Consumer Reports
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
Consumer Reports meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to inform consumers, incentivize corporations to act responsibly, and help policymakers prioritize the rights and interests of consumers in order to shape a more consumer-driven marketplace."
Year, State Incorporated:
1936, NY
Consumer Reports (CR) reports that it advocates for consumer rights and protections in the marketplace around safety as well as digital rights, financial fairness, and sustainability. According to the organization, CR informs people's purchasing decisions through testing, research, and evaluation of consumer products every year. The organization also reports pushing for pro-consumer regulations and safer, more transparent industry practices, and influencing businesses to improve their products and services, through investigative research and data-driven policy advocacy. Furthermore, CR reports that it participates in and works with other organizations also directly involved in consumer safety, testing, research, products' standard-setting, and advocacy.
For the year ended May 31, 2025, Consumer Reports's program expenses were:
| Publication, promotion, and marketing expenses | $196,594,000 |
| Consumer advocacy and education | $12,164,000 |
| Total Program Expenses | $208,758,000 |
Chief Executive
Phil Radford, President and Chief Executive Officer
Chair of the Board
Sonal Shah
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Chief Executive Officer, Texas Tribune
Board Size
14
Paid Staff Size
550
*2025 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Phil Radford assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2025. His compensation is not available at this time. In 2023, Marta Tellado served as the President and Chief Executive Officer, receiving $966,217 in compensation.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Membership appeals
Fundraising costs were 27% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $38,927,000, 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 Consumer Reports's audited financial statements for the year ended May 31, 2025.
Source of Funds
| Subscriptions, newsstand, and other sales | $208,333,000 |
| Contributions | $32,531,000 |
| Investment income, net | $31,984,000 |
| Grants | $6,396,000 |
| Total Income | $279,244,000 |
Programs: 85% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 10%
| Total Income | $279,244,000 |
| Total expenses: | $244,210,000 |
| Program expenses | $208,758,000 |
| Fundraising expenses | $10,536,000 |
| Administrative expenses | $24,916,000 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $35,034,000 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $297,069,000 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $-737,000 |
| Ending Net Assets | $331,366,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $143,126,000 |
| Total Assets | $474,492,000 |
Note: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" refers to a change in value of split-interest agreements (-$301,000) and pension-related changes (-$436,000).
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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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance