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Clean Grid Alliance

EIN 06-1670689 · Minneapolis, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE MIDWEST BY APPLYING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND BUILDING SUPPORT TO EXPAND MARKETS. WE FOCUS ON EDUCATING KEY DECISION MAKERS THROUGH TECHNICAL, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA WORK, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH. CGA BRINGS THE BEST OF ITS ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO CAPTURE RENEWABLE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES: VISIONARY THINKING AND DOING, CONTINUED GROWTH IN TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE WIND, SOLAR AND ENERGY STORAGE INDUSTRIES, AN UNDERSTANDING OF STATE-BY-STATE REGULATORY AND POLICY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. CGA WORKS TO INTERCONNECT RENEWABLE ENERGY TO PROVIDE LOCAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
15.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
14
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$307,898, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION. TO ENCOURAGE BROAD ACCEPTANCE OF CLEAN ENERGY, CGA PROVIDES RELIABLE, FACT-BASED INFORMATION ABOUT RENEWABLES IN THE MIDWEST. CGA HAD 1990 MEDIA PLACEMENTS, 40 MEDIA INTERVIEWS, 26 LTE/OP-ED PLACEMENTS AND 7 PUBLIC NEWS STORIES, RESULTING IN A HALF-BILLION IMPRESSIONS NATIONWIDE. ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY. CGA ATTRACTS NEW MEMBERS AND SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGES 74 EXISTING MEMBERS. CGA STAFF ALIGNS PRIORITIES OF NGO AND FOR-PROFIT MEMBERS AND BUILDS COALITIONS FOR OUTSIZED IMPACT.
  2. $426,088 spent. TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION IS KEY TO INTEGRATING RENEWABLES ON THE GRID. CGA ADVOCATES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AT MISO (MIDWEST GRID OPERATOR), STIMULATING FAVORABLE MARKET CONDITIONS, AND ACTIVATING OUR MEMBERS FOR TRANSMISSION PLANNING. WE LED EFFORTS THAT RESULTED IN MISO APPROVING THE NATION'S LARGEST GROUP OF TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECTS EVER VIA HISTORIC TRANCHE 2.1.
  3. $292,678 spent. POLICY AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY. CGA'S FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION ENSURES THAT POLICY WINS ARE TRANSFORMATIVE. CGA FORGES ALLIANCES AND ACTIVATES STRONG NETWORKS TO ADVOCATE FOR GOOD LEGISLATIVE POLICIES ACROSS THE REGION, THEN INTERVENES VIA THE REGULATORY PROCESS TO UPHOLD CLEAN ENERGY PROGRESS. WE EXPANDED OUR REGULATORY TEAM TO TAKE ON INCREASED WORK AT STATE UTILITY COMMISSIONS. IN MINNESOTA, WE ADVANCED ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POLICY REFORMS IN RECENT HISTORY, ACCELERATING THE PERMIT PROCESS BY 6-9 MONTHS. IN AN ERA OF UNPRECEDENTED ENERGY DEMAND, WE ENSURE PROCESSES ARE AS EXPEDIENT AND EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. SITING EDUCATION. CGA DELIVERS CREDIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT WIND, SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP FOSTER EARLY PROJECT ACCEPTANCE, INCLUDING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSERVATIVE ENERGY NETWORK VIA THE LAND & LIBERTY COALITION. WIND 101 AND SOLAR 101 EVENTSEDUCATE KEY DECISION MAKERS. VIDEOS, TARGETED AD CAMPAIGNS, AND RURAL RADIO STORIES INFORMS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. THIS WORK SUPPORTED THE APPROVAL OF 5.7 GW OF CLEAN ENERGY IN THE MIDWEST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.