Updated:
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a foundation based in San Francisco, founded 2003; the Altss profile covers its classification, headquarters, registration, AUM band, and...
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media supplies entertainment and technology recommendations for families. Parents rely on its expert reviews and objective advice.
General information
Firm type
Foundation
Year founded
2003
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
San Francisco, CA, United States
Additional offices
San Jose, CA · Denver, CO · Boston, MA
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Is Common Sense Media a commercial entity or a nonprofit?
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization. Its operations are funded by foundation support, not-for-profit partnerships, and individual contributions. It does not charge families for its core ratings and review products.
What is the scale of Common Sense Media's reach?
The organization states it reaches 124 million households with its media ratings and advice. It also provides digital-literacy curriculum to more than 1.4 million member educators, positioning its content as a default resource in a large segment of US schools.
How does Common Sense Media fund its operations?
Common Sense Media is funded through a mix of philanthropic foundation grants, not-for-profit partnerships, and individual member contributions. The organization does not sell advertising or charge licensing fees for its core family-facing tools.
What is the Common Sense AI Safety Institute?
Launched in mid-2025, the AI Safety Institute is an internal unit of Common Sense Media. It conducts research, develops standards, and performs independent evaluation aimed at ensuring AI systems are built with childhood development principles in mind.
Does Common Sense Media engage in policy and legislative work?
Yes. The organization operates an advocacy arm that presses for laws and regulations protecting children's online safety and holding technology platforms accountable. It also reports that its research and advocacy contributed to securing $80 billion in public funds for broadband connectivity.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: