Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes the bimonthly Skeptical Inquirer magazine, applying scientific skepticism to paranormal and pseudoscientific claims for science-interested readers globally via print, digital, audio, and event formats.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersAmherst, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Committee for Skeptical Inquiry does
The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, operating as a program under Center for Inquiry, Inc. (EIN: 22-2306795), that publishes the bimonthly Skeptical Inquirer magazine applying scientific skepticism to claims of the paranormal, pseudoscience, and the supernatural. Originally founded in 1976 as CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion), the organization was merged into the Center for Inquiry and renamed CSI in 2006, and is now in its 50th volume year of continuous publication (2026). The core product portfolio includes the Skeptical Inquirer print and digital magazine, the SI Magazine Archives (dating back to 1989), an SI Audio Edition, Online Exclusives, the Skeptical Inquirer Presents video and event series, and two email newsletters (Skeptical Briefs and The Skeptics UFO Newsletter).
CSI serves a horizontally segmented audience of science-interested general readers globally, addressing the problem of distinguishing credible scientific evidence from pseudoscience, misinformation, and extraordinary claims. Its underlying technology is an editorial content publication platform paired with a digital archive system for distributing research and articles; there are no proprietary AI, API, or software product components disclosed. Revenue is generated almost exclusively through recurring magazine subscriptions (print and digital), with no public pricing, advertising, or enterprise revenue disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging the website, email newsletters, organic social media on Facebook and X/Twitter, free online articles, and virtual/in-person presentations to acquire and retain individual subscribers, with the bulk of operating activity concentrated in its Amherst, NY mailing address under the broader Center for Inquiry network.
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
- Legal name
- Center for Inquiry, Inc.
- Website
- https://csicop.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes the bimonthly Skeptical Inquirer magazine, applying scientific skepticism to paranormal and pseudoscientific claims for science-interested readers globally via print, digital, audio, and event formats.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Skepticism Publications
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (51312)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing (MPAJABAK)
Keywords
Where Committee for Skeptical Inquiry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amherst
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions providing access to Skeptical Inquirer content including archives, exclusive articles, and audio editions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Publishes the Skeptical Inquirer magazine, a bimonthly publication applying scientific skepticism to claims of the paranormal, pseudoscience, and the supernatural. The portfolio extends to digital archives spanning back to 1989, an audio edition, web-only online exclusives, video presentation series, and specialized newsletters on skeptical topics.
Product overview
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry publishes the Skeptical Inquirer magazine as its core product—a bimonthly publication applying scientific skepticism to paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The product portfolio includes the print and digital magazine, the SI Magazine Archives (digital access to historical issues), the Audio Edition (audio format of content), Online Exclusives (web-only articles), Skeptical Inquirer Presents (video presentations), and two newsletters: Skeptical Briefs and The Skeptics UFO Newsletter.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Skeptical Inquirer Magazine A bimonthly magazine that publishes articles applying scientific skepticism to claims of the paranormal, pseudoscience, and the supernatural. Features investigative journalism, expert commentary, and critical analysis of fringe claims, distributed via print and digital subscriptions.
- SI Magazine Archives Digital archive of historical Skeptical Inquirer magazine issues dating back to 1989, providing access to decades of published articles on scientific skepticism.
- Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition Audio version of the magazine content, allowing subscribers to listen to articles rather than reading them.
- Online Exclusives Web-exclusive articles and content published only on the Skeptical Inquirer website, separate from the print magazine.
- Skeptical Inquirer Presents Video presentations and webinars featuring skepticism advocates discussing topics related to science, pseudoscience, and critical thinking.
- Skeptical Briefs Newsletter Email newsletter delivering skeptical perspectives and brief commentary on current claims and pseudoscience topics.
- The Skeptics UFO Newsletter Specialized newsletter focused specifically on UFO-related claims and investigations from a skeptical perspective.
Companies that use Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Center for InquirycoreParent organization that houses Skeptical Inquirer magazine. Center for Inquiry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 22-2306795) focused on promoting science, reason, and secular values. CSI operates under CFI's organizational umbrella.
- Richard Dawkins FoundationminorAssociated nonprofit organization also under the Center for Inquiry network, focused on science education and promotion of evolutionary biology and rational thinking.
- Free Inquiry MagazineminorSister publication under the Center for Inquiry network, covering secular humanism, religion, and related philosophical topics.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Free Inquiry: A sister publication under the same Center for Inquiry network covering secular humanism and religion; comparable bimonthly magazine format, subscription model, and nonprofit publishing operation.
- The Skeptics Society: Adjacent skepticism organization running lectures, events, and Skeptic magazine; comparable mission of promoting scientific skepticism and critical thinking, with overlapping audience of science-engaged readers.
- Skeptic (magazine): The Skeptic, founded by Michael Shermer, is the closest direct peer — a magazine dedicated to scientific skepticism, critical thinking, and investigating extraordinary claims, serving essentially the same niche audience as Skeptical Inquirer.
- James Randi Educational Foundation: A 501(c)(3) dedicated to promoting critical thinking and skepticism, historically close to CSI's mission; comparable nonprofit structure, audience, and skeptical inquiry focus.
Broad incumbents
- Center for Inquiry: The parent nonprofit that houses CSI and Free Inquiry; comparable in mission and operating model, but broader in scope (secularism, humanism, policy advocacy) and significantly larger in organizational scale.
- Scientific American: A large, mainstream science magazine with overlapping science-literate readership; not a skepticism publication, but competes for the same discretionary subscription dollars from science-curious consumers.
- New Scientist: A global weekly science magazine and digital publication covering science news and critical analysis; broader than CSI but competes for the science-interested subscription segment.
Emerging players
- Quanta Magazine: A digitally native science journalism publication emphasizing rigorous, accessible science writing; comparable audience of science-literate readers and a similarly editorial-led growth approach.
- Philosophy Now: An independent philosophy magazine with a similar bimonthly cadence, subscriber-supported nonprofit-ish model, and intellectual-generalist readership that overlaps with CSI's critical-thinking audience.
- Skeptical Science: A digital-first climate-skepticism resource that applies the same evidentiary/skeptical framework as CSI but in a narrower climate-specific vertical; comparable methodology and partial audience overlap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry social profiles
Digital presenceCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
What does Committee for Skeptical Inquiry do?
Publishes the Skeptical Inquirer magazine, a bimonthly publication applying scientific skepticism to claims of the paranormal, pseudoscience, and the supernatural. The portfolio extends to digital archives spanning back to 1989, an audio edition, web-only online exclusives, video presentation series, and specialized newsletters on skeptical topics.
Is Committee for Skeptical Inquiry a public or private company?
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Committee for Skeptical Inquiry founded?
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry was founded in 1976. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Committee for Skeptical Inquiry based?
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry is headquartered in Amherst, United States, in the North America region.
How does Committee for Skeptical Inquiry make money?
One revenue line is on record: magazine Subscriptions.
Who are Committee for Skeptical Inquiry's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Free Inquiry, The Skeptics Society, Skeptic (magazine) and James Randi Educational Foundation. Broad incumbents are Center for Inquiry, Scientific American and New Scientist. Emerging players are Quanta Magazine, Philosophy Now and Skeptical Science.
Does Committee for Skeptical Inquiry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
What industry is Committee for Skeptical Inquiry in?
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry's product category is Scientific Skepticism Publications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAM, Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJABAK, Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing. Its NAICS code is 51312 and its SIC code is 2721.