Act Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ACT Institute leads the just, equitable and rapid transition to a clean energy future and diverse climate economy.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 729
- Highest pay
- $320,339, president
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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 147% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $769,144 spent. In ACT Institute's policy and government affairs initiatives, the institute leads planning and broad education and related efforts, while the council leads in legislative advocacy and related convenings. ACT Institute's combined policy efforts focus on advancing the northeast US's valuable markets in:- Grid modernization & 21st century electricity system (includingrate case initiatives)- Distributed clean energy resources, including solar, energystorage, efficiency, and building technologies.- Grid-scale renewables - Onshore wind, offshore wind, grid-scale solar- Climate & greenhouse gas markets- Northeast clean transportation solutions
- $189,296 spent. ACT Institute's Cleantech Navigate Northeast (Navigate) program leverages the power of ACT Institute's networks to provide cleantech startups access to resources and business support to grow and scale. Working with dozens of partner organizations (the Navigate innovation partners) including incubators, accelerators, and associations, navigate helps partners and their portfolio startups get to the next stage of their growth through its unique services and events.
- $466,824 spent. Cleantech Open is the oldest and largest cleantech startup accelerator program, with the mission to find, fund, and foster entrepreneurs with ideas to solve our greatest environmental and energy challenges. Through our annual business competition and accelerator program, we connect cleantech startups with the people and resources that will accelerate their success, and provide a national platform for public visibility.
- $86,571 spent. Communications, memberships, events and special projects.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.