2025-09-17T10:26:23-05:00 2024-12-31 541487262 MATTHEWS CARTER & BOYCE 12500 FAIR LAKES CIRCLE SUITE 260 FAIRFAX VA 22033 990 2024-01-01 521000466 CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SERVICES CENT 2024543041 1625 K STREETNW FL 11 WASHINGTON DC 200061617 PAUL KALLAUR PRESIDENT 2023479612 2025-09-16 1 0 X CHARLES R DEPPE P01300682 7032183600 2025-09-16 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X CONSUMER'S CHECKBOOK MAGAZINE PAUL KALLAUR 1625 K STREETNW FL 11 WASHINGTON DC 200061617 28321113 0 X WWW.CHECKBOOK.ORG X 1974 DC RESEARCH, INVESTIGATE, DEVELOP INFORMATION,EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OTHERS DIRECTLY & THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS ON THE PERFORMANCE, QUALITY AVAILABILITY & COSTS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING RETAILERS. 8 7 89 0 2709478 1100330 1141054 1042886 26446099 26909954 222225 354799 16322 13474 27825700 28321113 0 0 0 0 10406005 11576142 0 0 140756 15555116 15765394 25961121 27341536 1864579 979577 18138107 19271432 4684683 4622500 13453424 14648932 X RESEARCH, INVESTIGATE, DEVELOP INFORMATION,EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS,SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OTHERS DIRECTLY & THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS ON THE PERFORMANCE,QUALITY AVAILABILITY & COSTS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING RETAILERS. 0 0 17149465 19509965 HEALTHCARE SYSTEM MEASUREMENT AND RESEARCHWE CONDUCT SURVEYS AND PERFORM DATA ANALYSIS TO PRODUCE OBJECTIVE REPORTS THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND INSURANCE INDUSTRIES. THE DATA AND REPORTS INFORM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, HEALTHCARE COLLABORATIVES, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS. THE RESULTING INFORMATION ENABLES CONSUMERS AND INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES WHEN SELECTING PROVIDERS AND INSURERS. OUR WORK ALSO SUPPORTS ACCREDITATION EFFORTS, PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS, AND QUALITY-IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES. IN 2024, OUR NATIONWIDE STUDIES SURVEYED OVER 2,000,000 CONSUMERS AND 200,000 PROVIDERS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. INCLUDED IN THE EXPENSES ABOVE ARE $1,608,148 OF COSTS DEDUCTED AGAINST THE $2,709,478 OF UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME REPORTED ON FORM 990-T. 2291113 3355624 HEALTHCARE DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLSWE DESIGN AND HOST ONLINE DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS THAT HELP CONSUMERS SELECT HEALTH PLANS BASED ON PREMIUM COSTS, OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES, PLAN QUALITY, AND PROVIDER PARTICIPATION. THESE TOOLS EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING COVERAGE AND ENABLE THEM TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS BASED ON ACCURATE INFORMATION AND EXPERT ANALYSIS. OUR TOOLS ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED IN SEVEN STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND WE ALSO PROVIDE NATIONWIDE TOOLS TO ASSIST FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND ANNUITANTS WITH THEIR HEALTH PLAN SELECTIONS. IN 2024, MORE THAN 800,000 USERS ACCESSED OUR TOOLS TO ASSIST IN THEIR HEALTH PLAN ENROLLMENT. 3443901 1334887 CONSUMERS' CHECKBOOK PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCHCONSUMERS' CHECKBOOK PUBLISHES AND DISSEMINATES INFORMATION TO HELP CONSUMERS CHOOSE AND EFFECTIVELY USE HIGH-QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE PROVIDERS IN AREAS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, HOME REPAIR, AUTOMOBILE SERVICING, PET CARE, AND PERSONAL FINANCE. WE DO NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING IN OUR PUBLICATIONS. IN ADDITION, WE SHARE CONSUMER INFORMATION THROUGH PODCASTS (CONSUMERPEDIA), RADIO, TELEVISION, AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS. OUR RESEARCH INCLUDES CONSUMER SURVEYS, REGULATORY REVIEWS, ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES, BLIND SHOPPING, AND USE OF PUBLIC DATABASES TO STUDY SERVICE INDUSTRIES AND PROVIDE RELIABLE CONSUMER GUIDANCE. OUR PUBLICATION SERVES 60,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN SEVEN MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS. THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FREE CONSUMER INFORMATION THROUGH OUR WEBSITE CHECKBOOK.ORG, WHICH HAD VISITS FROM OVER 500,000 NON-SUBSCRIBERS IN 2024, AND THROUGH OUR MEDIA COLLABORATIONS. 13474 13474 22884479 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 35 0 1 89 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 8 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X THE ORGANIZATION 2023479612 1625 K STREETNW 11TH FLOOR WASHINGTON DC 20006 KALLAUR PAUL PRESIDENT 40.00 X X 484964 0 80200 TOD HERBERS BOARD CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 KATHRINKA SLOAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JACK GILLIS BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT STUMBERG BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JAMES GUEST BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARC MCDONALD BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 RANDAL SWISHER TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 WIN PHYO WEBMASTER 40.00 X 340898 0 43007 BRASLER KEVIN EXECUTIVE EDITOR 40.00 X 291919 0 61013 PEARCE-GARRETT JACQUELINE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 233038 0 49953 PHOEBUS RACHEL MANAGING DIRECTOR 40.00 X 205401 0 46675 PARKS MICHAEL SENIOR SURVEY DIRECTOR 40.00 X 186440 0 44449 MOSS KEVIN DIRECTOR 40.00 X 183290 0 47121 AMROMIN JULIE SENIOR SURVEY DIRECTOR 40.00 X 243423 0 25577 DUFF ANDREW DIRECTOR OF IT COORDINATIO 40.00 X 233038 0 46927 BURKEEN JEFFREY SENIOR SURVEY DIRECTOR 40.00 X 199885 0 33002 OPOKU YAW DIRECTOR OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING 40.00 X 194668 0 30066 ELLSWORTH ERIC DIRECTOR OF HEALTH DATA STRATEGY 40.00 X 224234 0 48125 3021198 0 556115 12 0 1 0 0 1042886 1042886 HEALTHCARE SYSTEM MEASUREMENT AND 524298 22219443 19509965 2709478 HEALTHCARE DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS 524298 3355624 3355624 CONSUMERS' CHECKBOOK PUBLICATIONS 900099 1334887 1334887 26909954 354799 354799 22628 0 22628 22628 22628 OTHER INCOME 900099 -9154 -9154 -9154 28321113 24213950 2709478 354799 2298370 1920754 368979 8637 7270878 6076292 1167264 27322 541306 452371 86901 2034 770659 644042 123721 2896 694929 580754 111564 2611 25401 2395 23006 217849 2370 215479 28158 28158 117065 3069 113996 29761 17442 12319 270011 222616 47395 1409153 992990 413603 2560 445789 445789 106714 67725 38989 544058 297482 246576 136666 136666 32238 32238 69712 69712 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWING 5342259 5295651 19394 27214 POSTAGE 4424701 4369204 55497 PRINTING 1302979 1291437 11542 TAXES 562799 9712 552644 443 700081 638173 61908 27341536 22884479 4316301 140756 4224493 3368727 6940749 8042412 5781613 6587400 44571 45073 178726 418824 661361 307521 85383 353840 882572 455156 18138107 19271432 1619276 1995056 2016446 2095350 1048961 532094 4684683 4622500 X 13453424 14648932 13453424 14648932 18138107 19271432 979577 215931 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1226324 1209296 1183558 1141054 1042886 5803118 15655587 19339121 19765486 23364951 24200476 102325621 16881911 20548417 20949044 24506005 25243362 108128739 0 0 0 108128739 22551 -1271 25953 17771 377427 442431 22551 -1271 25953 17771 377427 442431 1000410 966722 3674511 3081148 2709478 11432269 69123 1888122 53376 -1449 -9154 2000018 17973995 23401990 24702884 27603475 28321113 122003457 0.88630 0.89410 0.00360 0.00080 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 262108 52998 209110 399253 254523 144730 353840 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY 532094 532094 X 28508886 215931 215931 28292955 28158 28158 28321113 27313378 0 27313378 28158 28158 27341536 PART X, LINE 2: U.S. GAAP REQUIRES MANAGEMENT TO EVALUATE TAX POSITIONS TAKEN BY THE CENTER AND RECOGNIZE AN ADJUSTMENT TO NET ASSETS IF THE CENTER HAS TAKEN AN UNCERTAIN TAX POSITION THAT MORE LIKELY THAN NOT WOULD NOT BE SUSTAINED UPON EXAMINATION BY TAXING AUTHORITIES. MANAGEMENT HAS EVALUATED THE CENTER'S TAX POSITIONS AND CONCLUDED THAT THERE ARE NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ADJUSTMENT TO NET ASSETS OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KALLAUR PAUL PRESIDENT 484964 0 0 0 0 0 48496 0 31704 0 565164 0 0 0 WIN PHYO WEBMASTER 322000 0 18898 0 0 0 31836 0 11171 0 383905 0 0 0 BRASLER KEVIN EXECUTIVE EDITOR 286248 0 5671 0 0 0 29192 0 31821 0 352932 0 0 0 PEARCE-GARRETT JACQUELINE DIRECTOR 233038 0 0 0 0 0 23304 0 26649 0 282991 0 0 0 DUFF ANDREW DIRECTOR OF IT COORDINATIO 233038 0 0 0 0 0 23304 0 23623 0 279965 0 0 0 ELLSWORTH ERIC DIRECTOR OF HEALTH DATA STRATEGY 189692 0 34542 0 0 0 22424 0 25701 0 272359 0 0 0 AMROMIN JULIE SENIOR SURVEY DIRECTOR 243423 0 0 0 0 0 24342 0 1235 0 269000 0 0 0 PHOEBUS RACHEL MANAGING DIRECTOR 202846 0 2555 0 0 0 20540 0 26135 0 252076 0 0 0 BURKEEN JEFFREY SENIOR SURVEY DIRECTOR 199885 0 0 0 0 0 19988 0 13014 0 232887 0 0 0 PARKS MICHAEL SENIOR SURVEY DIRECTOR 186440 0 0 0 0 0 18572 0 25877 0 230889 0 0 0 MOSS KEVIN DIRECTOR 178846 0 4444 0 0 0 18329 0 28792 0 230411 0 0 0 OPOKU YAW DIRECTOR OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING 194668 0 0 0 0 0 18252 0 11814 0 224734 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B STARTING IN 2021, FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE CPA FIRM. FOR FY 2024, THE REPORTS ARE COMPLETED USING AUDITED FINANCIALS PREPARED BY CSS'S ACCOUNTING CONSULTANTS. THE FINANCIALS AS WELL AS THE 990 WERE REVIEWED BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR REASONABLENESS. A COMPLETE COPY OF THIS FORM WAS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C CSS HAS HAD A WRITTEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY THAT IS SHARED WITH ALL STAFF ON HIRE AN ANNUALLY THEREAFTER. ANNUALLY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF ARE ASKED TO FILL OUT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM AND ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS ARE DISCUSSED AND ADDRESSED BY UNCONFLICTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A EACH YEAR, IN THE BOARD'S FINAL MEETING OF THE YEAR, THE BOARD DELIBERATES ON, AND SETS, THE COMPENSATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT (CEO) FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE PRESIDENT IS NOT PRESENT FOR THESE DELIBERATIONS OR DECISIONS, AND NONE OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAS A CONFLICT IN RELATION TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMPENSATION. THE BOARD'S DELIBERATIONS ON THIS MATTER HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH NEITHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT NOR THE STAFF PERSON WHO RECORDS MINUTES OF THE REST OF THE BOARD MEETING PRESENT. THE BOARD'S POLICY IS TO CONTEMPORANEOUSLY DOCUMENT ITS DELIBERATIONS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15B: THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT DETERMINES THE COMPENSATION OF ALL KEY EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION. THERE ARE TWELVE KEY EMPLOYEES AND THERE ARE NO PAID OFFICER'S OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENT. IN MAKING THESE COMPENSATION DETERMINATIONS, THE PRESIDENT CONSIDERS INFORMATION HE COLLECTS FROM IRS FORMS 990 FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SALARY BENCHMARKING DATA, HAS INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH EXECUTIVES OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYING PERSONS WITH SIMILAR SKILL SETS, ASSESSES EACH EMPLOYEE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORGANIZATION, ASSESSES THE DISRUPTION TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT MIGHT RESULT FROM THE EMPLOYEE'S DEPARTURE, ASSESSES THE EMPLOYEE'S LEVEL OF EFFORT, ASSESSES THE EMPLOYEE'S FIT WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION'S CULTURE AND HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS, AND CONSIDERS VARIOUS OTHER FACTORS. SALARY CHANGES ARE DOCUMENTS IN THE EMPLOYEE REVIEW PROCESS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 WE MAKE THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AVAILABLE TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. WE DO NOT MAKE THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT WE WILL MAKE THE ORGANIZATION'S FORMS 990 AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, ALTHOUGH WE PREFER, FOR CONVENIENCE, THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC GET FORMS 990 THROUGH GUIDESTAR.ORG. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.