About CFA
Overview
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is an association of non-profit consumer organizations that was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. Today, nearly 300 of these groups participate in the federation and govern it through their representatives on the organization's Board of Directors.
CFA is a research, advocacy, education, and service organization.
- As a research organization, CFA investigates consumer issues, behavior, and attitudes through surveys, focus groups, investigative reports, economic analysis, and policy analysis. The findings of such research are published in reports that assist consumer advocates and policymakers as well as individual consumers. They provide an important basis for the policy positions and work of the organization.
- As an advocacy organization, CFA works to advance pro-consumer policies on a variety of issues before Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, state legislatures, and the courts. We communicate and work with public officials to promote beneficial policies, oppose harmful ones, and ensure a balance debate on issues important to consumers.
- As an education organization, CFA disseminates information on consumer issues to the public and news media, as well as to policymakers and other public interest advocates. To do so, we utilize reports, books, brochures, news releases, press conferences, a newsletter, conferences, forums, and this website. Of special importance are the on-line newsletter CFAnews Update, three annual conferences – Consumer Assembly, financial services conference, and food policy conference.
- As a service organization, CFA assists individuals and organizations. Our principal service to individuals is through the America Saves campaign which we organized in 2000 and have managed since then. Our services to organizations, with a special focus on CFA member groups, includes CFAnews Update, our three annual conferences, our State and Local Resource Center, our Consumer Cooperative Advisory Group, and our annual Awards Dinner that recognizes distinguished public, consumer, and media service.
Membership
CFA membership is limited to non-profit organizations that promote the consumer interest. All of these research, advocacy, education, and cooperative organizations are welcome to join.
Our nearly 300 members include about 100 state and local advocacy and education groups, a couple dozen national advocacy and education groups, about 100 consumer cooperative groups (mainly credit unions and rural electric cooperatives), public power groups, and state and local consumer protection agencies. While their annual dues payments range as high as $20,000, most organizations contribute between $75 and $1,000 annually.
CFA membership entitles these organizations to elect the Board of Directors, develop and vote on policy positions, receive CFAnews Update and other publications for free, qualify for discounted conference registrations, and participate in activities that serve different member constituencies. State and local consumer groups receive special attention through a listserv, roundtable discussions, organizational development grants, and travel assistance to CFA events.
Additional information about membership, including an application form, are available from the CFA office. Please contact Sara Cooper at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-387-6121. Applications are reviewed at March, June, and December Board meetings.
State & Local Consumer Groups
The Consumer Federation of America is working to strengthen the organizational capacity of CFA state and local members and to build a stronger, more active corps of grassroots consumer activists.
- About CFA's State and Local Program
- Find a State and Local Member by Region
- Find a State and Local Member by Issue Area
Board of Directors
President
- Irene Leech, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council
Secretary-Treasurer
- Katrinka Smith Sloan, LeadingAge
Vice Presidents
- Larry Blanchard, CUNA Mutual Group
- Mark Crisson, American Public Power Association
- Janet Domenitz, Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group
- Reggie James, Consumers Union/SW Regional Office
- Kenneth McEldowney, Consumer Action
- Willard Ogbum, National Consumer Law Center
- Patrick O'Neill, United Food & Commerical Workers International Union
- Scott Parsley, East River Electric Power Cooperative
Other Board Members
- Fred Becker, National Association of Federal Credit Unions
- Jeff Bernstein, U.S. PIRG
- Ron Bieber, United Auto Workers
- Steve Blackledge, NMPIRG
- James L. Brown, Wisconsin Consumers League
- Bill Cheney, Credit Union National Association
- Vernon Dalton, Wells Rural Electric Company
- Cutler Dawson, Navy Federal Credit Union
- Glenn English, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- George Gaberlavage, AARP
- Dorothy Garrick, Columbia Consumer Education Council
- Rudy Hanley, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
- Solomon Harge, Consumer Protection Association
- Paul Hazen, National Cooperative Business Association
- Thomas J. Heller, Missouri River Energy Services
- Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union
- Robert Krughoff, Center for the Study of Services
- Sarah Ludwig, Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
- Robert N. Mayer, American Council on Consumer Interests
- Rev. Dan McCurry, Chicago Consumer Coalition
- Dr. Regene Mitchell, Consumer Federation of California
- Bill Newton, Florida Consumer Action Network
- Florence Rice, Harlem Consumer Education Council
- Phyllis Rowe, Arizona Consumers Council
- Paul J. Schlaver, Massachusetts Consumers' Council
- Rosemary Shahan, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety
- Charles E. Snyder, National Cooperative Bank
- Jolene M. Thompson, Ohio Municipal Electric Association
CFA Staff
- George Barany, Director of Financial Education
- Stephen Brobeck, Executive Director
- Katie Bryan, Communications Manager
- Mark Cooper, Research Director
- Sara Cooper, Project Director
- Andia Dinesen, Military Saves Coordinator
- Jean Ann Fox, Director of Financial Services
- Jack Gillis, Public Affairs Director
- Susan Grant, Director of Consumer Protection
- Mel Hall-Crawford, Special Projects Director
- Darby Hull, Legislative Assistant
- James H. Hunt, Life Insurance Actuary
- J. Robert Hunter, Director of Insurance
- Sally Karwowski, Meeting and Event Manager
- Tony Lucas, Finance/IT Director
- Sean Naron, Administrative and Advocacy Associate
- Travis Plunkett, Legislative Director
- Lila Quintiliani, Assistant Director/Military Liaison, Military Saves
- Nancy Register, Associate Director
- Mark Romano, Director of Insurance Claims Projects
- Barbara Roper, Director of Investor Protection
- Tiffany Schoolfield, Database Manager
- Mark Silbergeld, Director of International Issues
- Carol Tucker-Foreman, Food Policy Institute Distinguished Fellow
- Chris Waldrop, Director of Food Policy Institute
- Rachel Weintraub, Director of Product Safety and Senior Counsel
- Barry Zigas, Director of Housing Policy