US Green Building Council
Also known as Usgbc
US Green Building Council reported $50.3 million in revenue and $51.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $64.54 went to program services, $35.32 to management and general costs and $0.14 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 94.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $998,915 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 147 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 60% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $51MFor 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 $50MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 64.5% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 35.3% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.1% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 1.7% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 94.9% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $998,915 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.94% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 147 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.2 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 6 | 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 expenseLeed (leadership in energy and environmental design) is the most widely used Green Building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, leed provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. Leed certification is a globally recongized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership
Program service accomplishments: usgbc membership/community (market transformation development) usgbc is powered by its members. Our members have shaped our organization into what it is today and are driving the entire Green Building community to go further faster than ever before. We're made up of companies large and small, local and multinational. We're educators and innovators, scientists and activists, nonprofit employees and policymakers, advocates and more. We bring diverse backgrounds and experiences but share one steadfast vision: that the Green Building community can help change our…
Education - to advance the green workforce, usgbc offers Green Building education courses and publications to help professionals along their Green Building career path
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $939,954 | $0 | $58,961 | $998,915 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $385,801 | $0 | $33,637 | $419,438 |
| CHIEF PRODUCTS OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $354,801 | $0 | $26,987 | $381,788 |
| SVP, GLOBAL STRATEGIC OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $345,349 | $0 | $35,466 | $380,815 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $333,450 | $0 | $27,577 | $361,027 |
| SVP, TECHNICAL CORE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $262,103 | $0 | $36,239 | $298,342 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR, US MTD Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $265,213 | $0 | $31,672 | $296,885 |
| SVP, MARKETING COMM. & ADVOCACY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $256,570 | $0 | $33,727 | $290,297 |
147 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from US Green Building Council (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (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–1b6 · 6 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 11aYes
- 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 5299
- Volunteers Part I, line 65,125
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GLOBANT LLC Technology consulting | $5,256,885 |
| PROMANTUS INC Technology consulting/customer | $5,162,416 |
| CONSCIOUS NETWORKS Technology consulting | $1,572,698 |
| DILIGENT HEALTH SOLUTIONS LLC Customer service consulting | $672,131 |
| FEEDFORWARD TECHNOLOGY LLC Technology consulting | $421,031 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 21 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to US Green Building Council totaling $385K 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 US Green Building Council's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for US Green Building Council, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 US Green Building Council spent in 2024, $64.54 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Clean Air Task ForceBoston, MA · revenue $50M · programs 69.4% · 2024
- Colorado Open LandsLakewood, CO · revenue $51M · programs 98.1% · FY2025
- Klamath River Renewal CorporationBerkeley, CA · revenue $50M · programs 98.5% · FY2025
- National Parks Conservation AssociationWashington, DC · revenue $52M · programs 77.9% · FY2025
- Great Basin InstituteReno, NV · revenue $50M · programs 87.1% · 2025
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of US Green Building Council's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, US Green Building Council reported that 64.5% of its $51.4 million in expenses went to program services, 35.3% to management and general and 0.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does US Green Building Council pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation US Green Building Council reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $998,915, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does US Green Building Council get its money?
Of $50.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 1.7% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 94.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is US Green Building Council a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1822816 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202503189349316515 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423209349318497 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302409349301250 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223189349313842 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113069349303151 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033209349301788 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1822816: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.