Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 98 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR CORE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE, RELEVANT, USEFUL, HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES THAT INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLINICAL RESEARCH PROCESS; RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE UNPRECEDENTED GIFT OF PARTICIPATION IN CLINICAL TRIALS; ENHANCE AND ENRICH THE PARTICIPATION EXPERIENCE FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL RESEARCH PROFESSIONALS, PATIENTS, AND THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $13.9 million
- Spending
- $12.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 7.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 67
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $305,084, cfo & coo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 98 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 2025, 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 (4)
- $6.7 million spent. HEALTH COMMUNICATION SERVICES - PROVIDE STUDY VOLUNTEERS WITH THE RESULTS OF THEIR CLINICAL TRIAL BY CREATING AND DELIVERING PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARIES, PLAIN LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS OF INFORMED CONSENT DOCUMENTS, LEGAL DOCUMENTS, WEBSITES, PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARIES OF PUBLICATIONS & PROTOCOL SYNOPSES. HEALTH LITERACY EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS.
- $2.4 million spent. RESEARCH SERVICES - ENGAGING PATIENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK TO OBTAIN MEANINGFUL INSIGHTS FOR SPONSORS - INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PHARMACEUTICAL, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANIES, CONTRACT RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS, ACADEMIC AND FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS, FOUNDATIONS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. PROVIDE PATIENT & CARE PARTNER ADVISORY BOARDS, CLINICAL TRIAL JOURNEY WORKSHOPS, AND CUSTOM RESEARCH PROJECTS.
- $1.1 million spent. CONTENT LICENSING - LICENSING OR PURCHASE OF CISCRP EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, VIDEOS AND BROCHURES.
- $629,902 spent. MARKETING - PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO HELP THE PUBLIC LEARN ABOUT CLINICAL RESEARCH AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CLINICAL RESEARCH VOLUNTEER. MINORITY OUTREACH MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AMONG CLINICAL STUDY PARTICIPANTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.