Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Center for the Study of Social Policy

EIN 52-1254948 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY, INC. (CSSP) IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC POLICY, RESEARCH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION. HEADQUARTERED IN WASHINGTON, DC, CSSP WORKS WITH STATES AND FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS AND WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CSSP'S MISSION IS TO ACHIEVE A RACIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY IN WHICH ALL CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES THRIVE. WE TRANSLATE IDEAS INTO ACTION, PROMOTE PUBLIC POLICIES, AND SUPPORT STRONG AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. WE ADVOCATE WITH AND FOR ALL CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES MARGINALIZED BY PUBLIC POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$10.7 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 36%
Employees
44
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$335,380, president & ceo/director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 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

    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 December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $3.4 million spent. CHILD AND FAMILY WELL-BEING AND PUBLIC SYSTEM REFORM: CSSP PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, HELPING THEM TO ASSESS HOW WELL THEY FUNCTION AND TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO IMPROVE RESULTS FOR ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS IN THIS WORK ARE: IMPLEMENTING SYSTEMS OF RESULTS-BASED ACCOUNTABILITY; USING RESEARCH ON "PROTECTIVE AND PROMOTIVE FACTORS" FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH; REFORMING CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF CLASS ACTION LITIGATION.
  2. $1.9 million spent. YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES: THE YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PROGRAM INCLUDES CSSP'S ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND THE SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES THAT HELP YOUNG CHILDREN TO THRIVE. THE GOAL OF THIS WORK IS TO INFLUENCE THE FIELDS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD, FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, AND PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE BY HELPING COMMUNITIES, CITIES, COUNTIES, AND STATES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE PRACTICES, PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND SYSTEMS THAT CAN IMPROVE WELL-BEING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. A STRONG FOCUS OF THIS WORK IS SUPPORTING AND ELEVATING THE VOICE OF PARENT LEADERS THROUGH A NATIONAL PARENT LEADER NETWORK.
  3. $1.3 million spent. PROMOTING PUBLIC POLICY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES: CSSP DEVELOPS AND DISSEMINATES POLICY RESEARCH AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES AFFECTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT CAN PRODUCE RESULTS MOST EFFECTIVELY. CSSP'S FOCUS IS TO PROMOTE EVIDENCE-INFORMED POLICIES RELATED TO ECONOMIC SECURITY, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, FAMILY AUTONOMY, HEALTH AND OTHER DOMAINS AFFECTING FAMILY AND CHILD WELL-BEING.
  4. $232,541 spent. BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES, PROMOTING COMMUNITY CHANGE, AND BUILDING CAPACITY FOR RESIDENT LEADERSHIP: CSSP PROVIDES RESULTS-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) AND FACILITATES PEER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP COMMUNITIES DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO RAISE HEALTHY CHILDREN IN SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO BETTER PROVIDE FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS LATER IN LIFE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 1982.

    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 October 21, 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.