. CLIENTS ACROSS THE STATE CAN REACH OLC OFFICES BY TOLL-FREE NUMBERS TO RECEIVE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICE AND TO SEEK REPRESENTATION. OLC MAINTAINS A PRO BONO PROGRAM WHERE APPLICANTS' CALLS ARE SCREENED AND THEN SENT TO PRIVATE ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDE SERVICE WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE CLIENT. SOME OF THESE CASES ARE SENT TO PRO BONO CLINICS. OTHER PRO BONO CASES ARE POSTED ON A LISTSERV WHERE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS CAN PICK UP THE CASE. CASES ARE ACCEPTED BASED ON APPLYING PRIORITIES THAT ARE SET THROUGH A ROUTINE ASSESSMENTS OF CLIENT NEEDS. OLC AVOIDS ACCEPTING FEE-GENERATING CASES THAT WOULD BE TAKEN BY PRIVATE ATTORNEYS. IN A FEW CASES THAT END UP IN LITIGATION, OLC RECOVERS ATTORNEY FEES FROM THE ADVERSE PARTY, BUT THESE COMPRISE A SMALL NUMBER OF CASES AND A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OLC'S INCOME. ATTORNEY SALARIES ARE SET BY THE BOARD WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ATTORNEY FEES.IN THE MOST RECENT TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD FOR WHICH STATISTICS ARE AVAILABLE, OLC CLOSED 2,923 CASES, INCLUDING 37 CASES WHERE THE REPRESENTATION RESULTED IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY DECISION AND 235 CASES WHERE THE REPRESENTATION RESULTED IN A COURT DECISION. ABOUT 13% OF THESE CASES WERE CATEGORIZED AS FAMILY LAW (ALMOST ALL OF WHICH INVOLVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR CHILD ABUSE), 64% WERE CATEGORIZED AS HOUSING LAW (INCLUDING LANDLORD/TENANT, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND FORECLOSURE CASES), 10% WERE CATEGORIZED AS EMPLOYMENT LAW (CASES THAT ARISE UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES RELATED TO WAGES, DISCHARGE, DISCRIMINATION, SAFETY AND SIMILAR ISSUES), 3% WERE CATEGORIZED AS INCOME MAINTENANCE (UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, VETERANS' BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS), 2% WERE CATEGORIZED AS CONSUMER LAW, 5% WERE CATEGORIZED AS INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS (INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, DISABILITY RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING), 2% WERE CATEGORIZED AS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AND 1% WERE CATEGORIZED AS WILLS/ESTATES, EDUCATION, JUVENILE, LICENSES, OR OTHERS.CLIENTS ACHIEVED A POSITIVE RESULT IN 88% OF CASES INVOLVING SOME FORM OF LITIGATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS FORM OF REPRESENTATION: 84% WERE MORE ECONOMICALLY SECURE; 81% OF THE CASES ALSO BENEFITTED THE CLIENT'S FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS; AND 15% OF THE CASES BENEFITTED OTHER LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN OREGON BEYOND THE CLIENT'S FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD. WHERE A MATTER INVOLVED THESE SPECIFIC ISSUES: 89% OF THE CLIENTS WERE PHYSICALLY SAFER; 79% WERE BETTER ABLE TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE; AND 86% OBTAINED OR MAINTAINED HOUSING. SOME OF THE CASES IMPROVED POLICIES AND/OR PRACTICES TO BENEFIT A LARGE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME CLIENTS, AS WELL AS OBTAINING RESULTS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CLIENT.

    Expenses $13,707,706 · Grants $364,377 · Revenue $555,865

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Wayne Belmont

    BOARD PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Sherisa Davis-Larry

    BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Lance Inouye

    BOARD TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Martina Gordon

    BOARD SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Nicole Deering

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Amy Edwards

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sara Gray

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Anabel Hernandez-Mejia

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Aaron Jeffers

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Nakili Odom

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Peter Shepherd

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Assitan Sylla Traore

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Marisa Wilkins

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ira Zarov

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Erika Hente

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $173,939
    From this org
    $139,093
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,846
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $134,420
    Bonus
    $4,673
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,428
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,418
    Filer's total
    $173,939

  • Sarah Demartino

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $145,967
    From this org
    $119,510
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,457
    Hours/week
    35

  • Maria Elena Santaella

    OPERATIONS/HR MANAGER

    Total calculated
    $150,489
    From this org
    $116,872
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,617
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $112,199
    Bonus
    $4,673
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,754
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,863
    Filer's total
    $150,489

  • Beth Englander

    STATE SUPPORT UNIT ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $149,584
    From this org
    $116,625
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,959
    Hours/week
    35

  • Heather Kemper

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $148,367
    From this org
    $122,163
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,204
    Hours/week
    35

  • Nargess Shadbeh

    DIRECTOR OF FARMWORKER PROGRAM

    Total calculated
    $148,346
    From this org
    $121,733
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,613
    Hours/week
    35

  • Edward Johnson

    DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION

    Total calculated
    $147,980
    From this org
    $122,233
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,747
    Hours/week
    35

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $15,795,139
    Expenses
    $15,252,035
    Contributions
    $15,052,142
    Grants paid
    $364,377
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $14,653,515
    Expenses
    $14,297,746
    Contributions
    $13,897,893
    Grants paid
    $544,234
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $14,380,967
    Expenses
    $13,315,066
    Contributions
    $13,664,705
    Grants paid
    $613,938
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $12,293,614
    Expenses
    $12,906,707
    Contributions
    $11,821,439
    Grants paid
    $927,022

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $11,367,572
    Expenses
    $10,555,513
    Assets (EOY)
    $5,701,051

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $10,342,148
    Expenses
    $10,174,329
    Assets (EOY)
    $4,942,204

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.