Consumer Watchdog
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND LITIGATION ON CONSUMER AND PUBLIC INTEREST ISSUES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ISSUES AFFECTING CONSUMER PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT REFORM; AND TO MAKE SAID RESEARCH AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $5.9 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 7.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 68%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $418,791, president
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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 72% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $3.6 million spent. IN 2024, CWD ISSUED 90 NEWS RELEASES AND GENERATED APPROXIMATELY 2000 NEWS STORIES ON THESE TOPICS THAT APPEARED ON STATE AND NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS, AND IN PRINT AND ONLINE NEWS OUTLETS.LITIGATION -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) WORKS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS IN THE COURTS AND BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES. CWD LITIGATED TO PROTECT CONSUMER ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE BENEFITS THEY ARE PROMISED, PREVENT INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM VIOLATING CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS, ENSURE TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT, AND RETURN ILLEGAL INSURANCE OVERCHARGES. IN 2024, CWD'S INTERVENTIONS AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE INSURANCE RATE INCREASES BY AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE COMPANIES SAVED CONSUMERS $1 BILLION ON HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE. CWD ALSO CHALLENGED HOME INSURANCE COMPANIES' FAILURE TO GIVE HOMEOWNERS RATE RELIEF FOR TAKING STEPS TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES FROM WILDFIRE, AND AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY PRACTICES MAKING IT HARDER FOR GOOD DRIVERS TO OBTAIN COVERAGE. CWD TESTIFIED AT MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO EXPOSE LOOPHOLES AND CONSUMER HARMS IN PROPOSED REGULATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF BLACK BOX WILDFIRE MODELS AND REINSURANCE COSTS, ADVOCATING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, RELIABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AS INSURANCE COMPANIES SEEK NEW WAYS TO RAISE RATES. CWD CONTINUED LITIGATING SUITS AGAINST AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND FOR OVERCHARGING POLICYHOLDERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, AND CONTINUED REPRESENTING PLAINTIFFS LIVING WITH HIV IN A SUIT AGAINST CVS FOR UNLAWFULLY DISCLOSING HIV STATUS AND/OR PUTTING INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF SUCH A DISCLOSURE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING THEM A LOWER TIER OF SERVICE.
- $740,999 spent. ENERGY REFORM -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) INVESTIGATES THE REGULATION OF COMPANIES GENERATING FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTION, ADVOCATES TO IMPROVE OVERSIGHT OF THE OIL, GAS, AND UTILITY INDUSTRIES, AND FIGHTS FOR RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND CLEAN ENERGY. IN 2024, CWD EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE NEED TO LIMIT FOSSIL FUEL SUPPLIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING CURBING OIL DRILLING. CWD CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH SHOWING OIL REFINERS' PROFITS ARE CONSISTENTLY HIGHER IN CALIFORNIA THAN ACROSS THE NATION, ADVOCATED FOR REGULATIONS IMPOSING A PRICE-GOUGING PENALTY ON REFINERS, AND SUPPORTED SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION MANDATING REFINERS MAINTAIN A MINIMUM GASOLINE SUPPLY TO STABILIZE PRICES. CWD BACKED SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION TO CLOSE 800 ACTIVE OIL WELLS IN LOS ANGELES THIS DECADE AND HELPED STOP A REFERENDUM CHALLENGING A NEW BAN ON COMMUNITY OIL DRILLING. CWD PUBLISHED QUARTERLY UPDATES TO ITS ONLINE MAP DOCUMENTING THE EXTENT OF OIL AND GAS WELL PERMITTING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, MAINTAINING PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR AN END TO NEW EXTRACTION PERMITS AND A HEALTH AND SAFETY BUFFER BETWEEN HOMES AND WELLS. CWD BACKED POLLUTER PAYS LEGISLATION TO HOLD OIL COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS.
- $614,226 spent. HEALTHCARE & INSURANCE REFORM -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) FIGHTS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM HOME, AUTO AND HEALTH INSURANCE ABUSES, TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND FOR UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. IN 2024 CWD ORGANIZED PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DOCTORS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA. CWD ORGANIZED FAMILIES HARMED BY THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS AND GREW COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS FOCUSED ON MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS. CWD WORKS TO ENFORCE AND PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S INSURANCE REFORM PROPOSITION 103, WHICH REGULATES AUTO, HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE. CWD EDUCATED THE PUBLIC, NEWS MEDIA AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT RATE SAVINGS AND CONSUMER PROTECTIONS UNDER PROP 103, INSURANCE INDUSTRY PROFITABILITY IN THE STATE, AND FOUGHT REGULATIONS BY THE STATE'S TOP REGULATOR THAT ROLL BACK ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY'S BEHEST. CWD ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COVER HOMEOWNERS WHO DO WILDFIRE MITIGATION AS A RESPONSE TO THE GROWING HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE CRISIS.
- $446,570 spent. PRIVACY, CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY & POLITICAL REFORM -- CONSUMER WATCHDOG (CWD) EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO CONSUMER RIGHTS, PRIVACY, TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICAL REFORM, AND RESEARCHES AND INFORMS THE PUBLIC ABOUT CORPORATE INVOLVEMENT IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. IN 2024, CWD ADVOCATED AT THE STATE PRIVACY AGENCY FOR STRONG REGULATIONS TO COMBAT UNFAIR DECISION-MAKING AND BIAS BY AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING AND AI. CWD ISSUED THREE NEW PRIVACY REPORTS ON TRACKING AND COLLECTION OF CONSUMER DATA, INCLUDING "SURVEILLANCE PRICE GOUGING," WHICH EXPOSED THE GROWING PRACTICE OF CONSUMERS BEING CHARGED DIFFERENT PRICES BASED ON SURVEILLANCE. CWD RESEARCHED AND EXPOSED THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST CREATED BY CORPORATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICIANS ACROSS OUR PROGRAM AREAS.
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.