Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Dollar Energy Fund Inc

EIN 25-1442933 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HARDSHIPS BY PROVIDING UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES THAT LEAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

Income
$41.8 million
Spending
$38.7 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
147
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$379,993, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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

    13 of 14 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $23.8 million spent. DOLLAR ENERGY FUND, INC. PROVIDES UTILITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN THE FORM OF UTILITY COMPANY CREDITS OR CASH GRANTS FOR ELECTRIC, GAS, WATER, SEWER, AND TELEPHONE UTILITIES. DOLLAR ENERGY FUND, INC.'S UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES UTILITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS IN THE EXACT AMOUNT NEEDED TO RESTORE SERVICE OR PREVENT TERMINATION OF SERVICE AND IS APPLIED DIRECTLY TO A CUSTOMER'S ACCOUNT. THROUGH CONNECTING UTILITY CUSTOMERS WITH PARTNERINGCOMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AT APPLICATION INTAKE, UTILITY CUSTOMERS ARE ALSO INTRODUCED TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT MAY BENEFIT THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, DOLLAR ENERGY FUND, INC. PROVIDED GRANTS TO 81,700 HOUSEHOLDS.
  2. $11.9 million spent. DOLLAR ENERGY FUND, INC. PROVIDES LOW-INCOME PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION FOR FIRST ENERGY (METED, PENELEC, PENN POWER, WEST PENN POWER), PEOPLES NATURAL GAS, COLUMBIA GAS PENNSYLVANIA, PENNSYLVANIA AMERICAN WATER, ILLINOIS AMERICAN WATER, WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER, OMAHA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT, COMMUNITY UTILITIES OF PENNSYLVANIA, AQUA WATER PENNSYLVANIA, AQUA WATER ILLINOIS, VERIZON, AND THE WEST VIRGINIA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND. CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (CAPS) ARE DESIGNED TO HELP LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS MAINTAIN UTILITY SERVICE. CAPS CAN HELP RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS LOWER THEIR MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS, AND MAY ALSO REDUCE OR REMOVE AMOUNTS PAST DUE.
  3. $76,763 spent. DOLLAR ENERGY FUND, INC. ADMINISTERS THE APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY VIRGINIA (AEP-VA) ENERGY AND EFFICIENCY PILOT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ELIGIBLE AEP-VA CUSTOMERS WITH AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATIONAL PACKET AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY KIT. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, DOLLAR ENERGY FUND, INC. PROVIDED 2,194 ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATIONAL PACKETS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY KITS TO AEP-VA CUSTOMERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 September 1983.

    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.