Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Center for Science in the Public Interest
Address:	1220 L Street N.W., Suite 300
	Washington, DC 20005
Phone:	202-332-9110
Web Address:	www.cspinet.org

CSPI meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

CSPI program service activities include public education, special projects, and publishing a health newsletter. Its public education program involves the distribution of health and nutrition oriented materials such as books, brochures, letters, and pamphlets to the public. CSPI publishes 10 issues per year of its "Nutrition Action Healthletter," a periodical for members and subscribers that contains current information on nutrition, food safety, and related health issues. The organization reports that current circulation is about 800,000 in the U.S. and 100,000 in Canada. CSPI also conducts special projects that provide consumer input on nutrition and food-safety laws and regulations, investigate the accuracy of food and beverage advertising, and monitor industry compliance with food labeling laws, as well as promote nutrition labeling and healthier menu items in restaurants and schools. CSPI special projects also work to increase the production and availability of food that is free of chemicals and other contaminants, evaluate and investigate proposed additives to the food supply, and monitor and improve laws and regulations governing food-safety inspection. Furthermore, CSPI is also involved in promoting nutritious food in schools through publications, seminars, webinars, and public policy efforts. Some ($3,020,254 or 23%) of CSPI's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, CSPI's program expenses were:

Nutrition Action Healthletter	6,739,308
Special projects	3,537,450
Public education	3,020,254
Total Program Expenses:	$13,297,012

Chief Executive : Michael F. Jacobson, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$215,755

Chair of the Board: James Sullivan, PhD
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Energy Consultant

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 59

*July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, grant proposals, Internet appeal, planned giving, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $15,757,734, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

CSPI incurred joint costs of $4,427,015 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $3,020,254 was allocated to program expenses and $1,406,761 was allocated to fund raising expenses.

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 CSPI's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds
Membership dues	10,718,616
Contributions	4,896,118
Royalty income	450,627
Investment income	167,835
Foundation grants	143,000
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments	103,675
Other income	96,224
Publication sales	20,695
Total Income	$16,596,790

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 87%  Fund Raising: 10%  Administrative: 3%

Total income				$16,596,790
	Program expenses			$13,297,012
	Fund raising expenses			1,478,691
	Administrative expenses			422,001
Total expenses				$15,197,704
Income in Excess of Expenses				1,399,086
Beginning net assets				8,510,606
Other Changes in Net Assets				48,962
Ending net assets				9,958,654
Total liabilities				873,374
Total assets				$10,832,028

Note: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" represents a foreign currency translation adjustment from Canadian operations.