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We're Here For You, Thanks to You

Checkbook needs your extra support to continue publishing unbiased information that helps consumers like you hire with confidence, solve problems faster, and save money.

Here's why:

✔ We're local, not a big national organization. Checkbook evaluates service providers and healthcare professionals in your neighborhood.

✔ Our reports are the result of original research, including extensive undercover price shopping, data we collect from thousands of surveys, reviews of public reports by our staff, and much more.

✔ We don't accept advertising, referral fees, or kickbacks so there can be no question of bias. Other ratings organizations get the bulk of their revenue from the companies they rate.

Now more than ever, consumers need the kind of objective, money-saving information only Checkbook provides. Your donation will keep this work possible.

Gifts for the Future

Create a Charitable Legacy that Empowers Consumers

Checkbook's most important advice when planning your estate is simple: Don't wait; start now.

Writing a will or estate plan is a lot like using Checkbook: It's empowering, it provides peace of mind, and it can help you feel more prepared. It's also an opportunity to create a legacy for the people and causes you care about.

By including a gift to Checkbook in your estate plan, you'll ensure that trusted, independent information remains available today and for generations to come. Your legacy will directly support our work advocating for consumers. 

If you choose to leave a gift to Checkbook, here's sample language to share with your advisor:

"I give [a specific amount or percentage] to Center for the Study of Services, a nonprofit organization located in Washington, D.C., EIN 52-1000466, for its general purposes."

Finally, to ensure your wishes are honored, remember to share copies of your estate plan with your loved ones and any relevant advisors.

Need help making or updating a will or estate plan?

These Checkbook articles will get you started:

Tax-Smart Gifts

Reach Your Charitable Goals and Receive Income Tax Benefits

Making a tax-smart gift to Consumers' Checkbook is a great way to support our mission and potentially reduce your income taxes. Your contribution will allow us to continue researching and publishing independent information for consumers.

Giving from Your IRA

If you're 70 ½ and older, current tax law allows you to gift up to $108,000 annually from your individual retirement account to your favorite charities, including Consumers' Checkbook.

This is called a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD. Because QCDs don't increase taxable income, you can avoid both higher tax rates and phaseouts. Additionally, because QCDs lower the balance of your IRA, they may reduce your required minimum distributions starting at age 73. If you file jointly, your spouse can also donate the maximum each year from their IRA.

You can make a qualified charitable distribution from the following IRAs: traditional, rollover, inherited, inactive SEP, and inactive SIMPLE.

Contact your retirement provider to initiate a distribution. Gifts should be made to Center for the Study of Services (EIN/Tax ID # 52-1000466) and mailed to our headquarters:

Consumers' Checkbook
1625 K Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006

Giving Stock or Other Securities

Donating appreciated stocks you've held for more than a year can be a tax-smart way to support Checkbook. Selling stock triggers a long-term capital gains tax of up to 20%. By donating the stock directly, you can avoid capital gains tax entirely and deduct the full fair market value on your income taxes, subject to IRS limits.

If you'd like to donate publicly traded stock to Checkbook, please provide the following information to your financial institution to initiate the transfer:

Brokerage: Charles Schwab
DTC number: 0164
Account number: 8548-1430

Once we receive your transferred stock, we'll send you a tax-deductible receipt.

Receive a Charitable Deduction

A new deduction can provide tax benefits for charitable giving, even if you don't itemize.

Beginning with your 2026 tax return filed in 2027, single filers who take the standard deduction can deduct up to $1,000 in charitable donations, while couples filing jointly can deduct up to $2,000. 

Become a Monthly Donor

Support Consumer Education All Year Long

Our work is only possible because of you. Here's why becoming a monthly donor is the best way to support the independent ratings you love:

✔ Most effective way to make a difference. Your year-round giving provides dependable funding for our price and quality research on local services, plus it allows us to explore new projects that expose deceptive practices in the marketplace.

✔ Most convenient way to give. We can spend less time and resources on appeals, plus you won’t have to take any further action. 

✔ Less stress at the end of the year. Set up your monthly gift today and relax knowing your tax-deductible contribution is already in place.

✔ Manage your gift easily. Make changes at any time by going to My Donations under My Account at Checkbook.org 

With your help, we can continue doing important, necessary work on behalf of consumers together.