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Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC

EIN 26-1939342 · Golden, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION LLC (ALLIANCE) IS TO OPERATE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL LABORATORY OF THE ROCKIES TO LEAD RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR AN AFFORDABLE AND SECURE ENERGY FUTURE.

Income
$1.1 billion
Spending
$1.1 billion
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
4,225
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$1.2 million, president

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 98% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.0 billion spent. ON OCTOBER 1, 2008, ALLIANCE BEGAN MANAGEMENT OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S (DOE) NATIONAL LABORATORY OF THE ROCKIES, FORMERLY NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY UNDER PRIME CONTRACT NUMBER DE-AC36-08-GO28308. THE NATIONAL LABORATORY OF THE ROCKIES (NLR) IS THE NATION'S PRIMARY LABORATORY FOR RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS DELIVERING INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR AN AFFORDABLE AND SECURE ENERGY FUTURE. ALLIANCE PROVIDES THE LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY THROUGH ITS MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION CONTRACT OF THE NATIONAL LABORATORY OF THE ROCKIES (NLR) TO EXECUTE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ANALYSIS PROGRAMS ON BEHALF OF DOE, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IT STEWARDS THE UNDERLYING CAPABILITIES AND RESEARCH ASSETS THAT ENABLE MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT. IT ALSO PROVIDES THE LEADERSHIP TO SAFELY AND SECURELY MANAGE AND OPERATE TWO MAJOR NLR CAMPUSES LOCATED IN COLORADO, AND ONE NLR CAMPUS IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH AND OFFICE FACILITIES, AND TO OPERATE AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INCLUDING FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, PROCUREMENT, AND QUALITY. ALLIANCE PARTNERS WITH INDUSTRY, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND ACADEMIA TO TRANSFER THE KNOWLEDGE, KNOW HOW, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO ENABLE NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND THEN SCALE UP WITHIN THE NATION'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS EFFORT SUPPORTS ENERGY SECURITY AND A VIBRANT ECONOMY WHILE ENSURING STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT. ALLIANCE PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES FOR WORK WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES THIS AREA INCLUDES ADVANCEMETNS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CUTTING-EDGE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, FUELS, CHEMICALS, AND HYDROPOWER; DRIVE THE COMMERCIALIZATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT ENHANCE ENERGY NETWORKS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND REDUCE THE COST OF ENERGY FOR AMERICAN RATEPAYERS. INNOVATION, AFFORDABILITY, AND CONSUMER CHOICE THIS AREA INCLUDES FACT-BASED ANALYSIS, PROCESS TRANSPARENCY, AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCMENTS THAT SUPPORT CONSUMER CHOICE AND AFFORDABILITY; ALSO INCLUDES INNOVATION AND THE ADOPTION OF NEW AND BENEFICIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. ENERGY ANALYSIS CREDIBLE AND OBJECTIVE ENERGY ANALYSIS INCREASES THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE ENERGY SYSTEMS OPERATE. WE EXPLORE HOW ENERGY POLICIES, MARKETS, RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGIES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE INTERACT. ANALYSES, DATA, AND TOOLS INFORM INVESTMENT DECISIONS AS TECHNOLOGIES ADVANCE FROM CONCEPT TO COMMERCIAL APPLICATION. ENERGY SYSTEMS INTEGRATION ENERGY SYSTEMS INTEGRATION RESEARCH ADDRESSES TRADEOFFS ACROSS ENERGY CARRIERS (SUCH AS ELECTRICITY, THERMAL PATHWAYS, FUELS, AND WATER) WITHIN INFRASTRUCTURES (GRIDS, BUILDINGS AND CAMPUSES, COMMUNITIES, COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION) TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY. NLR IS POSITIONED TO HELP THE NATION ADVANCE ITS ENERGY GOALS THROUGH THE ALLIANCE STRATEGY FOR ACCELERATING IMPACT. THE LABORATORY DELIVERS MARKET-RELEVANT, HIGH-IMPACT KNOWLEDGE/INNOVATIONS; AMPLIFIES MARKET IMPACT THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS; STEWARDS DISTINCTIVE CAPABILITIES AND SUSTAINS OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. NLR SUPPORTS COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS, DISSEMINATES RESEARCH RESULTS BROADLY, PROTECTS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THROUGH PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS, LICENSES TECHNOLOGIES AND WORKS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGIES. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ARE ANNUALLY RECOGNIZED WITH MULTIPLE R&D 100 AWARDS, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARDS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE BEHIND THESE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SUCCESSES AND AWARDS DEMONSTRATE ALLIANCE'S COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER INTEGRATED SOLUTIONSFOR THE NATION'S AFFORDABLE AND SECURE ENERGY FUTURE.

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 October 2008.

    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.