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Citizens Budget Commission Inc

EIN 13-0576141 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CITIZEN BUDGET COMMISSION, INC. ("CBC") IS A NONPARTISAN, NOT-FOR-PROFIT CIVIC ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO INFLUENCING CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE IN THE FINANCES AND SERVICES OF NEW YORK CITY (THE "CITY") AND NEW YORK STATE (THE "STATE") GOVERNMENTS. (CONTINUED SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 1) CBC WAS FOUNDED IN 1932, A TIME OF GREAT FISCAL CRISIS, WHEN A GROUP OF CIVIC LEADERS FORMED A RESEARCH ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD ANALYZE THE CITY'S FINANCES, EVALUATE THE MANAGEMENT OF CITY GOVERNMENT, REPORT ON THESE MATTERSTO ITS MEMBERS, AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS. IN 1985, CBC EXPANDED THIS ANALYSIS TO INCLUDE THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF STATE GOVERNMENT. CBC'S PURSUIT OF ITS MISSION IS EMBODIED IN FOUR INTERRELATED ROLES: WATCHDOG, RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, MONITOR OF IMPLEMENTATION AND DISSEMINATOR OF INFORMATION. CBC IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY CONTRIBUTIONS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND INVESTMENT INCOME.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
50.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
18
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$349,548, president

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $1.4 million spent. NONPARTISAN RESEARCH ON THE FINANCES, OPERATIONS, AND POLICIES OF NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENTS, WITH THE GOAL OF PROMOTING SOUND FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. CBC CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS, INCLUDING FISCAL MANAGEMENT, RAINY DAY FUNDS, SERVICE EFFICIENCY, MTA CAPITAL PLANNING AND OPERATING EFFICIENCY, HOUSING PRODUCTION AND LAND USE DECISIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY POLICIES, HEALTH SPENDING, AS WELL AS ONGOING MONITORING OF THE CITY AND STATE BUDGETS.
  2. $758,658 spent. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, POLICY MAKERS AND THE POLICY COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CBC RESEARCH REPORTS, HOSTING PUBLIC FORUMS TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND EDUCATE NEW YORKERS ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES, TESTIMONY SUBMITTED TO LEGISLATIVE BODIES, LETTERS TO OFFICIALS, AND ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY IN PROMINENT MEDIA OUTLETS. TOPICS INCLUDED: THE NYC AND NYS BUDGETS AND TAX POLICY; THE STATE'S CAP-AND-TRADE SYSTEM; FINANCING OF THE MTA CAPITAL PROGRAM; MTA FARE AND TOLL POLICY; EDUCATION SPENDING; CITY AND STATE RESERVE POLICIES; RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NYC CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION; HOUSING SCARCITY AND UNDERPRODUCTION; AND THE RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF A CITYWIDE RESIDENT SURVEY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B) CBC HELD 13 EVENTS IN 2024. THE EVENTS FEATURED SPEAKERS, INCLUDING: CONGRESSMEN RITCH TORRES AND DAN GOLDMAN; DIRECTOR OR STATE OPERATIONS KATHRYN GARCIA AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR KAREN PERSICHILLI KEOGH; NYC COMPTROLLER BRAD LANDER AND NYS COMPTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI; NYS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES SUPERINTENDENT ADRIENNE HARRIS; NYC BUDGET DIRECTOR JACQUES JIHA; NYS BUDGET DIRECTOR BLAKE WASHINGTON; NYCHA CHAIR JAMIE RUBIN AND NYCHA CEO LISA BOVA-HIATT; NYSERDA PRESIDENT DOREEN HARRIS AND NYS DEC COMMISSIONER BASIL SEGGOS; AND MTA CHAIR AND CEO JANNO LIEBER AND MTA CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT PRESIDENT JAMIE TORRES-SPRINGER. CBC ALSO HONORED NEW YORK FEDERAL RESERVE PRESIDENT JOHN C. WILLIAMS AND FORMER NYC DEPUTY MAYOR DANIEL DOCTOROFF AT ITS ANNUAL GALA, HOSTED A DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING ON THE NEW YORK CITY FISCAL CRISIS, AND A HELD A PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON NEW YORK.

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 October 13, 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 December 1944.

    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 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.