Solar United Neighbors
Solar United Neighbors reported $13.7 million in revenue and $11.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $89.56 went to program services, $6.16 to management and general costs and $4.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.0% of the total. Government grants made up 9.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $215,881 (Executive Director). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 171% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.6% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.2% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.3% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.0% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.1% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 4.1% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $215,881 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.88% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.6 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseSolar United Neighbors is an organization uniquely dedicated to representing the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. We have helped thousands of people install solar panels and collectively fight for their energy rights since 2007. The Corporation is organized for the purposes of: building and promoting locally based renewable energy projects and policies in order to protect the environment and human health. We envision a clean, equitable energy system that directs control and benefits back to local communities, with solar on every roof and more money in every pocket
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $148,224 | $37,056 | $30,601 | $215,881 |
| Deputy Executive Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $138,461 | $0 | $19,644 | $158,105 |
| VP Policy & Advocacy Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,890 | $0 | $22,178 | $156,068 |
| Development Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,375 | $0 | $19,093 | $155,468 |
| VP Go Solar Programs Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,729 | $0 | $19,610 | $131,339 |
| Chief Operating Officer Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,881 | $0 | $9,511 | $128,392 |
| VP Community Impact Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $110,883 | $0 | $15,671 | $126,554 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $54,771 | $0 | $3,414 | $58,185 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Solar United Neighbors (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $359K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 12 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 588
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Digital 1 Group LLC Marketing | $608,542 |
| Ocean Solutions Technology | $233,804 |
| Wide Eye Creative LLC Marketing | $186,250 |
| Access Accounting Services Accounting Services | $152,388 |
| KEYES & FOX LLP Legal | $150,606 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
14 private foundations reported grants to Solar United Neighbors totaling $3.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Solar United Neighbors's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Solar United Neighbors, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Solar United Neighbors spent in 2024, $89.56 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Southern Utah Wilderness AllianceSalt Lake City, UT · revenue $14M · programs 88.8% · 2025
- Columbia Land TrustVancouver, WA · revenue $14M · programs 80.8% · 2024
- Ocean Risk and Resilience Action AllianceWashington, DC · revenue $14M · programs 93.0% · 2025
- Urban TilthRichmond, CA · revenue $14M · programs 76.8% · 2024
- Sustainable Forestry InitiativeWashington, DC · revenue $14M · programs 87.0% · 2024
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Solar United Neighbors's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Solar United Neighbors reported that 89.6% of its $11.5 million in expenses went to program services, 6.2% to management and general and 4.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Solar United Neighbors pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Solar United Neighbors reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $215,881, for the role of Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Solar United Neighbors get its money?
Of $13.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 95.0% came from contributions and grants (including 9.1% from government grants) and 4.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Solar United Neighbors a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 46-2462990 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533049349301403 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412789349301561 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302919349301030 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243129349303404 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113149349305856 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013179349305906 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 46-2462990: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.