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Green Building Alliance

EIN 25-1832931 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREEN BUILDING ALLIANCE (GBA) ADVANCES INNOVATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND SOCIALLY VIBRANT PLACES.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
18
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$236,213, president & ceo

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: 31 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (5)
  1. $824,611 spent. KNOWLEDGE NETWORK: THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK IS THE FORWARD-FACING VEHICLE THAT CONNECTS GBA TO THE PUBLIC AND ITS VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS BY SHARING INFORMATION, EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, MENTORSHIP, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS PLATORMS AND EXPERIENCES AND PROVIDING ENGAGING EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS ACROSS TOPICS AND SECTORS. **SEE SCHEDULE 'O' FOR CONTINUATION**THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK ENSURES STAKEHOLDERS ARE UP-TO-DATE ON THE EVOLVING FIELD OF GREEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; CONNECTS THE DOTS AMONG SEEMINGLY DISPIRATE TOPICS OF CLIMATE, EQUITY, HEALTH, AND THE ECONOMY; GENERATES PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS FOR CONSTITUENTS' EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING NEEDS; AND PROVIDES RESOURCES TO INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES AND PROJECTS. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE FROM BEGINNER'S LEVEL TO ADVANCED TRAINING, INCLUDING GREEN BUILDING TOURS, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, AND WORKFORCE TRAININGS WITH ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATIONS. THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK PROVIDES LIFELONG LEARNING, COLLABORATING WITH THE GREEN & HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACADEMY TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT CAREERS IN SUSTAINABILITY, AND TRAINING PROFESSIONALS OF ALL LEVELS. IN ADDITION TO PRORAMMING, THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK OVERSEES GBA'S COMMUNICATIONS AND STORYTELLING.
  2. $632,474 spent. 2030 DISTRICT: A PLACE-BASED INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF EXISTING AND NEW BUILDINGS WITH ASSOCIATED ECONOMIC AND HUMAN HEALTH BENEFITS THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING, PROJECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION, DATA-DRIVEN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, AND SHARED BEST PRACTICES BETWEEN INDUSTRY CLUSTERS AND PRIVATE/PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING OWNERS. THE PITTSBURGH & ERIE 2030 DISTRICT INITIATIVE (INCLUDING WESTERN PA AFFILIATES) SETS NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING.**SEE SCHEDULE 'O' FOR CONTINUATION**LOCAL PROPERTIES COMMIT TO THE 2030 CHALLENGE GOALS: 50-65% REDUCTIONS IN CARBON EMISSIONS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS AND ZERO CARBON FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS BY THE YEAR 2030, WHILE REDUCING WATER CONSUMPTION AND IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY. THE 2030 DISTRICT MODEL DEVELOPS A COLLABORATIVE OF COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES, HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND K-12 SCHOOLS COMMITTED TO EFFICIENT BUILDINGS, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, CLEAN ENERGY, AND INNOVATIVE ECONOMIES.
  3. $255,969 spent. GREEN & HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACADEMY: GBA AND ITS STAKEHOLDERS ARE COMMITTED TO THE VISION THAT ALL STUDENTS AND ALL SCHOOLS ARE HEALTHY AND HIGH PERFORMING WITHIN A GENERATION. TO THAT END, GBA ASSISTS SCHOOLS WITH INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY INTO THEIR BUILDINGS, CURRICULUM, AND CULTURE THROUGH INSPIRATIONAL, COMPREHENSIVE, AND DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION. **SEE SCHEDULE 'O' FOR CONTINUATION**THE GREEN & HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACADEMY PROGRAMMING ALIGNS WITH THE NATIONAL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES THREE PILLARS FOR SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY, AND 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS: REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND OPERATIONAL COSTS; HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION TO PROMOTE CIVIC SKILLS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR CAREER AND COLLEGE PATHWAYS. SCHOOLS CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON STUDENT AND TEACHER HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE, AS WELL AS THE HEALTH, VITALITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
  4. $376,422 spent. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM IS A ROBUST INITIATIVE THAT WORKS TO CREATE PLACES WHERE ALL PEOPLE CAN THRIVE. GBA SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PARTNERS IN CREATING HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGH STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, CROSS-GENERATIONAL EDUCATION, PROJECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY-SCALE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.
  5. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: GBA STAFF PROVIDES EXPERT COUNSEL TO STRATEGIC BUILDING PROJECTS, LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENTS, COMPANIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS ON VARIOUS TOPICS TO ADVANCE GREEN BUILDINGS, CREATE THRIVING COMMUNITIES, AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PRODUCTS. WE SUPPORT ENTREPRUENUERS AND MANUFACTURERS DEVELOPING HEALTHIER, LOW CARBON, GREEN PRODUCTS THROUGH CODE REVIEWS, INDUSTRY DISCCUSIONS, ON-SITE DEPLOYMENT TESTING, AND CONNECTION TO THE GREEN BUILDING MARKET. WE CONVENE CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NEIGHBORHOOD AND REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND DECARBONIZED CLEAN ENERGY STRATEGIES AND ASSIST IN GRANT WRITING TO BRING THESE PROJECTS TO FRUITION.

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 1999.

    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.