Consumer Watchdog 2015 990 Form
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o OCOCe 0013 OMB No. 1545-0047 Form 990 Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax 2013 Under section 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (except private foundations) P- Do not enter Social Securit y numbers on this form as it may be made public. Open to Public Department of the Treasury P- Information about Form 990 and its instructions is at www.irs.gov/form990. Internal Revenue Service Inspection A For the 2013 calendar year, or tax year beginning , 2013, and ending B Check it applicable: I D Employer Identification Number Address change CONSUMER WATCHDOG 0■■• 95-3993720 Name change 2701 OCEAN PARK BLVD #112 E Telephone number 1■•■11 SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 Initial return 310-392-0522 1■1 Terminated ,0■■■■, Amended return I G Gross receipts $ 4,259,065. Application pending F Name and address of principal officer: JAMIE COURT H(a) Is this a group return tor subordinates?' I y.5 X No Kb) Are all subordinates included? LI Yes No SAME AS C ABOVE If 'No,' attach a list. (see instructions) Tax-exempt status IX1501(c)(3) I 5511; L _14947(aXI) or I 527 Website: WWW CONSUMERWATCHDOG ORG H(c) Group exemption number Form of organization: Corporation I Trust Association I I Other FL Year of formation: 1985 Iv! State of legal domicile: CA I Part I I Summary I 1 Briefly describe the organization's mission or most si gnificant activities: TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND LITIGATION ON CONSUMER AND PUBLIC INTEREST ISSUES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ISSUES AFFECTING CONSUMER PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT REFORM; ance AND TO MAKE SAID RESEARCH AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. 2 Check this box P. 0 if the organization discontinued its operatio . .p.piNf han 25% of its net assets. 3 Number of voting members of the governing bod y (Part VI, line la) . ,,,vs office..... ..... 3 ' 6 & Govern 4 Number of independent votin g members of the governing body 0302t.cril??Vrtelb7 /I 5 s ie 5 Total number of individuals emplo yed in calendar year 2013 (Part V. line 2a).„. it. • 2014 15 it iv 6 Total number of volunteers (estimate if necessary) t NON 1 20 7a Total unrelated business revenue from Part VIII, column (C), line 12 a Ac 0. b Net unrelated business taxable income from Form 9901% line 34 RggjtrY Ol b 0. C11Britoiale TfUT 1.11 .■ ‘ov• Current Year 8 Contributions and g rants (Part VIII, line 1h). 1,502,175. 1,403,200. 3 9 Prog ram service revenue (Part VIII, line 2 g) 1,001,905 2,701,731. 10 Investment income (Part VIII, column (A), lines 3, 4, and 7d) 84,487. 61,039. 11 Other revenue (Part VIII, column (A), lines 5, 6d, Sc, 9c, 10c, and 11e) -102,387. 12 Total revenue - add lines 8 through 11 (must equal Part VIII, column (A), line 12) 2,588,567. 4,063,583. 13 Grants and similar amounts paid (Part IX, column (A), lines 1-3) 850,000 . 225,000 . 14 Benefits paid to or for members (Part IX, column (A), line 4) 15 Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits (Part IX, column (A), lines 5-10) 1,542,024. 1,489,393- 16a Professional fundraising fees (Part IX, column (A), line 11e) o. b Total fundraising expenses (Part IX, column (D), line 25) IP 127,403 17 Other expenses (Part IX, column (A), lines 11a-1 1 d, llf-24e) 1,706,120. 2,534,562. 18 Total expenses. Add lines 13-17 (must e q ual Part IX, column (A), line 25) 4,098,144. 4,248,955. 19 Revenue less expenses. Subtract line 18 from line 12 -1,509,577 . -185,372 . Beginning of Current Year End of Year 20 Total assets (Part X, line 16) 3, 477, 008. 3,142,728. 21 Total liabilities (Part X, line 26) 333,135. 238,850. 1,2 22 Net assets or fund balances. Subtract line 21 from line 20 3,143,873. 2,903,878. I Part II !Signature Block Under penalties of perjury. I declare that I have examined this return, including accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. Declaration Of preparer (other than officer) is based on all information of which preparer has any knowledge. Sign Signature of officer Date Here 10. JAMIE COURT DIR/PRESIDENT Type or print name and title. Print/Type preparer's name Preparer's signature Date Check 11 rf PTIN Paid GERALD F. WARGA self-employed P01346050 Preparer Firm's name RBZ LLP Use Only Firm's address I. 11766 WILSHIRE BLVD NINTH FL Fir.% EiN ' 95-3439541 LOS ANGELES, CA 90025 Phone no. (310) 478-4148 May the IRS discuss this return with the preparer shown above? (see instructions) IXI Yes I No BAA For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions. 1EEA0113L 11108113 Form 990 (2013) Form 990 (2013) CONSUMER WATCHDOG 95-3993720 Page 2 Statement oi-Program Service Accomplishments Check if Schedule CI contains a response or note to any line in this Part Ill 1 Briefly describe the organization's mission: TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND LITIGATION ON CONSUMER AND PUBLIC INTEREST ISSUES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ISSUES AFFECTING CONSUMER PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT REFORM; AND TO MAKE SAID RESEARCH AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. 2 Did the organization undertake any significant program services during the year which were not listed on the prior Form 990 or 990-E2 7 Yes No If 'Yes, describe these new services on Schedule a 3 Did the organization cease conducting, or make significant changes in how it conducts, any program services 7 n Yes No If 'Yes,' describe these changes on Schedule 0. 4 Describe the organization's program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations and section 4947(a)(1) trusts are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses, and revenue, if any, for each program service reported. 4 a (Code: ) (Expenses $ 2,599,789. including grants of $ 225,000. ) (Revenue $ 2,701,731 . ) SEE SCHEDULE 0 4 b (Code: ) (Expenses $ 641,718 . including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ SEE SCHEDULE 0 4 c (Code: ) (Expenses $ 412,528. including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ SEE SCHEDULE 0 4 d Other program services. (Describe in Schedule O.) SEE SCHEDULE 0 (Expenses $ 204,935. including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ 4e Total program service expenses IP 3,858,970_ BAA TEEW1021.. 0102113 Form 990 (2013) Form 990 (2013) CONSUMER WATCHDOG 95-3993720 Page 3 [Part IV Checklist of Required Schedules Yes No 1 Is the organization described in section 501(c)(3) or 4947(3)(1) (other than a private foundation)? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule A X 2 Is the organization required to complete Schedule 13, Schedule of Contributors (see instructions)? X 3 Did the organization engage in direct or indirect political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office? If 'Yes, complete Schedule C, Part I 3 X 4 Section 501(cX3) organizations. Did the organization engage in lobbying activities, or have a section 501(h) election in effect during the tax year? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule C, Part II 4 I X 5 Is the organization a section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) organization that receives membership dues, assessments, or similar amounts as defined in Revenue Procedure 98-19? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule C. Part III 5 X 6 Did the organization maintain any donor advised funds or any similar funds or accounts for which donors have the right to provide advice on the distribution or investment of amounts in such funds or accounts? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule 0, Part! 6 X 7 Did the organization receive or hold a conservation easement, including easements to preserve open space, the environment, historic land areas, or historic structures? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part 11 7 X 8 Did the organization maintain collections of works of art, historical treasures, or other similar assets? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part III 8 X 9 Did the organization report an amount in Part X, line 21, for escrow or custodial account liability; serve as a custodian for amounts not listed in Part X; or provide credit counseling, debt management, credit repair, or debt negotiation services? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part IV 9 X 10 Did the organization, directly or through a related organization, hold assets in temporarily restricted endowments, permanent endowments, or quasi-endowments? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part V 10 X 11 If the organization's answer to any of the following questions is 'Yes', then complete Schedule D, Parts VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X as applicable. a Did the organization report an amount for land, buildings and equipment in Part X, line 10? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part VI 11a1 X b Did the organization report an amount for investments — other securities in Part X, line 12 that is 5% or more of its total assets reported in Part X, line 16? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part VII 11 b X c Did the organization report an amount for investments — program related in Part X, line 13 that is 5% or more of its total assets reported in Part X, line 16? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part VIII 11 c X d Did the organization report an amount for other assets in Part X, line 15 that is 5% or more of its total assets reported in Part X, line 16? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule D, Part IX 11d X e Did the organization report an amount for other liabilities in Part X, line 25? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule 0, Part X 11e1 X f Did the organization's separate or consolidated financial statements for the tax year include a footnote that addresses the organization's liability for uncertain tax positions under FIN 48 (ASC 740)? If 'Yes,' complete Schedule 0, Part X 11f X 12a Did the organization obtain