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We Care Solar

EIN 30-0627106 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CARE SOLAR DESIGNS AND IMPLEMENTS SOLAR ENERGY PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.

Income
$13.0 million
Spending
$9.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
12.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
15
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$172,034, director of development

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (3)
  1. $6.1 million spent. HEALTHCARE PROGRAM - WE CARE SOLAR DESIGNS AND DEPLOYS SOLAR ELECTRIC SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE RELIABLE LIGHT AND POWER IN LOW RESOURCE HEALTHCARE SETTINGS. ITS TECHNOLOGY, THE WE CARE SOLAR SUITCASE, IS A COMPLETE SOLAR SYSTEM POWERING LIGHTS, MOBILE COMMUNICATION, AND MEDICAL DEVICES, INCLUDING A FETAL HEART MONITOR, LED HEADLAMPS, AND BATTERY CHARGERS. ROBUST AND EASY TO USE, IT ENABLES EMERGENCY CARE WHERE ELECTRICITY IS UNRELIABLE, SUPPORTING SAFE DELIVERIES AT NIGHT, TIMELY REFERRALS, FETAL MONITORING, AND IMPROVED HEALTH WORKER SAFETY AND MORALE. WE CARE SOLAR TRAINS LOCAL PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT, INSTALL, AND MAINTAIN SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THEIR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. GENDER-INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING PROMOTES WOMEN AS SOLAR INSTALLERS AND TRAINERS, OPENING DOORS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $1.3 million spent. EDUCATION - WE SHARE SOLAR, THE EDUCATION PROGRAM OF WE CARE SOLAR, EMPOWERS TEACHERS TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME GLOBAL SOLAR SOLUTIONARIES. OUR STEM EDUCATION PROGRAM EQUIPS TEACHERS WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SOLAR-STEM TRAINING, READY-TO-USE CURRICULA, AND HANDS-ON SOLAR SUITCASE LAB KITS. THESE TOOLS EMPOWER EDUCATORS TO INSPIRE MIDDLE- AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TACKLE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS WITH SOLAR ELECTRICITY. OUR INTEGRATED CURRICULUM BLENDS STEM FUNDAMENTALS, CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICE. THROUGH A UNIQUE SPONSORSHIP MODEL, SOLAR SUITCASES ARE DONATED TO OFF-GRID SCHOOLS IN AFRICA, GIVING STUDENTS A DIRECT CONNECTION TO GLOBAL IMPACT. SINCE 2013, OVER 69,000 STUDENTS LEARNED WITH WSS AND WE HAVE PROVIDED LIGHT TO 600,000+ STUDENTS THROUGH SOLAR SUITCASE INSTALLATIONS.
  3. $315,191 spent. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - WE CARE SOLAR'S TECHNOLOGY TEAM INCORPORATES ITS FIELD RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN AND FUNCTION OF THE SOLAR SUITCASE. IT STRIVES TO CREATE THE MOST ROBUST, RELIABLE, AND APPROPRIATE COMPACT SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM FOR RURAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION TO PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DESIGN, WE CARE SOLAR COLLECTS DATA ON SOLAR SUITCASE USAGE AND IMPACT. IT ALSO IDENTIFIES AND TESTS MEDICAL DEVICES THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH OUR 12V DC SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM.

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 November 6, 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 October 2011.

    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 November 4, 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.