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Public Citizen Inc

EIN 23-7104508 · Washington, DC

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceNot ratedToo small or too little detailImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WORK FOR CONSUMER RIGHTS

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Employees
178
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$334,505, co-president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

Governance

This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (8)
  1. $2.7 million spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION - PUBLIC CITIZEN IS ACTIVE IN EVERY PUBLIC FORUM: CONGRESS, THE COURTS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND THE NEWS MEDIA. PUBLIC CITIZEN BELIEVES THAT FULL DISCLOSURE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION EMPOWERS CITIZENS AND CONSUMERS. ALL OF PUBLIC CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS AIM TO MAKE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, NUCLEAR WASTE AND REACTOR SAFETY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RELATED ISSUES ACCESSIBLE TO ORDINARY CITIZENS. IF NECESSARY, PUBLIC CITIZEN USES THE COURTS TO ENSURE FAIR ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
  2. $1.2 million spent. CONGRESS WATCH - THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO CURB THE INFLUENCE OF SPECIAL INTEREST DOLLARS THAT CORRUPT THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND PUBLICIZE CORPORATE WELFARE EXPENDITURES THAT LARD THE FEDERAL BUDGET, WORKS FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM AND TOUGH LOBBY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, CHAMPIONS CONSUMER LEGISLATION INCLUDING AREAS OF TRANSPORTATION POLICY, LOBBIES TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
  3. $865,949 spent. GLOBAL TRADE WATCH - ACTING ON ITS BELIEF THAT SO CALLED "FREE TRADE" TREATIES COST U.S. JOBS, REDUCE WAGES, UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS, AND JEOPARDIZE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, GLOBAL TRADE WATCH LEADS A NATIONAL COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL, CONSUMER, LABOR, RELIGIOUS, AND FAMILY FARM GROUPS UNITED AGAINST THE CORPORATE PUSH FOR GLOBALIZATION THROUGH TREATIES SUCH AS THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA) AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) AGREEMENTS.R.
  4. $229,764 spent. PUBLICATIONS - PUBLIC CITIZEN PUBLISHES PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS, A BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER THAT COVERS ALL THE ISSUES THE ORGANIZATION WORKS ON INCLUDING TRADE, HEALTH AND SAFETY, ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY.
  5. $114,393 spent. THE ENERGY PROGRAM - IS A POWERFUL VOICE IN THE MOVEMENT TO AVERTCATASTROPHIC CLIMATE CHANGE, DECREASE RELIANCE ON NUCLEAR AND FOSSILFUELS, AND TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DEVELOP RENEWABLE ENERGYSOURCES.
  6. $86,376 spent. ACCESS TO MEDICINES - PUBLIC CITIZEN'S ACCESS TO MEDICINES GROUP WORKS WITH PARTNERS WORLDWIDE TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND SAVE LIVES, THROUGH USE OF PHARMACEUTICAL COST-LOWERING MEASURES INCLUDING GENERIC COMPETITION. THEY HELP CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES OVERCOME PATENT-BASED AND OTHER DRUG MONOPOLIES. THEIR WORK CHALLENGES BIG PHARMA'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER.
  7. $676,251 spent. PC TEXAS - PC TEXAS INFORMS TEXANS ON IMPORTANT ENERGY, TRADE, CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, ETHICS, TRANSPORTATION, AND UTILITY ISSUES.
  8. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.