Council of State Governments
501(c)(3) Donations tax-deductible
89% goes to programs $1 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Council of State Governments is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Lexington, Kentucky, registered in 1993, with $65,359,734 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 89% of spending to programs.
1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY, 40511 EIN 36-6000818 Since 1993
Revenue (FY2023)
$65.4M
▲ 0.1% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2023)
$60.1M
Net assets
$35.2M
Employees
432
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating89% to programs · $1 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Council of State Governments: 89% to programs · $1 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating7 mo reserves · +8% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Council of State Governments: 7 mo reserves · +8% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AGovernance25% of the rating5 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Council of State Governments: 5 of 6 checks met earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Council of State Governments: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Csg unites the states to advance the common good.
What they do
Public policy - the council of state governments tracks public policy developments nationwide and offers research, analysis and technical support in priority areas such as education, health, infrastructure and economic development. specialized programs provide deeper focus on topics including public safety (through the justice center), health policy (via the healthy states initiative), and multistate collaboration through the national center for interstate compacts. the shared state legislation program further supports state policymakers by curating notable legislation and offering a trusted resource for identifying effective nonpartisan policy across states.
The four csg regional officeseast, midwest, south and westserve as vital hubs for collaboration and policy leadership. each region tailors its work to the specific needs and interests of its member states and territories, offering annual meetings, policy forums, and targeted initiatives that promote the exchange of best practices and build strong networks among state officials. signature regional programs include leadership development academies and policy workshops that help state leaders stay informed and connected on pressing challenges.
Conferences - state leaders from all three branches of government are joined by policy experts as well as private sector and community partners from across the united states to share ideas and explore solutions to the complex policy issues facing the states.
Contact & location
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $33.4M (FY2013) to $65.4M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $41.7MNet assets $35.2M
Operating margin
8.1%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$76.9M
Total liabilities
$41.7M
Net assets
$35.2M
Salaries & benefits
$36.4M
61% of expenses
Board members
56
56 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $65,359,734▲0.1% | $60,054,293▲4.2% | $35,184,549▲17.6% | $76,887,235▲10.3% | 990 |
| 2022 | $65,322,311▲39.9% | $57,636,903▲25.4% | $29,918,250▲35.7% | $69,705,798▲21.2% | 990 |
| 2021 | $46,682,188▲8.1% | $45,977,891▲19.6% | $22,041,289▲2.0% | $57,519,613▲33.0% | 990 |
| 2020 | $43,166,862▲11.2% | $38,458,252▼2.2% | $21,613,809▲31.3% | $43,258,736▲19.9% | 990 |
| 2019 | $38,819,611▼6.4% | $39,311,160▲0.2% | $16,461,599▼2.4% | $36,069,604▲6.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $41,456,900▲3.8% | $39,218,553▲0.2% | $16,873,254▲16.1% | $33,740,367▲4.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $39,941,858▲1.3% | $39,131,734▼1.3% | $14,531,719▲7.0% | $32,259,711▲2.9% | 990 |
| 2016 | $39,441,755▼4.0% | $39,651,190▼3.1% | $13,582,964▼0.3% | $31,350,205▼7.1% | 990 |
| 2015 | $41,067,772▲13.6% | $40,908,534▲16.7% | $13,627,220▲1.3% | $33,739,005▲0.9% | 990 |
| 2014 | $36,142,433▲8.1% | $35,053,381▲4.8% | $13,458,802▲9.2% | $33,435,543▲2.0% | 990 |
| 2013 | $33,423,985 | $33,436,949▲2.3% | $12,321,965▲1.5% | $32,776,611▲3.5% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $32,695,476▲7.7% | $12,134,243▲11.6% | $31,681,322▲3.7% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $30,369,233▼15.7% | $10,876,990▲8.8% | $30,541,434▲17.9% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $36,037,902▲7.9% | $10,001,228▼7.6% | $25,907,857▲0.6% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $33,395,711 | $10,822,267 | $25,758,960 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: David Adkins — $369,569 (0.62% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Adkins | Executive Director/ceo | 40 | $369,569 |
| Megan Quattlebaum | Director of Justice Center | 40 | $301,065 |
| Jessica Saunders | Research Director | 40 | $257,867 |
| Marshall Clement | Deputy Director of Justice Center | 40 | $238,454 |
| Sandra Jamet | Director, Development and Grants Management | 40 | $215,444 |
| Kenya Salaudeen | Director of Human Resources & Talent Acquisition | 40 | $212,590 |
| Heather Shaffer | Chief Fiscal Strategist | 40 | $203,401 |
| Edgar Ruiz | Director of West | 40 | $196,599 |
| David Biette | Director of East/eastern Regional Conference | 40 | $168,233 |
| Rachel Gray | Director of South | 40 | $165,957 |
| Laura Tomaka | Director of Midwest | 40 | $159,801 |
| Bernice Corley | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Cam Ward | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Chuck Spahos | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Cindy Kadlec | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Claudia Mendez | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Comm Vicki Schmidt | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Gov Joe Lombardo | National President and Board Member | 1 | — |
| Gov John Carney | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Gov Laura Kelly | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| The Turnout LLC | Consulting | $663,248 |
| Recidiviz Inc | Consulting | $359,192 |
| Mathematica Inc | Consulting | $356,097 |
| Brimley Group Inc | Consulting | $202,600 |
| Mjc Consulting LLC | Consulting | $191,915 |
Grants received · $10.4M total
98 grants to Council of State Governments totaling $10.4M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Policy | 2024 | $750,000 |
| Ascendium Education Solutions Inc | Grant, launching civic sector apprenticeships in rural communities grant, travel grant - rural summit | 2024 | $444,950 |
| West Virginia United Health System Inc | Sponsorship | 2024 | $200,000 |
| Vital Strategies Inc | Overdose prevention (opioid) | 2024 | $176,667 |
| Urban Institute | Grant sub-award | 2024 | $100,841 |
| Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund Inc | Adolescent mental health sponsorship, general operating support | 2024 | $65,000 |
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Policy | 2024 | $61,200 |
| Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America | General contribution | 2024 | $59,000 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of conference | 2024 | $50,000 |
| Edison Electric Institute | Contribution/program support | 2024 | $31,000 |
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Sponsorship | 2024 | $30,000 |
| Caresource | General support | 2024 | $25,000 |
| American Gas Association | Sponsorship | 2024 | $16,000 |
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Policy | 2024 | $13,000 |
| Consumer Technology Association | General support | 2024 | $7,500 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Council of State Governments a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Council of State Governments is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 36-6000818, based in Lexington, Kentucky. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Council of State Governments's EIN?
- Council of State Governments's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 36-6000818.
- How much revenue does Council of State Governments report?
- Council of State Governments reported $65,359,734 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Council of State Governments's spending goes to programs?
- Council of State Governments spends about 89% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Council of State Governments have?
- CharityIndex grades Council of State Governments A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Council of State Governments's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Council of State Governments's latest Form 990 is $369,569, paid to David Adkins (Executive Director/ceo).
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Data for Council of State Governments (EIN 36-6000818) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.