Crn Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CRN FOUNDATION PROVIDES CONSUMERS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT RESPONSIBLE USE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, AND PROVIDES RESEARCHERS AND HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS WITH EDUCATION ON THE PROPER ROLE OF SUPPLEMENTS IN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. MANAGED BY THE COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE NUTRITION, THE CRN FOUNDATION WAS CREATED IN 2009 TO ENHANCE AND SUSTAIN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT: PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND SAFETY OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND FUNCTIONAL FOOD AS PART OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THAT ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO MAKE MORE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT THEIR USAGE OF THESE PRODUCTS; PROVIDE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WITH INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO UNDERSTAND THE PROPER USES OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS IN THEIR PRACTICES; PROMOTE TRUTHFUL AND NON-MISLEADING ADVERTISING OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS TO CONSUMERS THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE SELF-REGULATION OF ADVERTISING BY INDUSTRY MEMBERS.
- Income
- $431,635
- Spending
- $403,058
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $652,975, ceo, crn
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 136% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 72% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 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)
- $117,044 spent. ACOG: THE CRN FOUNDATION IS PARTICIPATING AT THE UPCOMING AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS (ACOG) ANNUAL CLINICAL AND SCIENTIFIC MEETING, IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA. ALONG WITH PARTICIPATING MEMBER COMPANIES, THE CRN FOUNDATION WILL SHOWCASE THE LATEST RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTS IN PRENATAL NUTRITION THROUGH A "PRENATAL NUTRITION CENTER" THAT WILL SERVE AS A HUB FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO LEARN ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF PRENATAL SUPPLEMENTS DURING PREGNANCY. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL HOST A PRODUCT THEATER SESSION FEATURING SPEAKERS WHO WILL DISCUSS THE SCIENCE BEHIND PRENATAL SUPPLEMENTS AND WHAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NEED TO KNOW TO ADVISE THEIR PATIENTS EFFECTIVELY.
- $25,818 spent. NUTRITION ACCESS TASK FORCE: THE CRN FOUNDATION'S ACCESS INITIATIVE IS A NATIONAL, LONG-TERM EFFORT TO EXPAND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL NUTRITION AND HIGH-QUALITY DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. LAUNCHED IN LATE 2024, THE INITIATIVE WORKS THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS-BEGINNING WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FREE AND CHARITABLE CLINICS (NAFC)-TO DELIVER NUTRITIONAL RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, OR OTHERWISE LACK CONSISTENT ACCESS TO CARE. SEE SCHEDULE O.BY LEVERAGING THE REACH OF MORE THAN 1,400 CLINICS SERVING 1.7 MILLION PATIENTS ANNUALLY, THE INITIATIVE HELPS INTEGRATE NUTRITION INTO FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE INITIATIVE IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH STRONG INDUSTRY COLLABORATION THROUGH PRODUCT DONATIONS, FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT, THIS ENABLES THE DELIVERY OF HIGH-QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS AND HELP ADDRESS WIDESPREAD NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CHRONIC DISEASE AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.OVERALL, THE ACCESS INITIATIVE REFLECTS THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY-PROVIDING TANGIBLE, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS THAT ENSURE NUTRITION IS RECOGNIZED AS A FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT OF HEALTHCARE FOR ALL.
- $256,523 spent. VITAMIN & MINERAL CHAPTER PROVIDES SCIENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ESTABLISHING TOLERABLE UPPER INTAKE LEVELS (ULS) FOR NUTRIENTS IN DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. SINCE THE HANDBOOK WAS LAST PUBLISHED IN 2014, CRN WILL UPDATE CHAPTERS FROM THE HANDBOOK TO REFLECT CURRENT SCIENCE. ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS FOR NUTRIENTS, SUCH AS CHOLINE AND LUTEIN AND ZEAXANTHIN, WILL BE DEVELOPED. CRN FOUNDATION CREATED A VITAMIN D STUDY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATION INITIATIVE EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VITAMIN D AND COVID-19.
- $3,673 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS
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 2010.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Chg Foundation (Chula Vista, CA), EIN 33-0586911. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.