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Council of State Governments

EIN 36-6000818 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS (CSG) IS A NONPARTISAN COMMUNITY OF THE STATES, COMMITTED TO CONNECTING, INFORMING, INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING PUBLIC SERVANTS IN ALL THREE BRANCHES OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO PUT THE BEST IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS INTO PRACTICE.

Income
$66.9 million
Spending
$66.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
416
Volunteers
56
Highest pay
$585,729, executive director/ceo

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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    56 of 56 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $34.4 million spent. GRANTS AND CONTRACTS - CSG MANAGES A RANGE OF FEDERALLY AND PRIVATELY FUNDED GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS FOCUSED ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE SUPPORTING STATE-LED INNOVATION IN KEY POLICY AREAS SUCH AS IMPROVING STATE JUSTICE SYSTEMS AND STRENGTHENING WORKFORCE READINESS. FEDERAL GRANTS INCLUDE THE U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE, LABOR, DEFENSE, AND ENERGY, AMONG OTHERS. EACH GRANT-FUNDED INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO BE NONPARTISAN AND DATA-DRIVEN, PROVIDING STATES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATING AND DEVELOPING ACTIONABLE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO ENHANCE SERVICES AND OUTCOMES FOR THEIR RESIDENTS.
  2. $9.8 million spent. CSG NATIONAL OFFICE - THE CSG NATIONAL OFFICE HOUSES PROJECTS, PUBLICATIONS AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES THAT FOSTER COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY BETWEEN ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE SIX U.S. TERRITORIES. THE CSG NATIONAL OFFICE IS HOME TO THE CSG NATIONAL CENTER FOR INTERSTATE COMPACTS AND THE CSG HENRY TOLL FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
  3. $7.9 million spent. THE CSG REGIONAL OFFICES - CSG EAST, CSG MIDWEST, CSG SOUTH AND CSG WEST - ALLOW STATE OFFICIALS TO CONNECT ON SHARED ISSUES THAT ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY BASED INCLUDING FEDERAL LANDS, WATER RIGHTS, AGRICULTURE, BORDER RELATIONS AND MORE. CSG REGIONAL OFFICES ALSO HOST CONFERENCES, IN-STATE VISITS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW OFFICIALS TO REGIONALLY NETWORK.
  4. $6.4 million spent. CONFERENCES - STATE LEADERS FROM ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ARE JOINED BY POLICY EXPERTS AS WELL AS PRIVATE SECTOR AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO SHARE IDEAS AND EXPLORE SOLUTIONS TO THE COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES FACING THE STATES.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 November 1993.

    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 November 4, 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.