Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
The Council on Foreign Relations is a US membership organisation, think tank and publisher of Foreign Affairs, founded in 1921, whose stated mission is 'to inform U.S. engagement with the world' (CFR). It had 5,397 individual members in June 2025 and over 100 corporate members, and is a New York not-for-profit exempt from US federal income tax under section 501(c)(3). It has no public powers.
Who leads it
- President: Michael Froman (cfr.org)
- Chairman of the Board of Directors: David M. Rubenstein (cfr.org)
The UK and the CFR
CFR's corporate programme offers regular programming in London among other cities (CFR Annual Report 2025). No UK government or parliamentary record about the CFR was found in the sources searched.
Key figures
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Individual members (July 2024 to June 2025) | 5,397 (up 1% from 5,337) | CFR Annual Report 2025, read 20 October 2026 |
| Total operating revenue and support (year ended 30 June 2025) | $102,265,100 | CFR audited financial statements, read 20 October 2026 |
| Total operating expenses (year ended 30 June 2025) | $98,110,700 | CFR audited financial statements, read 20 October 2026 |
| Grants and contributions (year ended 30 June 2025) | $29,921,900 | CFR audited financial statements, read 20 October 2026 |
| Membership dues (year ended 30 June 2025) | $10,812,700 | CFR audited financial statements, read 20 October 2026 |
| Corporate memberships and related income (year ended 30 June 2025) | $7,019,100 | CFR audited financial statements, read 20 October 2026 |
| Investments (30 June 2025) | $671,993,900 | CFR audited financial statements, read 20 October 2026 |
| Total net assets (30 June 2025) | $754,756,800 | CFR audited financial statements, read 20 October 2026 |
| Corporate membership fees (as stated when read) | Gold $100,000; Silver $75,000; Bronze $50,000 | CFR, read 20 October 2026 |
| New major gifts (fiscal year 2025) | more than $32 million | CFR Annual Report 2025, read 20 October 2026 |
What it decides
- No public or legal powers; it runs a think tank, meetings programme and publications including Foreign Affairs (CFR).
- New members are elected twice a year by the Board of Directors (CFR membership page).
- Tax status: a section 501(c)(3) not-for-profit incorporated in New York, exempt from federal income tax (CFR audited financial statements, auditor Grant Thornton LLP).
Records you can check
- CFR audited financial statements 2025Income, spending and assets for the year to 30 June 2025
- CFR Annual Report 2025Membership numbers, programmes, donor and corporate member lists
- CFR Board of DirectorsWho sits on the Board
Common questions
Who funds the Council on Foreign Relations?
In the year to 30 June 2025, its $102.3 million of operating revenue came from grants and contributions ($29.9 million), investment returns used for operations ($29.1 million), Foreign Affairs publications ($12.4 million), annual giving ($11.2 million), membership dues ($10.8 million) and corporate memberships ($7.0 million) (CFR audited financial statements).
How many members does CFR have?
5,397 in June 2025, according to CFR's Annual Report 2025.
How much does corporate membership cost?
$100,000 (Gold), $75,000 (Silver) or $50,000 (Bronze) a year, according to CFR.
Who runs CFR?
President Michael Froman; David M. Rubenstein chairs the Board of Directors (CFR).
Other bodies at level 10
Sources
- CFR: About, read 16 October 2026
- CFR: Leadership, read 20 October 2026
- CFR: Board of Directors, read 20 October 2026
- CFR Annual Report 2025, read 20 October 2026
- CFR: Membership, read 20 October 2026
- Council on Foreign Relations financial statements, June 30, 2025 and 2024, read 20 October 2026