Grid Alternatives
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GRID ALTERNATIVES ENVISIONS A RAPID, EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO A WORLD POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY-POWERED SOLUTIONS TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THROUGH RENEWABLE ENERGY.
- Income
- $46.9 million
- Spending
- $45.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 246
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $261,554, chief operating officer
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (1)
- $32.6 million spent. GRID IS THE NATION'S LARGEST NONPROFIT INSTALLER OF CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, GRID DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS THAT SERVE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES. GRID CREATES AND INSTALLS SOLAR PROJECTS THAT SERVE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES, AND IS ENABLING THESE COMMUNITIES TO ACCESS A VARIETY OF CLEAN MOBILITY AND BATTERY STORAGE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. THROUGH OUR UNIQUE, PEOPLE-FIRST MODEL, WE ARE PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO FAMILIES' POCKETS, REDUCING THE ENERGY COST BURDEN FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS, AND JUMPSTARTING CLEAN ENERGY CAREERS. WE PARTNER WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS, JOB TRAINING GROUPS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES, UTILITIES, TRIBES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO MAKE CLEAN ENERGY A WIN FOR EVERYONE. (SEE SCHEDULE O) GRID'S PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: NO-COST SOLAR INSTALLATIONS, HAND-ON SOLAR TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SOLAR INSTALLATION FOR MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY/SHARED SOLAR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION, LOW INCOME SOLAR POLICY LEADERSHIP, LOW INCOME PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, ENERGY ACCESS PROJECTS INTERNATIONALLY AND IN U.S. TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, AND CONNECTING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROGRAMS.
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 May 2014.
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.