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Public Citizen Foundation Inc

EIN 52-1263996 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WORK FOR CONSUMER RIGHTS.

Income
$26.8 million
Spending
$17.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
21.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
174
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$353,099, co-president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 80% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 September 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 (9)
  1. $4.1 million spent. ENERGY PROGRAM - THE ENERGY PROGRAM PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE PUBLICON THE THREAT OF CATASTROPHIC CLIMATE CHANGE, THE DANGERS OF NUCLEARAND FOSSIL FUELS, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO ADVANCE ENERGYEFFICIENCY AND DEVELOP RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.
  2. $3.6 million spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION - THE FOUNDATION IS ACTIVE IN EVERY PUBLIC FORUM - CONGRESS, THE COURTS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND THE NEWS MEDIA. THE FOUNDATION BELIEVES THAT FULL DISCLOSURE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION EMPOWERS CITIZENS AND CONSUMERS. ALL OF THE FOUNDATION'S COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS AIM TO MAKE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, NUCLEAR WASTE AND REACTOR SAFETY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RELATED ISSUES ACCESSIBLE TO ORDINARY CITIZENS. IF NECESSARY, THE FOUNDATION USES THE COURTS TO ENSURE FAIR ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
  3. $2.3 million spent. LITIGATION GROUP - LITIGATION GROUP ATTORNEYS HAVE ARGUED LANDMARK LAWSUITS ON BEHALF OF CITIZENS IN FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEIR EFFORTS TO REPRESENT PRINCIPLED, RATHER THAN PROFITABLE, POSITIONS IN LEGAL DISPUTES HAVE PRESERVED THE VITAL CHECKS AND BALANCES OF THE SEPARATION OF POWERS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PREVENTED THE DESTRUCTION OF PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS, AND FORCED REGULATORY AGENCIES TO ISSUE IMPORTANT HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
  4. $1.2 million spent. HEALTH RESEARCH GROUP - THE HEALTH RESEARCH GROUP FIGHTS FOR SAFE FOODS, DRUGS, AND MEDICAL DEVICES; FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE; AND FOR FULL DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT WILL EMPOWER CONSUMERS AND INFORM THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE DECISIONS.
  5. $1.1 million spent. PC TEXAS - PC TEXAS INFORMS TEXANS ON IMPORTANT ENERGY, TRADE, CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, ETHICS, TRANSPORTATION, AND UTILITY ISSUES.
  6. $192,420 spent. GLOBAL TRADE WATCH - ACTING ON ITS BELIEF THAT SO CALLED "FREE TRADE" TREATIES COST U.S. JOBS, REDUCE WAGES, UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS, AND JEOPARDIZE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, GLOBAL TRADE WATCH PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON THE DAMAGING IMPACT OF THE CORPORATE PUSH FOR GLOBALIZATION THROUGH TREATIES SUCH AS THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA) AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) AGREEMENTS.
  7. $761,510 spent. ACCESS TO MEDICINES - PUBLIC CITIZEN'S ACCESS TO MEDICINES GROUP WORKS WITH PARTNERS WORLDWIDE TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND SAVE LIVES, THROUGH USE OF PHARMACEUTICAL COST-LOWERING MEASURES INCLUDING GENERIC COMPETITION. THEY HELP CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES OVERCOME PATENT-BASED AND OTHER DRUG MONOPOLIES. THEIR WORK CHALLENGES BIG PHARMA'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER.
  8. $1.3 million spent. PUBLICATIONS - THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHES BOOKS, PERIODICALS, SPECIAL REPORTS, AND EXPERT COMMENTARY ON CURRENT ISSUES IN HEALTH AND SAFETY, THE LAW, ENERGY POLICY, CLIMATE CHANGE, TRANSPORTATION, AND GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
  9. $325,150 spent. CONGRESS WATCH - CONGRESS WATCH PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON THE INFLUENCE OF SPECIAL INTEREST DOLLARS THAT CORRUPT THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND ON CORPORATE WELFARE EXPENDITURES THAT LARD THE FEDERAL BUDGET; ON A WIDE RANGE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURES, INCLUDING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS, ACCESS TO THE COURTS, AND FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 June 1992.

    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.