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United States Energy Foundation

San Francisco, CA · EIN 83-1740146 · 501(c)(3) · Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Latest filing: Form 990 for calendar year 2024 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

United States Energy Foundation reported $261.4 million in revenue and $238.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $94.88 went to program services, $3.67 to management and general costs and $1.45 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $567,986 (CEO). 96 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 40% between 2020 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.

Where $100 of spending went

Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $239M

For context, the median across 1,001 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.65 programs, $6.50 management, $1.85 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 $261M

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

2024 filing. Median across 1,001 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
Measure2024Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
94.9%90.2%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
3.7%6.4%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
1.5%1.8%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
$0.01$0.02
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
97.0%79.9%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
0.0%0.0%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
0.0%0.0%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$567,986$325,675
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
0.24%1.56%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
963
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
10.256.6
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
12 of 13100.0%

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 expense
$226M expenses · 100.0% of program spending · grants $166M · revenue $85,273

In 2024, United States Energy Foundation (usef) provided grants to organizations and institutions that advance clean energy and climate solutions through education and analysis. Achievements included (but were not limited to) the adoption of cleaner building measures, the advancement of cleaner vehicles and fuels, the advancement of renewable energy technologies, and government commitments to achieve 100% clean energy by a target date. Usef programs also aim to deliver equitable access to the benefits of clean energy for all communities. As we pursue the achievements described above, we…

Highest reported compensation

2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
CEO
Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$489,003$0$78,983$567,986
SVP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$395,882$0$74,192$470,074
SVP, PROGRAMS
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$357,111$0$85,856$442,967
VP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$321,623$0$53,784$375,407
COO/SECRETARY & TREASURER
Officer, 34.00 hrs/week
$322,710$0$49,724$372,434
VP, PROGRAMS & EQUITY
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$278,459$0$71,777$350,236
VP, PEOPLE & CULTURE
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$280,713$0$57,903$338,616
VP, PROGRAMS
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$276,572$0$60,840$337,412

96 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from United States Energy Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.2M (Part IX, line 5).

5 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$100M$200M$300M$400M20202021202220232024$261M$239M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
2024 ⓘ$261M$239M94.9%$204M$567,986
2023 ⓘ$286M$219M96.3%$179M$539,697
2022 ⓘ$133M$189M96.5%$112M$500,166
2021 ⓘ$182M$142M96.0%$167M$534,119
2020 ⓘ$186M$117M94.5%$127M$522,958

Governance 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–1b13 · 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 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 5142

Largest outside contractors

2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
ANGELA BONARRIGO & ASSOCIATES LLC
Project management
$799,851
INDUSTRIOUS LABS
Communication support
$648,094
CAUSE CAMPAIGN PARTNERS LLC
Communication support
$439,805
MUELLER COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Communication support
$387,792
JPM STRATEGIES LLC
Communication support
$322,000

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 60 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

15 private foundations reported grants to United States Energy Foundation totaling $111M 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 United States Energy Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for United States Energy Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

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Questions people ask

How much of United States Energy Foundation's spending goes to programs?

In calendar year 2024, United States Energy Foundation reported that 94.9% of its $238.7 million in expenses went to program services, 3.7% to management and general and 1.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does United States Energy Foundation pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation United States Energy Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $567,986, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does United States Energy Foundation get its money?

Of $261.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 97.0% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is United States Energy Foundation a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 83-1740146 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 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 202542839349301689 · read the filing · XML
  • 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423189349311477 · read the filing
  • 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313199349311266 · read the filing
  • 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213149349308101 · read the filing
  • 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133149349306568 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 83-1740146: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.