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, more than 250 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 balanced 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.