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Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure

EIN 27-4568381 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak27 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 68 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP AND MAKE AVAILABLE, IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, A SUSTAINABILITY RATING TOOL TO MEASURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF NON-HABITABLE INFRASTRUCTURES, TO MAKE AVAILABLE A TRAINING AND CREDENTIAL PROGRAM TO IMPROVE USER COMPETENCY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE TOOL, TO MAKE AVAILABLE AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY PROGRAM TO VERIFY, UPON APPLICATION, THE RESULTS OF SELF ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES ON SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
16
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$285,074, 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: 27 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 68 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (4)
  1. $1.5 million spent. THE ENVISION SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL PROGRAM IS BASED ON A SEVEN-HOUR ON-LINE COURSE AND SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION.
  2. $682,907 spent. VERIFICATION: THE ENVISION PROJECT VERIFICATION PROGRAM ACCEPTED 61 PROJECT REGISTRATIONS FOR THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION AND REPORTED 34 AWARDS.
  3. $334,219 spent. MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE IN TWO GROUPS: CHARTER AND SUSTAINING. SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP REFERS TO COMPANIES, ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE INPUT ANNUALLY TO THE INSTITUTE AND ENDORSES THE INSTITUTE (ISI) AND ITS PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. THE CHARTER MEMBERSHIP REFERS TO COMPANIES, ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, AND INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUNDING OF ISI AND THAT JOINED ISI WITHIN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF ITS ORIGIN. CHARTER MEMBERS WILL BE INVITED TO SERVE ON THE ISI COUNCIL.
  4. $59,685 spent. OTHER PROGRAM

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 March 2012.

    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.