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Colorado Clean Energy Fund

EIN 32-0586861 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CCEF CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO THE CAPITAL THEY NEED TO PURSUE PROJECTS AND BRIDGE REIMBURSABLE INCENTIVES. WE OFFER FLEXIBLE, BELOW-MARKET-RATE FINANCING DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS CLEAN ENERGY FINANCE GAPS.

Income
$34.8 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
18
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$308,070, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 88% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 396% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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, 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 (2)
  1. $2.3 million spent. CCEF COMMERCIAL LOANS ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS FINANCE GAPS FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS THAT RESULT IN REDUCED COSTS AND EMISSIONS AND INCREASED ELECTRIFICATION AND DOMESTIC ENERGY GENERATION. IN 2025, CCEF FINANCED 16 COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, DEPLOYING $40 MILLION IN DIRECT LENDING AND MOBILIZING $110 MILLION IN TOTAL INVESTMENTS. THESE PROJECTS CREATED 1.0 MW OF DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION. NOT INCLUDED IN THE REVENUE TOTAL ABOVE IS $31,878,876 IN GOVERNMENT GRANTS.
  2. $1.0 million spent. CCEF'S RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP COLORADO HOMEOWNERS INVEST IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES THAT REDUCE UTILITY COSTS, INCREASE ELECTRIFICATION, AND INCREASE CLEAN, DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION. DURING 2025, CCEF CLOSED 552 LOANS, SERVING 49 COUNTIES IN COLORADO MOBILIZING MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS. THROUGH THE ELECTRIFY AND SAVE PROGRAM, CCEF FUNDED 83 ON-BILL REPAYMENT LOANS, DEPLOYING MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN DIRECT LENDING. THESE PROJECTS CREATED 2.5 MW IN DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION. NOT INCLUDED IN THE REVENUE TOTAL ABOVE IS $37,837 IN GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 July 2019.

    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.