Kars4Kids / Oorah Charitable Foundation is a 1-star charity that is not financially transparent. The charity inadequately discloses to donors, with a F Results Reporting grade. For every dollar donated to the charity, 73 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Founded in 2006, Kars4Kids's advertising jingle is well known through television and radio ads. Funds from donated cars goes to Oorah Charitable Foundation (OCF), an American Orthodox Jewish youth charity. OCF runs youth mentorship, education, and camp programs to help kids connect with their Jewish heritage.

On May 8, 2026 a California court banned Kars4Kids from fundraising in the state unless it clearly discloses its religious affiliation, where the kids are that it supports, and the true age of those it serves. The court found that Kars4Kids violated California’s False Advertising Law. It found that Kars4Kids deliberately misled donors through its "1-877-Kars4Kids" jingle. Through the court case, evidence shows that Kars4Kids funds matchmaking services aimed at young adults, sponsors gap years in Israel, and general family subsidies. US Kars4Kids COO Esti Landau admitted the charity’s primary purpose is to help Jewish kids and families. Kars4Kids ads deceive donors by omitting key facts that donations benefit one religious group.

Another class action law suit against Kars4Kinds continues in Northern California (Pavel Savva et al. v. Kars4Kids Inc. and Oorah Inc. Case No. 4:25-CV-09498-YGR.)

This recent court decision follows a long history going back to a 2009 settlement in Pennsylvania brought by the State Attorney General for “failing to properly inform donors that donations would only benefit services of a certain religion”. In 2009, a similar case in Oregon settled for “deceiving donors about the use of their donations.” In 2017, the Minnesota Attorney General concluded that “Kars4Kids had engaged in financial shenanigans” in presenting how much money was spent on fundraising, administration and overhead to make it look like more money was spent on charity programs. For more information, read Charity Watch’s post. The same Kars4Kids’ advertisements air in Canada.

Despite earning $11.6m in revenue, the Canadian charity does not publish an annual report nor make publicly available its audited financial statements. A donor would not know how the charity spent its money. The charity also does not have a Canadian website. It is unknown if the charity runs any programs for Canadian youth.  

Oorah website reports that it awards scholarships to 2,000 students annually and its camps receive over 1,000 campers each summer. Its Rebbetzins program has over 1,554 engaged members and its TorahMates program reports that over 13,000 students learn weekly. As Oorah Charitable Foundation is a charity in both the U.S. and Canada, it isn't clear if these reported numbers refer to its American programs or US and Canadian programs combined. 

Kars4Kids / Oorah Charitable Foundation is not financially transparent. Charity Intelligence used its T3010 filing with the CRA for this financial report. Once we receive the audited financials, we will update this report.

Kars4Kids / Oorah Charitable Foundation received $69k in donations in F2024. The charity received $10.7m in donated vehicles, which accounts for 93% of revenue.

For F2024, Kars4Kids/Oorah Charitable Foundation reports that it gave $9.6m to US charities, including Oorah. Other US charities listed are Texas Torah Institute, Shulamith School, Cincinnati Hebrew Day School, Hebrew Academy Community School.  It gave $832k to organizations in Israel. These Israeli organizations include American Friends of Yeshiva of Kodshim, Derech Etz Chaim, Bnos Batsheva and Yeshivat Orayta. Total money transfered to international charities in F2024 was $10.5m. 

The charity does not report any fundraising costs within its T3010. This ratio is likely understated. Fundraising costs would include advertising and promotion, like the radio and tv ads that are so prevalent. The charity spent $2.8m on advertising which was 27% of revenue in F2024. For every dollar donated to the charity, 73 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

OCF’s T3010 reports it spent $4.8m on “Other Costs”. There is no additional disclosure about these other costs. Other costs are 30% of its spending.

OCF has $13.3m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The charity’s reserves can cover 149% or one year and six months of its annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Oorah Charitable Foundation does not report any paid employees on its T3010. This is a mandatory filing.

Report created on February 5, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.