Consumer Watchdog

Analysis

Consumer Watchdog is a registered charity in United States, based in Los Angeles, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1988, 38 years ago. Its declared purposes cover public and societal benefit, which this site groups under other charitable purposes. 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, Consumer Watchdog reported income of $3.4m and spending of $4.0m, spending 117% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $4.8m to $3.4m (-28%), an average of -8.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 63%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Consumer Watchdog sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 89% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile, and in the 90th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Wscadv ($3.4m), West Liberty University Foundation Inc ($3.4m) and The Foundation of Hope for Research & Treatment of Mental Illness ($3.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 73% and program service revenue 28% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $642k (16% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.5m. At year end it held assets of $4.5m against liabilities of $661k, net assets of $3.8m. It reported 17 employees.