Little Sun Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 280 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 design and deliver affordable clean energy solutions and to inspire people to take climate action.
- Income
- $13,410
- Spending
- $863,884
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $70,000, director of art & philanthropy
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: 30 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6342% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 98% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 280 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
Weak: 47 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (6)
- $176,979 spent. Community Public Art Initiatives - We believe that in order to create a world that thrives, we must urgently shift our perspective and turn conversations often centered around fear and data, into conversations that center on feeling and hope for all. Little Sun invests in public culture programs in Senegal, engaging artists and creative voices to craft new narratives about renewable energy and climate action, to create new spaces in their communities that inspire and ignite the imagination.
- $22,030 spent. Entrepreneurship and Employment Development - Each of the 38-50 farmers who utilize the hub undergoes a thorough onboarding process and is fully registered in the system. In order to develop employment opportunities and new market linkages at hub sites, as well as creating employment opportunities at Lusaka HQ, we seek to impact communities in multiple ways and create prototypes for the opening of future hubs.
- $357,901 spent. Solar Lighting Systems for Homes - Sales and installation of solar home systems in the Mumbwa, Zambia rural community. This program allows participating families to light their households and businesses to stay secure and open after dark. Little Sun Zambia employs local individuals for sales and system maintenance. Little Sun also launched a MESH system that enables homes to provide surplus solar energy to nearby buildings.
- Food Security- Providing funding and equipment to aid local food production, primarily focusing on improving livelihoods of local farmers without electricity. Program provides solar powered egg incubation, rice milling, irrigation to local communities in sub saharan Africa.
- Health - Providing solar powered devices to community health facilities in rutal areas that do not have access to electricity. Providing Integrated solar development projects in remote countries to facilitate lighting, cold storage, and providing power to medical devices and labratory services.
- $240,746 spent. Other Program Services
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 November 6, 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 2019.
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 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.