Center for Sustainable Energy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
One simple mission-DECARBONIZE
- Income
- $335.6 million
- Spending
- $335.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 302
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $584,436, president
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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 74% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs.
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 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (3)
- $220.4 million spent. Transportation: EV Incentive Programs: CSE's Transportation EV Incentive Division earned $235,688,066 in Reveneue and had expenses of $220,415,875 in 2024 of which $211,743,094 worth of rebates was delivered to rebate applicants. Notable achievements in 2024 include the following:CSE Launched EV Sales Training for Auto Dealership Sales StaffTo help Americas auto dealerships increase sales of electric vehicles (EVs), CSE partnered with the National Automobile Dealers Association to introduce a sales training certification program. Called ElectrifIQ, the online course complements manufacturer-specific training by providing impartial, brand-neutral information designed to help sales staff confidently answer consumer questions. Over 600 dealership sales staff across 23 states have become ElectrifIQ-certified.Largest Illinois Utility Selects CSE to Administer EV Fleet Rebates Illinois largest utility, Commonwealth Edison, awarded CSE a contract to design and administer a program to advance electrification of commercial and public sector fleets in the northern part of the state, including Chicago.With $85 million over two years, the program will fund rebates for light-, medium- and heavy-duty cars and trucks, as well as school and transit buses. At least 50% of funds will be directed to fleets located in or servicing low-income and equity investment eligible communities.CSE Supports Nations First Statewide EV Incentives for Vehicle-for-Hire DriversCSE was chosen as a consultant and subcontractor for Massachusetts Ride Clean Mass program, offering the nations first statewide electric vehicle incentives exclusively for vehicle-for-hire drivers.Rideshare and ride-hailing vehicles are a priority for electrification because they travel thousands of miles more each year than other passenger vehicles and can help significantly improve local air quality and public health. CSE is responsible for application verification, general program support, data collection, program reporting and survey creation and implementation.
- $65.6 million spent. Distributed Energy Resources: In 2024, CSE earned $69,770,250 worth of revenue and had expenses of $65,587,009 of which $56,609,508 was paid out to rebate applicants. A Notable achievement in 2024 includes:CSE Tapped to Administer Home Electrification Upgrade ProgramSouthern California Edison selected CSE to design and administer its Charge Ready Home program, a multiyear initiative providing rebates for home panel upgrades to income-qualifying households and utility customers in disadvantaged communities. The goal is to remove cost barriers to home electrification for residents preparing to install EV chargers and make other energy upgrades.CSE to Administer Low-Income Electrification Program in Central California The California Energy Commission selected CSE as one of three regional administrators of a new $567 million program to install energy-efficient technologies statewide in low- and moderate-income households at no cost. The program will fund various electrification retrofit measures and the installation of electric appliances to reduce carbon emissions and advance energy equity. CSE was awarded a block grant of up to $108 million to oversee the program in underserved communities in 20 counties in the central region of California.
- $25.8 million spent. Transportation: EV Infrastructure Programs: In 2024, this division earned $29,857,450 in revenue for CSE and had expenses of $25,844,727 of which $23,828,139 was paid out to rebate applicants across all EV infrasturcture projects.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.