Description: The Consumer Federation of California (CFC) is a California-based nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1960 that describes its mission as “justice in the marketplace.” CFC lobbies and testifies before the California Legislature and state regulatory agencies, conducts consumer research and education, brings public attention to corporate abuses, and sponsors or co-sponsors consumer protection legislation at the state and federal levels. Type: Non-profit advocacy organization (CFC itself is not a 501(c)(3); it sponsors an affiliated 501(c)(3) education foundation for tax-deductible gifts) Policies: Typically pursues consumer-protection policies including privacy and data protection, financial and insurance consumer protections, utility and rate proceedings, product and food safety, elder and vulnerable consumer protections, fraud and false-advertising enforcement, access to civil justice, housing and fee reforms, and competition/antitrust issues in markets affecting consumers. Funding: Primarily funded by cy pres awards from consumer class-action settlements, supplemented by member dues, donations and grants; donors seeking tax-deductible contributions are directed to the affiliated CFC Education Foundation. Affiliates: CFC Education Foundation (501(c)(3)), Consumer Federation of America and other state/local consumer groups, allied organizations such as Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, and individual leaders including Executive Director Robert Herrell and President Richard Holober.
