Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CREW USES AGGRESSIVE LEGAL ACTION, IN-DEPTH RESEARCH, COLLABORATIVE POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AND BOLD COMMUNICATIONS TO HELP FOSTER A GOVERNMENT THAT IS ETHICAL AND ACCOUNTABLE, REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS, AND PRESERVE AMERICA'S (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. WE HIGHLIGHT ABUSES, CHANGE BEHAVIOR, RAISE AWARENESS, AND LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR NEW POLICIES AND APPROACHES THAT ENCOURAGE PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THEIR OWN ENRICHMENT OR THE BENEFIT OF POWERFUL INTERESTS.
- Income
- $11.2 million
- Spending
- $8.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 14.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $411,155, president and ceo
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 67% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (2)
- $3.4 million spent. LEGAL: CREW HAS ENGAGED IN LARGE-SCALE LITIGATION TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH KEY ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY LAWS INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTION'S DISQUALIFICATION CLAUSE, THE FEDERAL RECORDS ACT, AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ACT. CREW HAS FILED NUMEROUS ETHICS COMPLAINTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, STATE PROSECUTORS, THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL, AND OTHER AGENCIES AGAINST EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS; CREW HAS ALSO FILED COMPLAINTS WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, AND OTHER AGENCIES CONCERNING VIOLATIONS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND TAX LAWS BY GOVERNMENTOFFICIALS AND THOSE WHO SEEK TO INFLUENCE THEM, AS WELL AS BY CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE AND POLITICAL OR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS LITIGATED AGAINST GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ADEQUATELY ENFORCE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AND RELATED LAWS.CREW HAS INITIATED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS AND OTHER OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS SEEKING INFORMATION REGARDING POTENTIAL ETHICS VIOLATIONS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE INFLUENCE OF MONEYED INTERESTS ON POLICY-MAKING, SECRET DECISION-MAKING, AND ACTIONS THAT INFRINGE ON DEMOCRATIC CHECKS AND BALANCES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS FILED NUMEROUS LAWSUITS IN FEDERAL COURT OVER THE GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS. CREW HAS WORKED TO DEVELOP LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS TO IMPROVE ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND IN CAMPAIGNS AND TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROTECTIONS, AND HAS WORKED TO INFORM LEGISLATORS AND OTHERS OF THESE DESIRED REFORMS. CREW HAS ALSO WORKED TO ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT.
- $2.3 million spent. EDUCATION: CREW HAS WORKED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT UNETHICAL, ILLEGAL, AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC CONDUCT ON THE PART OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THOSE WHO SEEK TO INFLUENCE THEM, THE THREAT THIS CONDUCT POSES TO OUR DEMOCRACY, THE LEGAL PROVISIONS AVAILABLE AND THE LEGAL REFORMSNECESSARY TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, AS WELL AS THE CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS. IT HAS PUBLICIZED INSTANCES OF THESE KINDS OF ABUSES AND BROADER PATTERNS OF UNETHICAL OR ANTI-DEMOCRATIC CONDUCT AND IMPROPER OR EXCESSIVE INFLUENCE. THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED IN PRINT, BROADCAST, AND ONLINE NEWS SOURCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. IT ALSO MAINTAINS WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS THAT PUBLICIZE ITS ACTIVITIES. CREW HAS ALSO PUBLISHED IN DEPTH REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT ETHICS, DEMOCRACY, AND CORRUPTION ISSUES AND ON THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS BASED ON ITS OWN RESEARCH, OBTAINED DOCUMENTS, AND LEGAL ANALYSIS. CREW'S PRESIDENT & CEO, BOARD MEMBERS, AND OTHER EMPLOYEES REGULARLY APPEAR IN PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA DISCUSSING GOVERNMENT ETHICS, MONEY IN POLITICS, AND THE PRESERVATION OF DEMOCRACY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.