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Nonprofit · EIN 94-2559710

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP

Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101

Financials

$1.5M$901K2022$1.4M$1.3M2023$1.6M$858K2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
August 31, 2025990$1,582,419$858,114$724,305$23,404,991$669,233$22,735,758
August 31, 2024990$1,374,701$1,331,845$42,856$21,350,540$568,147$20,782,393
August 31, 2023990$1,450,595$901,457$549,138$20,336,080$1,229,215$19,106,865
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,470,750
Membership dues
$1,405,284
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$111,669
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$55,841
Other salaries and wages
$36,438
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$103,412
Professional fundraising fees
$20,461
Accounting fees
$9,302
Occupancy
$8,051
Travel
$5,241
Depreciation
$429
Program services (functional)
$489,064
Management and general (functional)
$84,864
Fundraising (functional)
$284,186

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$21,350,540
Total assets, end of year
$23,404,991
Total liabilities, end of year
$669,233
Net assets, end of year
$22,735,758
Land, buildings and equipment
$1,490
Net assets without donor restrictions
$22,735,758
Gross receipts
$1,582,419
Employees
2
Volunteers
7
Year formed
1978
State of legal domicile
CA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationFrom related orgsOther / benefits
STEVE BLACKLEDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$98,125$18,936
JENN ENGSTROMSTATE DIRECTOR
Officer
20$74,427$0$10,986
EMILY RUSCHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$4,171$167
DOUG PHELPSPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0$0
JULIA PETERSCLERK
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0$0
MICHAEL RUSSOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0$0
ELIZABETH RIDLINGTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0$0
KAT LOCKWOODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0$0
EMILY KELLY-FISCHERFINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR
Officer
6$0$0$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 8 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationFrom related orgsOther / benefits
STEVE BLACKLEDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$100,250$17,845
JENN ENGSTROMSTATE DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
20$81,928$0$14,017
EMILY RUSCHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0$0
ELIZABETH RIDLINGTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0$0
KAT LOCKWOODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0$0
DOUG PHELPSPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0$0
JULIA PETERSCLERK
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0$0
MICHAEL RUSSOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 6 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JENN ENGSTROMSTATE DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
20$75,283$8,285
KAT LOCKWOODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
EMILY RUSCHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DOUG PHELPSPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JULIA PETERSCLERK
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MICHAEL RUSSOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1129 STATE ST STE 10B, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101-6761
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
DOUG PHELPS, 3435 WILSHIRE BLVD 965, LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
Signed the 990
JENN ENGSTROM, STATE DIRECTOR
Phone
(213) 251-3680
Return prepared by
GREG ROGERS CPA LLC

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-2559710 or by the name CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

SEE SCHEDULE O.

990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS, DISTRIBUTING EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE, CONDUCTING SURVEYS, AND DISCUSSING ISSUES WITH THE PUBLIC REACHING THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS EACH YEAR ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: ENSURING THE RIGHT TO REPAIR, TACKLING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC POLLUTION, AND PROTECTING CALIFORNIANS FROM TOXICS.
    Expenses $404,727
  • RESEARCH AND INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY: STAFF ENGAGE IN LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND LEGAL AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: ENSURING THE RIGHT TO REPAIR, TACKLING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC POLLUTION, AND PROTECTING CALIFORNIANS FROM TOXICS.
    Expenses $84,337

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025August 31, 2026January 15, 2027Not due yet
2024August 31, 2025January 15, 2026990 on file
2023August 31, 2024January 15, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
94-2559710
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(4): Social welfare organization
Donations deductible
No
Exempt since
1993
Accounting year ends
August
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$23,404,991
Income (IRS master file)
$1,582,419

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990August 2025$1,582,419$858,114$23,404,991XML
990August 2024$1,374,701$1,331,845$21,350,540XML
990August 2023$1,450,595$901,457$20,336,080XML
990August 2022$1,681,628$696,271$19,525,569IRS
990August 2021–––IRS
990August 2020–––IRS
990August 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 94-2559710).

Questions about CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP

What is the EIN of CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP?
The employer identification number (EIN) of CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP is 94-2559710.
Is CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) since 1993.
Are donations to CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP tax-deductible?
No. The IRS master file says contributions to it are not deductible.
Which annual return does CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
Who is the principal officer of CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names DOUG PHELPS.
Who are the officers and directors of CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 9 people; 1 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP have?
On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,582,419, expenses of $858,114 and total assets of $23,404,991 at year end.

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