The Connecticut Citizen Research Group (CCRG) is a tax-exempt research and education organization. We seek to increase public participation in addressing consumer, environmental and public safety problems by offering training in the skills of active citizenship and by providing the information needed to promote public awareness of problems and potential solutions.
We work closely with the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG), and share its mission of building democracy by mobilizing grassroots power. Each organization focuses on slightly different tactics, due to IRS limitations on different types of tax-exempt organizations.
CCAG, as an advocacy organization exempt under IRC 501(C)(4), is allowed to make unlimited lobbying expenditures, whereas CCRG’s tax exemption under IRC 501(C)(3) is limited in the amount of lobbying it can do. Additionally, CCRG’s 501(C)(3) status prohibits any electoral expenditures. As noted above, CCRG focuses on public education, training, research and community organizing.
Contributions to each organization are used to support their work. Due to the differences in tax status, only contributions to CCRG are tax deductible.
While our joint programs with CCAG are found elsewhere on this website, examples of projects that are exclusively conducted by CCRG include:
Research & Reports
CCRG research is tailored to the particular place and need. We have examined toxic hazards statewide, water quality standards in the Housatonic Basin, transportation options in Eastern Connecticut, microwave emissions in Stamford, and solid waste disposal and recycling statewide. CCRG has also produced publications for wider distribution, such as Recycle Today. Waste Not Tomorrow, and The Connecticut Solar Handbook. We continue to study patterns of campaign contributions from various industries and interests to Connecticut lawmakers. On some issues, such as health care and utility regulation, we survey public policy initiatives across the country so that there may be the best possible options to consider here in Connecticut.
Lead Poisoning Education & Prevention
Childhood lead poisoning has been a massive public health problem that went largely unrecognized for years. The research & policy advocacy that we began in the mid 1970’s led to a nationwide ban on the residential use of lead-based paint. In 1990 CCRG began an outreach and public education program to inner city parents with lead poisoned children. In addition to teaching parents about lead poisoning symptoms and cures, we also worked to promote awareness of the problem on an institutional level—challenging various local, state and federal institutions to work together to address the problem. For 25 years we conducted comprehensive outreach and education activities to families at risk, and assisted them in gaining the help they needed to prevent or cure their children's lead poisoning. We also assisted families of lead poisoned children by helping them relocate to lead-free housing. The social services aspect of our work on this issue ended in mid 2016, but we continue to support governmental policy initiatives to safeguard air and water quality from the effects of lead poisoning.