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Green Light New Orleans

EIN 20-8151937 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREEN LIGHT NEW ORLEANS PROVIDES SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES AND ENCOURAGES COLLECTIVE ACTION TO CREATE A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY, ONE HOUSEHOLD AT A TIME, BY INSTALLING RAIN BARRELS, BACKYARD VEGETABLE GARDENS AND DISTRIBUTING FREE ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS. PROGRAMS EMPLOY A FULL NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY AND PRIORITIZE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN NEW ORLEANS, LA AS THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

Income
$456,435
Spending
$466,287
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
-10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
5
Volunteers
865
Highest pay
$101,980, founder

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2025, 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. $216,599 spent. In 2025, Green Light installed approximately 350 rain barrels for 240 household, for a collective potential diversion of 17,500 gallons of rainwater per storm event, alleviating local flooding, reducing stress on the stormwater system, and allowing residents to collect water for nonpotable uses. Each resident was provided a copy of Rain Barrel Practice and Culture, an educational book on local challenges and solutions to flooding, stormwater management, and water conservation.
  2. $54,119 spent. In 2025, Green Light New Orleans partnered with the STEM Library lab to provide educational resources for local schools. Through the rain barrel service learning project, 139 barrels were sent to classrooms for service learning and education on topics of weather, climate, green infrastructure, environmental science, and civic engagement.
  3. $36,029 spent. The Southface grant culminated in December 2025 and included weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to te Green Light property. The H20 the Future grant is a multiyear grant that continues into 2026, providing attic insulation for a limited number of residents, and development of carbon capture methodology related to the rain barrel program and weatherization activities. In 2025, four residents were provided with attic insulation and solar panels were obtained for Green Light New Orleans.
  4. In 2025, 865 volunteers were engaged in 2800 hours of service supporting Green Lights mission to provide low cost residential level green infrastructure (rain barrels) as a solution to local flooding and climate challenges. Volunteers upcycled food grade barrels to become functional environmental art, each uniquely painted and provided to applicants at a sliding scale cost share. Each volunteer is educated on the mission, purpose, benefits, and impact of the program. Independent Sector Value of Volunteer Time in 2025 was $34.79, for a total of $97,412 contributed volunteer time for Green Light New Orleans.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 December 2007.

    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 November 4, 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.