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San Francisco Consumer Action

EIN 23-7172908 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER CONSUMERS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SECURITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
9
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$172,644, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 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 (5)
  1. $267,414 spent. THE WALMART FINANCIAL EDUCATION GRANT INCLUDED AN UPDATE TO CONSUMER ACTION'S MONEY MANAGEMENT 1-2-3 TRAINING MODULE AND THE CONDUCTING OF THREE IN-PERSON TRAIN-THE-TRAINER SESSIONS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS AND ADVOCATES IN BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED MINI-GRANT INCENTIVES FOR SELECTED ATTENDEES TO CONDUCT FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  2. $194,283 spent. THE DISH CY PRES AWARD PROJECT INCLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-LINGUAL CONSUMER EDUCATION MATERIALS ON THE TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (TCPA) AND CONSUMER PRIVACY PROTECTION AND CONDUCTING A SERIES OF IN-PERSON REGIONAL TRAIN-THE-TRAINER WORKSHOPS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCATES AND EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDED THE AWARDING OF MINI-GRANTS TO SELECT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO CONDUCT LOCAL WORKSHOPS FOR CONSUMERS ON THE TCPA AND PRIVACY PROTECTION.
  3. $154,238 spent. ROSE FOUNDATION WARRANTY PROJECT THE PROJECT INCLUDED A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONSUMER OPINION POLL, RESEARCH AND SURVEYS OF COMPUTER AND SMARTPHONE MANUFACTURERS AND SELLERS, AND THE CREATION OF MULTILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH/CHINESE) CONSUMER EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS, VIDEOS AND WEBINARS DESIGNED TO INCREASE CALIFORNIANS AWARENESS OF THEIR SMARTPHONE AND COMPUTER WARRANTY RIGHTS, TEACH THEM HOW TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS, AND INFORM THEM OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IF THEY BELIEVE THEIR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED.
  4. $189,464 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A SERIES OF MULTILINGUAL CONSUMER EDUCATION FACT SHEETS AND WEBINARS ON VARIOUS CONSUMER EDUCATION TOPICS INCLUDING FRAUD AND SCAM AWARENESS AND PREVENTION, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PRODUCTS, CONSUMER PRIVACY PROTECTION, IDENTITY THEFT AND GENERAL CONSUMER RIGHTS.
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A SERIES OF MULTILINGUAL CONSUMER EDUCATION FACT SHEETS AND WEBINARS ON VARIOUS CONSUMER EDUCATION TOPICS INCLUDING FRAUD AND SCAM AWARENESS AND PREVENTION, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PRODUCTS, CONSUMER PRIVACY PROTECTION, IDENTITY THEFT AND GENERAL CONSUMER RIGHTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 April 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.

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