Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cste Foundation

EIN 47-4094953 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CSTE FOUNDATION IS THE PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE AND TERRITORIAL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS (CSTE). CSTE SEEKS TO ADVANCE THE FIELD OF APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY TO MAXIMIZE HEALTH WITH A VISION OF THRIVING PEOPLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES EVERYWHERE. THE CSTE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HELP CSTE MEET THE NEEDS OF HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THE APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGISTS THE FRONTLINE DISEASE DETECTIVES WHO ARE THE BACKBONE OF THOSE STATE, TRIBAL, LOCAL, AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. THE FOUNDATION FOCUSES ON ISSUES THAT ARE HISTORICALLY UNDERFUNDED OR NOT FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT YET ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURING EVERYONE CAN ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF HEALTH.

Income
$178,603
Spending
$432,714
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
1
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$206,751, senior director of finance

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 142% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $353,737 spent. THE CSTE FOUNDATION AWARDED GRANTS TO CSTE IN SUPPORT OF MISSION-CRITICAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 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 January 2018.

    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.

  7. 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.