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The Citizens Campaign Inc

EIN 22-3511801 · Metuchen, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR 25 YEARS, THE CITIZENS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN TEACHING RESIDENTS IN MINORITY AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED URBAN COMMUNITIES HOW TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROBLEM SOLVING WITHOUT HAVING TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. OUR TRAINING EMPOWERS CITIZENS TO RESEARCH, SHAPE FOR PUBLIC USE, AND ADVANCE PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS TO CITY PROBLEMS THAT THEY IDENTIFY. OUR EXPERTS PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND STRATEGIC ADVICE TO HELP THEM GAIN ADOPTION OF THEIR SOLUTIONS -- OVER 300 LAWS AND POLICIES SO FAR. CITIZENS ARE ALSO TRAINED IN A PROVEN, PRACTITIONER-INFORMED, NO-BLAME PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD PRAISED BY TOP NATIONAL AUTHORITIES. OUR TRAINEES' EXAMPLE OF NO-BLAME PURSUIT OF PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO FINGER-POINTING, PARTISAN IDEOLOGICAL GRIDLOCK AND DEMOCRATIC DECLINE. THIS WORK WILL EXPAND THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE, A "CITIZEN SERVICE" DESIGNED TO EMPOWER CITIZENS TO CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A FAIR AND FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Income
$927,449
Spending
$923,584
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
11
Volunteers
200

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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. $828,221 spent. NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE: THE CITIZEN SERVICE GIVES EVERY AMERICAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CREATING A FAIR AND FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY BY SIGNING UP FOR POWER TRAINING IN PRACTICAL, NO-BLAME PROBLEM SOLVING OF PUBLIC ISSUES AND CONVERTING THEIR TRAINING INTO PUBLIC SERVICE AS CITIZEN LEADERS. THE SERVICE PROVIDES ACCESS TO OUR MANY RESOURCES, INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE, OUR LEADERSHIP TRAINING MANUAL CITIZEN POWER PUBLISHED BY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESS; AN ONLINE, CERTIFICATE COURSE IN CITIZEN LEADERSHIP AND NO-BLAME PROBLEM SOLVING; A NATIONAL SOLUTIONS SHARING PLATFORM; AND OUR LAW AND POLICY TASK FORCE OF OVER 50 EXPERIENCED AND ACCOMPLISHED PRACTITIONERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHO VOLUNTEER TO ASSIST CITIZEN PROBLEM SOLVING. THE CITIZEN SERVICE HAS WON THE ENDORSEMENTS AND ACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE NATION'S TOP EXPERTS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
  2. CIVIC TRUSTS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUTTING NO BLAME PROBLEM SOLVING TRAINING TO WORK IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. CIVIC TRUSTS ARE ASSOCIATIONS OF RESIDENTS AND OTHER CITY STAKEHOLDERS WHO TAKE A CIVIC PLEDGE TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND COUNTRY BETTER THAN THEY FOUND THEM. CIVIC TRUSTEES MEET ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO WORK TOGETHER UTILIZING A NO-BLAME METHOD TO FIND AND ADVANCE EVIDENCE-BASED, COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE ISSUES THEY IDENTIFY AS IMPORTANT FACING THEIR HOMETOWNS AND CITIES. WE HAVE CIVIC TRUSTS IN NEWARK, TRENTON, PERTH AMBOY, AND PLAINFIELD.

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 August 1998.

    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.

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