Consumer Watchdog

What it reported doing in 2024

In 2024, cwd issued 90 news releases and generated approximately 2000 news stories on these topics that appeared on state and national television and radio programs, and in print and online news outlets.litigation -- consumer watchdog (cwd) works to protect consumers in the courts and before administrative agencies. Cwd litigated to protect consumer access to the health care and insurance benefits they are promised, prevent insurance companies from violating consumer protection laws, ensure transparency in government, and return illegal insurance overcharges. In 2024, cwd's interventions at the California department of insurance to prevent excessive insurance rate increases by auto and home insurance companies saved consumers $1 billion on home and auto insurance. Cwd also challenged home insurance companies' failure to give homeowners rate relief for taking steps to protect their homes from wildfire, and auto insurance company practices making it harder for good drivers to obtain coverage. Cwd testified at multiple workshops at the department of insurance to expose loopholes and consumer harms in proposed regulations regarding the use of black box wildfire models and reinsurance costs, advocating for accountability, reliability and transparency as insurance companies seek new ways to raise rates. Cwd continued litigating suits against auto insurance companies for discriminating against certain members of the military and for overcharging policyholders during the coronavirus pandemic, and continued representing plaintiffs living with HIV in a suit against cvs for unlawfully disclosing HIV status and/or putting individuals at risk of such a disclosure, as well as providing them a lower tier of service.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 92.4%; rating input score 92
• Program expense ratio: 94.6%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: $29.92 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.5%; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.93; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.26; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 25%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.4% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings