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Public Citizen Foundation
Public Citizen Foundation reported $26.8 million in revenue and $17.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.90 went to program services, $8.81 to management and general costs and $8.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 86.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $353,099 (CO-PRESIDENT). 55 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 68% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor context, the median across 185 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.81 programs, $11.18 management, $0.01 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $27M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$86.78 $23M
- Program service revenue$3.69 $989K
- Investment income$9.53 $2.6M
Other revenue was negative: −$10,583. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.9% | 84.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.8% | 10.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.3% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 86.8% | 83.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $353,099 | $357,133 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.97% | 1.52% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 55 | 12 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 27.2 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 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 expenseEnergy program - the energy program provides information to the publicon the threat of catastrophic climate change, the dangers of nuclearand fossil fuels, and the opportunities available to advance energyefficiency and develop renewable energy sources
Public information and education - the foundation is active in every public forum - congress, the courts, government agencies, and the news media. The foundation believes that full disclosure of government information empowers citizens and consumers. All of the foundation's communication and outreach efforts aim to make information about health care, transportation, climate change, international trade, nuclear waste and reactor safety, renewable energy, government and corporate accountability and related issues accessible to ordinary citizens. If necessary, the foundation uses the courts to…
Litigation group - litigation group attorneys have argued landmark lawsuits on behalf of citizens in federal and state courts across the country. Their efforts to represent principled, rather than profitable, positions in legal disputes have preserved the vital checks and balances of the separation of powers in the federal government, prevented the destruction of presidential records, and forced regulatory agencies to issue important health and safety standards
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO-PRESIDENT Officer, 31.00 hrs/week | $227,928 | $70,775 | $54,396 | $353,099 |
| CO-PRESIDENT Officer, 20.00 hrs/week | $111,927 | $111,927 | $36,346 | $260,200 |
| DIRECTOR, ENERGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,144 | $0 | $48,668 | $232,812 |
| DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $158,734 | $21,210 | $48,459 | $228,403 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Highest compensated employee, 33.00 hrs/week | $157,743 | $35,052 | $34,270 | $227,065 |
| DIRECTOR, ENERGY Highest compensated employee, 25.00 hrs/week | $103,316 | $63,389 | $33,489 | $200,194 |
| DIRECTOR, ACCESS TO MEDICINE Highest compensated employee, 39.66 hrs/week | $161,804 | $1,402 | $33,314 | $196,520 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 20.00 hrs/week | $72,219 | $72,219 | $32,376 | $176,814 |
55 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Public Citizen Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $516K (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–1b9 · 9 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5174
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| INTEGRATED DIRECT MARKETING LLC Fundraising counsel | $179,929 |
| CROSS WORLD NETWORK Consultant-newsletter | $172,656 |
| DESIGN DATA SYSTEMS INC It consultants | $165,611 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
45 private foundations reported grants to Public Citizen Foundation totaling $2.5M 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 Public Citizen Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Public Citizen Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Public Citizen Foundation spent in FY2025, $82.90 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Common Cause Education FundWashington, DC · revenue $27M · programs 91.4% · FY2025
- HealthixNew York, NY · revenue $27M · programs 84.1% · 2024
- Tampabay Workforce AllianceTampa, FL · revenue $26M · programs 92.1% · FY2025
- Durable Capital for Sustainable OutcomesWashington, DC · revenue $27M · programs 16.8% · 2024
- Texas Public Policy FoundationAustin, TX · revenue $26M · programs 74.9% · 2025
All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Public Citizen Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Public Citizen Foundation reported that 82.9% of its $17.9 million in expenses went to program services, 8.8% to management and general and 8.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Public Citizen Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Public Citizen Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $353,099, for the role of CO-PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Public Citizen Foundation get its money?
Of $26.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 86.8% came from contributions and grants and 3.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Public Citizen Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1263996 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 September 30, 2025, object 202602169349301220 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202521499349301107 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202401509349301550 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202340729349300124 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202200479349301300 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202110359349300226 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1263996: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.