Citizens Against Government Waste

Analysis

Citizens Against Government Waste is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1984, 42 years ago. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Citizens Against Government Waste reported income of $2.0m and spending of $2.7m, spending 136% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $2.8m to $2.0m (-29%), an average of -8.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income dropped by 17%. Over the whole period it spent 118% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Citizens Against Government Waste sits at the 85th percentile: it is larger than about 85% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 86th percentile, and in the 66th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Community Beyond Violence ($2.0m), Athens Montessori School Inc ($2.0m) and Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department Inc ($2.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 88% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $633k (24% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $503k. It paid $153k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $1.9m against liabilities of $788k, net assets of $1.2m. It reported 11 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.