Center for Science in the Public Interest
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Center for Science in the Public Interest meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to conduct innovative research and advocacy programs in health and nutrition, and to provide consumers with current, useful information about their health and well-being."
Year, State Incorporated:
1971, DC
Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) works to ensure that the American food supply is healthy and safe. The organization educates consumers through its NutritionAction Healthletter and promotes policies at the local, state, and national levels that aim to create healthy, safe food environments and combat obesity, heart disease, hypertension, and food-borne illness. CSPI's current programs include: working with supermarkets and local communities to support healthy choices; developing community procurement plans that promote public health and health public spaces; working with states to maximize the health benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for human health; defending consumer protections; promoting a mandatory, pre-market approval process to regulate foods developed with new technology; campaigning to lower sodium in the food supply; and campaigning to lower sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, especially among children. Some ($2,370,776 or 14%) of CSPI's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.
For the year ended June 30, 2023, Center for Science in the Public Interest's program expenses were:
| Public education | $3,178,926 |
| Nutrition Action Healthletter | $3,492,488 |
| Special projects | $9,897,531 |
| Total Program Expenses | $16,568,945 |
Chief Executive
Peter Lurie, MD, MPH, President and Executive Director
Compensation*
$285,359
Chair of the Board
Hon. Michael A. Nutter
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Former Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Board Size
11
Paid Staff Size
65
*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Telemarketing, Print advertisements
CSPI incurred joint costs of $3,882,192 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $2,224,064 was allocated to program expenses and $1,658,128 was allocated to fundraising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 23% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $10,897,867, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Center for Science in the Public Interest's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023.
Source of Funds
| Other income | $111,514 |
| Publication sales | $133,407 |
| Litigation income | $146,394 |
| Royalty income | $179,063 |
| Realized gains on investments | $403,032 |
| Investment interest and dividends | $495,159 |
| Unrealized gains on investments | $558,532 |
| Foundation grants | $1,227,993 |
| Membership dues | $3,844,803 |
| Contributions | $9,669,874 |
| Total Income | $16,769,771 |
Programs: 85% Fundraising: 13% Administrative: 2%
| Total Income | $16,769,771 |
| Total expenses: | $19,410,213 |
| Program expenses | $16,568,945 |
| Fundraising expenses | $2,467,673 |
| Administrative expenses | $373,595 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-2,640,442 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $33,140,604 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $-378 |
| Ending Net Assets | $30,499,784 |
| Total Liabilities | $11,024,731 |
| Total Assets | $41,524,515 |
Note: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents foreign currency translation adjustment from Canadian operations.
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance