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Passes our checks

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

EIN 52-1969967 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PASSIONATELY CHAMPION & ADVOCATE FOR EVIDENCE-BASED POLICIES THAT PROTECT CHILDREN, IMPROVE HEALTH AND SAVE THE MOST LIVES.

Income
$71.9 million
Spending
$47.7 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
196
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$493,981, president & ceo, secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 110% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $29.5 million spent. GLOBAL TOBACCO: THE CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE KIDS WORKS TO SUPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DEMAND ACTION TO REDUCE TOBACCO USE. THE CAMPAIGN PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN TEN PRIORITY COUNTRIES: BANGLADESH, BRAZIL, INDIA, INDONESIA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, TURKEY, UKRAINE, AND VIETNAM WHERE THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF THE WORLD'S SMOKERS RESIDE. THE CAMPAIGN ALSO OVERSEES AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN AFRICA, A REGION WHERE RATES OF TOBACCO CONSUMPTION HAVE NOT BEEN AS HIGH HISTORICALLY BUT ARE INCREASING. PRIORITY COUNTRIES INCLUDE ETHIOPIA, KENYA, NIGERIA, SENEGAL, SOUTH AFRICA AND ZAMBIA. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OGLOBAL CAMPAIGN TEAM SUPPORT INCLUDES STRATEGIC PLANNING, CAMPAIGN IMPLEMENTATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA OUTREACH AND POLICY RESEARCH AND LEGAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH OUR SPECIAL INITIATIVE, THE GLOBAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INCUBATOR, WE ALSO WORK WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON FOOD AND NUTRITION, ROAD SAFETY, DROWNING PREVENTION, AND A RANGE OF HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING EFFORTS. IN ITS WORK, THE INCUBATOR PROVIDES SIMILAR FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL PARTNERS IN MORE THAN 25 COUNTRIES WHERE THE HEALTH BURDEN FROM THESE ISSUES HAVE LED TO PREVENTABLE DEATHS AND DISEASE.
  2. $8.4 million spent. U.S. TOBACCO: IN THE UNITED STATES, THE CAMPAIGN HAS WORKED AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE HARMS OF TOBACCO CONSUMPTION. THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT TOBACCO REMAINS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. A PARTICULAR FOCUS IN THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN OUR WORK TO EDUCATE PARENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE HARMS OF E-CIGARETTES, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. OUR WORK CALLED FOR THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO USE ITS FULL REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO BAN HARMFUL PRODUCTS AND TO KEEP THEM OFF THE MARKET AND ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS. OUR LEGAL TEAM WORKED WITH FDA WHEN THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY HAS CHALLENGED THE AGENCY'S AUTHORITY, CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OBUT ALSO INITIATES LEGAL ACTION WHEN FDA FAILS TO ACT. ONE SUCH ACTION WAS TO DEMAND THAT THE FDA FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE, SCIENCE-BASED, CONSUMER WARNINGS ON CIGARETTES. FINALLY, WE HAVE SEVERAL EFFORTS WHERE WE WORK WITH YOUTH TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO DEVELOP CAMPAIGNS TO REDUCE YOUTH USE IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. SEVERAL OF THESE YOUTH ARE PROFILED AND HONORED AT OUR ANNUAL GALA. THROUGH OUR SPECIAL INITIATIVE, THE GLOBAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INCUBATOR, WE ALSO WORK TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES.
  3. $6.1 million spent. GLOBAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INCUBATOR (GHAI):GHAI WORKS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST URGENT HEALTH PRIORITIES - FROM IMPROVING FOOD AND NUTRITION POLICIES AND PROTECTING HEART HEALTH, TO STRENGTHENING HEALTH SYSTEMS TO REACH CHILDREN WITH VACCINES, COLLECT BETTER HEALTH DATA AND PREVENT EPIDEMICS, TO PREVENTING DEATHS AND INJURIES FROM ROAD CRASHES, DROWNING AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 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 March 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 May 1996.

    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.

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.