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Center for Science in the Public Interest

EIN 23-7122879 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS AMERICA'S FOOD AND HEALTH WATCHDOG. CSPI ENVISIONS A HEALTHY POPULATION WITH REDUCED IMPACT AND BURDEN OF PREVENTABLE DISEASES AND AN EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM THAT MAKES HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE FOOD ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. CSPI VALUES INDEPENDENCE, SCIENTIFIC RIGOR, AND TRANSPARENCY.

Income
$12.6 million
Spending
$17.9 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
94
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$314,417, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $3.3 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - INCLUDES THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION-ORIENTED MATERIALS, SUCH AS BOOKS, BROCHURES, LETTERS, ARTICLES, AND PAMPHLETS TO THE PUBLIC; SPONSORSHIP OF CONFERENCES AND WEBSITES AND MEDIA INTERVIEWS.
  2. $3.6 million spent. NUTRITION ACTION HEALTH LETTER CONSISTS OF EDITING AND PUBLISHING SIX ISSUES PER YEAR OF NUTRITION ACTION HEATH LETTER, A PERIODICAL FOR MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS CONTAINING CURRENT INFORMATION OF NUTRITION FOOD SAFETY, AND RELATED HEALTH ISSUES.
  3. $8.3 million spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS - INCLUDES EFFORTS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INFORMATION ON NUTRITION AND DIET, PROVIDE CONSUMER INPUT ON NUTRITION AND FOOD SAFETY LAWS AND REGULATIONS, INVESTIGATE ACCURACY OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE ADVERTISING AND LABELING, PROMOTE HEALTHIER MENU ITEMS IN RESTAURANTS.-PROMOTE INCREASED PRODUCTION AND AVAILABILITY OF FOOD THAT IS FREE OF UNSAFE INGREDIENTS BY WORKING WITH FOOD PRODUCERS AND RETAILERS. MONITORING AND INVESTIGATING PROPOSED AND APPROVED ADDITIVES TO FOOD SAFETY, PARTICULARLY FOR MEAT, POULTRY, AND SEAFOOD.- PROMOTE INCREASED PROTECTION FROM ORDINARY CONTAMINATION WITH MICROBES THROUGH INCREASED APPROPRIATIONS FOR INSPECTIONS OF IMPORTED AND DOMESTIC FOODS AND FOOD MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. PROMOTION OF POLICIES INTENDED TO REDUCE ANTI-MICROBIAL RESISTANCE.- IMPROVE THE DIET OF CHILDREN BY PROMOTING MORE NUTRITIOUS SCHOOL FOODS THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, SEMINARS, AND PUBLIC POLICY EFFORTS. ENCOURAGE FOOD PRODUCERS TO IMPROVE THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF THE PRODUCTS SOLD IN SCHOOLS AND RESTAURANTS AND DISCOURAGE THE ADVERTISING OF UNHEALTHY FOODS TO CHILDREN. - IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY PROMOTING THE CONSUMPTION OF A MORE PLANT-BASED DIET AND REDUCING THE CONSUMPTION OF MEAT, MILK, FAT AND OTHER PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO CANCER, HEART DISEASE, AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS. REDUCE CONSUMPTION OF SODIUM TO HEALTHY LEVELS.- PROMOTE CHANGES IN THE AMERICAN FOOD SUPPLY AND IN FOOD POLICIES THROUGH THE LITIGATION PROCESS. - IMPROVE THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT NUTRITION THROUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, NUTRITION FACTS LABELS AND MENU LABELING.- IDENTIFY AND PUBLICIZE LINKS BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE IN MATTERS RELATED TO HEALTH, FOOD, AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. EXAMINE HOW THE DEMANDS OF INDUSTRY MAY UNDERMINE THE PUBLIC-INTEREST MISSION OF SCIENCE AND SECURE A BALANCE OF VIEW IN THE SCIENCE POLICY DECISION MAKING PROCESS WHICH, COMBINED WITH FULL DISCLOSURE WILL ENABLE SCIENTISTS TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC, MEDIA, AND POLICY MAKERS WITH THE BEST ADVICE ABOUT SCIENTIFIC ISSUES. - ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MEDICAL PRODUCTS SUCH AS DRUGS, VACCINES, AND LABORATORY TESTS BY ADVOCATING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND RIGOR IN PRODUCT REVIEW. - ASSESS SCIENTIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND OTHER ORGANISMS USED IN AGRICULTURE. INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF ENGINEERED CROPS AND FOODS. STRENGTHEN THE REGULATORY SYSTEM AND INCREASE PUBLIC FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ON BOTH GENETIC ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 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? 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.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 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 August 1971.

    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.