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Earth Advantage Inc

EIN 20-2587074 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EARTH ADVANTAGE IS FOCUSED ON ADVANCING A MORE INFORMED AND HUMANE HOUSING MARKET.WE WORK TO ENSURE THE US HOUSING MARKET RECOGNIZES THE ELEMENTS OF HOMES THAT CREATE CLIMATE RISK AND VALUES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HOMES THAT PROVIDE (SEE SCHEDULE O)

Income
$14.2 million
Spending
$14.6 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
48
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$199,984, 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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 77% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (4)
  1. $7.2 million spent. THE PORTLAND CLEAN ENERGY FUND SELECTED EARTH ADVANTAGE TO LEAD IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS COOLING PORTLAND PROGRAM. THE GOAL IS TO HELP INCOME-LIMITED PORTLANDERS MAKE THEIR HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND PROVIDE ENERGY-EFFICIENT COOLING UNITS FOR USE DURING OUR INCREASINGLY HOT SUMMERS.EARTH ADVANTAGE WAS SELECTED BY THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO DELIVER THE COMMUNITY HEAT PUMP DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR HEAT PUMPS FOR QUALIFYING EXISTING HOMES IN DEFINED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES.
  2. $1.9 million spent. HOME ENERGY LABELING: EARTH ADVANTAGE WORKS TO ESTABLISH BEST PRACTICES FOR ENERGY PERFORMANCE SCORING FOR NORTH AMERICA. EARTH ADVANTAGE PERFORMS CONSULTING SERVICES POLICY DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAM DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENTATION. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE THE INTEGRATION OF THESE HOME ENERGY RATINGS INTO DIFFERENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM DESIGNS.EARTH ADVANTAGE WAS SELECTED BY STOPWASTE TO DEPLOY THE BAY AREA HOME ENERGY SCORE PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF BAYREN. EARTH ADVANTAGE ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, TO MANAGE THE AUTHORIZATION OF HOME ENERGY SCORE ASSESSORS AND MAINTAIN A LIST OF PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE REQUIRED STEPS IN THE AUTHORIZATION PROCESS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. EARTH ADVANTAGE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS ARE SOME OF THE OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED GREEN HOME CERTIFICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY RELY LARGELY ON FIELD INSPECTIONS TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS. EARTH ADVANTAGE OFFERS FIVE POSSIBLE LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION SILVER, GOLD AND PLATINUM, ZERO ENERGY READY AND ZERO ENERGY. THE MOST BASIC LEVEL ENSURES 10% IMPROVEMENT OVER CODE ON ENERGY PERFORMANCE. THE EARTH ADVANTAGE CERTIFICATION LEVELS DEPEND ON POINTS EARNED WITHIN FIVE PILLARS OF GREEN BUILDING PERFORMANCE AND ONSITE SOLAR PREPARATION AND INSTALLATION. EARTH ADVANTAGE STANDARDS ARE USED ON SINGLE- AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES. THE STANDARDS ARE USED TO GUIDE THE WORK OF BOTH NON-PROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND FOR-PROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)MULTIPLE OREGON CITIES AND THE STATE UTILIZE THE EARTH ADVANTAGE STANDARDS AS QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROGRAMS AND ACCESS TO BENEFITS. EARTH ADVANTAGE ALSO CERTIFIES PROJECTS TO OTHER STANDARDS INCLUDING: LEED FOR HOMES, ENERGY STAR, PASSIVE HOUSE, EPA WATERSENSE, EPA INDOOR AIRPLUS, RESNET HERS INDEX, AND ENERGY TRUST ENERGY PERFORMANCE SCORE.
  4. $2.5 million spent. EDUCATION: EARTH ADVANTAGE OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR EXISTING PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE CONSTRUCTION, REMODELING, AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRIES. ADDITIONALLY, EARTH ADVANTAGE OFFERS PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION REGARDING GREEN BUILDING EXPERTISE FOR CONTRACTORS, DESIGNERS, REALTORS AND APPRAISERS IN SEVERAL STATES. GREEN BUILDING REGISTRY: THE GREEN BUILDING REGISTRY IS A SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SAAS) PLATFORM PROVIDING THE REAL ESTATE MARKET WITH VERIFIED GREEN HOME DATA. EARTH ADVANTAGE DEVELOPED THIS SOFTWARE IN ORDER TO ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS TO GREEN HOME DATA AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE (API) TO REAL ESTATE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICES FOR REAL-TIME DATA POPULATION OF REAL ESTATE LISTINGS. THE SOFTWARE ALLOWS ENERGY ASSESSORS TO PULL DATA FROM VERIFIED SOURCES LIKE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HOME ENERGY SCORE AND GENERATE STREAMLINED, MARKET-FACING HOME LABELS FOR USE BY HOME SELLERS, HOME BUYERS AND REAL ESTATE AND FINANCE PROFESSIONALS.RESEARCH AND POLICY CONSULTING: EARTH ADVANTAGE UNDERTAKES BUILDING SCIENCE RESEARCH ON BUILDING AND REMODELING BEST PRACTICES. THE ORGANIZATION WAS SELECTED BY THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY (NREL) AS A RESIDENTIAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORTS ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECT ACTIVITY. EARTH ADVANTAGE SUPPORTS BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS POLICY PROCESSES IN OREGON THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S BUILDING TECHNOLOGY OFFICE (BTO) RESILIENT AND EFFICIENT CODES IMPLEMENTATION (RECI) PROGRAM. ZERO COALITION: ZERO COALITION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2017, TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO ADVANCE HOME CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES IN OREGON. EARTH ADVANTAGE GATHERED SEVERAL LIKE- MINDED NONPROFITS TO FORM THE ZERO ENERGY READY OREGON COALITION SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON ADVANCING OREGON BUILDING CODES IN ALIGNMENT WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 17-20.IN ADDITION, EARTH ADVANTAGE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CLEARESULT TO PROMOTE THE ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM. EARTH ADVANTAGE ALSO SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR TO ENERCITY COLLABORATIVE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO EXTEND THE FINANCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY TO SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.