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Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest reported $12.6 million in revenue and $17.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.46 went to program services, $3.18 to management and general costs and $12.36 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 90.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $314,417 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 50% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor context, the median across 349 covered food, agriculture & nutrition charities: $94.56 programs, $3.12 management, $2.32 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.5% | 94.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.4% | 2.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 90.6% | 96.4% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 10.5% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $314,417 | $213,323 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.75% | 0.61% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 28 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 21.0 | 6.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 11 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePublic education - includes the distribution of health and nutrition-oriented materials, such as books, brochures, letters, articles, and pamphlets to the public; sponsorship of conferences and websites and media interviews
Nutrition action health letter consists of editing and publishing six issues per year of nutrition action heath letter, a periodical for members and subscribers containing current information of nutrition food safety, and related health issues
Special projects - includes efforts to provide public information on nutrition and diet, provide consumer input on nutrition and food safety laws and regulations, investigate accuracy of food and beverage advertising and labeling, promote healthier menu items in restaurants.-promote increased production and availability of food that is free of unsafe ingredients by working with food producers and retailers. Monitoring and investigating proposed and approved additives to food safety, particularly for meat, poultry, and seafood.- promote increased protection from ordinary contamination with…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $303,548 | $0 | $10,869 | $314,417 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,978 | $0 | $8,118 | $240,096 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $203,616 | $0 | $30,867 | $234,483 |
| DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $197,905 | $0 | $31,054 | $228,959 |
| DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $217,946 | $0 | $8,845 | $226,791 |
| DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $190,267 | $0 | $32,819 | $223,086 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,716 | $0 | $30,592 | $210,308 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,089 | $0 | $6,146 | $149,235 |
28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Center for Science in the Public Interest (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $693K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b11 · 11 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 594
- Volunteers Part I, line 611
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CDS GLOBAL Database & fulfillment services | $2,195,603 |
| QUAD GRAPHICS INC Newsletter printing & production | $433,498 |
| MAINSPRING It management | $224,615 |
| INTERACTIVE STRATEGIES Web design & strategy | $215,226 |
| INTEGRATED DIRECT MARKETING LLC Fundraising | $204,400 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
44 private foundations reported grants to Center for Science in the Public Interest totaling $5.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Center for Science in the Public Interest's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Center for Science in the Public Interest, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Center for Science in the Public Interest spent in FY2025, $84.46 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Meals on Wheels Plus of ManateeBradenton, FL · revenue $13M · programs 92.2% · 2024
- Ohio Tri County Food AllianceSpringfield, OH · revenue $13M · programs 92.0% · 2024
- Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo CountySan Luis Obispo, CA · revenue $12M · programs 91.1% · FY2025
- Bridge StepsDallas, TX · revenue $13M · programs 83.5% · FY2025
- South County Community ServicesGilroy, CA · revenue $12M · programs 97.4% · FY2026
All food, agriculture & nutrition charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Center for Science in the Public Interest's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Center for Science in the Public Interest reported that 84.5% of its $17.9 million in expenses went to program services, 3.2% to management and general and 12.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Center for Science in the Public Interest pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Center for Science in the Public Interest reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $314,417, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Center for Science in the Public Interest get its money?
Of $12.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 90.6% came from contributions and grants and 0.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Center for Science in the Public Interest a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7122879 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202621299349300427 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501159349301860 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411309349303056 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331329349306748 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 (amended), object 202202419349301610 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101349349305200 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7122879: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.