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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc

EIN 74-2385850 · 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

THE MISSION OF CFP BOARD CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING, A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS TO ADVANCE COMPETENT AND ETHICAL FINANCIAL PLANNING AND EXPAND CFP PROFESSIONAL DIVERSITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
34.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
152
Volunteers
611
Highest pay
$1.3 million, chief executive officer

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (2)
  1. $7.0 million spent. ACADEMICS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND CONTENTCFP BOARD CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING ADMINISTERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST INDIVIDUALS ASPIRING TO BECOME A CFP PROFESSIONAL WITH COMPLETING THE EDUCATION AND EXAM REQUIREMENTS FOR CFP CERTIFICATION.THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF SPONSORS AND DONORS WHO REALIZE THE BENEFIT OF CREATING A MORE DIVERSE AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL PLANNING PROFESSION. EACH SCHOLARSHIP HAS DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION PROCESSES AND DEADLINES TO FOLLOW TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.CFP BOARD CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING HAS A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH AGENDA THAT DEVELOPS DEEP AND LEADING INSIGHTS THAT ASSESS THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL PLANNING ON CLIENTS' WELL-BEING, TRACK TRENDS, AND GAUGE PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTIONS ON CRITICAL FINANCIAL PLANNING TOPICS. STARTING IN 2023, CFP BOARD CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING HAS COLLABORATED WITH FOUR WELL-RESPECTED ACADEMIC RESEARCHERS TO DEVELOP A DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL WELL-BEING THAT WILL SERVE AS THE BASIS OF A 10-YEAR LONGITUDINAL STUDY. THE RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED THE STUDY'S INITIAL SURVEY IN 2024 THAT WILL TRACK THE IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING ADVICE ON THE WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. ALSO IN 2024, CFP BOARD CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING LAUNCHED AN ANNUAL STUDY ON HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS' AWARENESS OF FINANCIAL PLANNING AS A CAREER CHOICE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY AND PERSONAL FINANCE.CFP BOARD HOSTS CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE WHERE PARTICIPANTS IN THE FINANCIAL ADVICE ECOSYSTEM INCLUDING FINANCIAL PLANNING PRACTITIONERS, FIRM LEADERS, EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND STUDENTS COME TOGETHER FOR HIGH-IMPACT LEARNING, CUTTING-EDGE INSIGHTS, AND PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS. CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN WASHINGTON DC IN SEPTEMBER 2024.
  2. $325,972 spent. PRO BONOCFP BOARD CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING RECOGNIZES THAT PRO BONO FINANCIAL PLANNING NOT ONLY BENEFITS THOSE SERVED BUT ALSO ENHANCES THE PROFESSION AND HELPS BUILD THE FINANCIAL PLANNING WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE. CFP BOARD CENTER FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING PARTNERS WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING TO HELP MAKE PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ALL CFP PROFESSIONALS.17,916 CFP PROFESSIONALS REPORTED 389,435 HOURS OF PRO BONO FINANCIAL PLANNING IN 2024 AND OUR GOAL IS TO GROW THE NUMBER OF CFP PROFESSIONALS PROVIDING PRO BONO SERVICE TO OVER 25,000 BY THE END OF 2026.

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 December 1985.

    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.