American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reported $17.3 million in revenue and $14.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.88 went to program services, $18.85 to management and general costs and $3.27 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 75.8% of the total. Government grants made up 10.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $387,396 (EXEC DIR UNTIL 11/2025). 28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 89% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $15MFor 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 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.9% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.9% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.3% | 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 | 75.8% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 10.3% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 21.7% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $387,396 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.61% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 28 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.0 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 21 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseResearch and outreach - energy efficiency is essential to managing rising energy demand and a key path to a stronger economy and cleaner environment. Our research focuses on the role efficiency can play in the U.S., documenting successful programs and policies and lessons learned, and ways to address challenges. All of our work is grounded in a foundation of equity
Conferences - we spark advancements in innovative technologies, policies, and programs by convening thousands of people at our conferences and virtual events each year. We hold roughly 20 webinars annually to discuss our research and related topics. In typical years, we hold 3 -4 conferences on topics such as building and industrial efficiency, hot water and hot air, and energy efficiency as a resource
Policy advocacy - we help advance efficiency programs and policies by advising agencies on implementation and assisting with development of laws requiring energy-efficient equipment and promoting efficiency in industry, transportation, and new and existing buildings
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXEC DIR UNTIL 11/2025 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $341,520 | $0 | $45,876 | $387,396 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $290,189 | $0 | $19,424 | $309,613 |
| SR DIR COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,882 | $0 | $40,666 | $227,548 |
| INDUSTRY DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,155 | $0 | $38,106 | $221,261 |
| FINANCE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,086 | $0 | $20,714 | $203,800 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $189,476 | $0 | $13,992 | $203,468 |
| EXEC DIR ASAP Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,032 | $0 | $11,885 | $194,917 |
| SENIOR POLICY DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,663 | $0 | $15,437 | $184,100 |
28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $953K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b21 · 21 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 590
- Volunteers Part I, line 622
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ELEVATE ENERGY Contractor for local policy project | $435,139 |
| EMERALD CITIES COLLABORATIVE Contractor for local policy project | $307,890 |
| HYATT REGENCY PORTLAND Conference venue | $297,117 |
| BOUNDARY STONE PARTNERS LLC Lobbying | $285,000 |
| HRA ADVISORS Advisory services | $232,091 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy spent in 2025, $77.88 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reported that 77.9% of its $14.8 million in expenses went to program services, 18.9% to management and general and 3.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $387,396, for the role of EXEC DIR UNTIL 11/2025 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy get its money?
Of $17.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 75.8% came from contributions and grants (including 10.3% from government grants) and 21.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-2711707 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202642399349300814 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523219349304417 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443199349312314 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313179349301416 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233149349302758 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102669349301705 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023219349300247 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-2711707: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.