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Sustainable Westchester Inc

EIN 35-2397750 · Mount Kisco, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS THAT EMPOWERS MUNICIPAL LEADERS, ENGAGED CITIZENS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BECOME MORE SUSTAINABLE.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
28
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$201,302, executive director

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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 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. $920,740 spent. WESTCHESTER POWER: THE FOUNDATION OF A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE IS BUILT ON THE STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY ENERGY PROGRAMS. WESTCHESTER POWER IS SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IN THIS REGARD. THIS COMMUNITY ENERGY PROGRAM IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN NEW YORK STATE AND SERVES AS THE STATE MODEL. THIS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES 26 MUNICIPALITIES AND OVER 125,000 RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. IN 2024, THE WESTCHESTER POWER PROGRAM MITIGATED OVER 327 THOUSAND METRIC TONS OF CO2 COUNTYWIDE.
  2. $158,202 spent. COMMUNITY SOLAR REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO OPT-IN AND BENEFIT FROM SOLAR ENERGY WHILE SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. COMMUNITY SOLAR OFFERS ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING RENTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE UP A MINIMUM OF 5% OF THE ELECTRICITY THAT THEIR SHARE PRODUCES EACH MONTH ON THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR PANEL INSTALLATION ON THEIR HOMES OR PROPERTIES. LAYERING COMMUNITY SOLAR IN ADDITION TO THE WESTCHESTER POWER PROGRAM DOUBLES THE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
  3. $156,295 spent. ENERGYSMART HOMES PROVIDES ACCESS TO ENERGY EFFICIENT CLEAN HEATING AND COOLING TECHNOLOGIES, ENABLING RESIDENTS TO ELIMINATE FOSSIL-FUEL BURNING SYSTEMS, WHILE SAVING MONEY AND ENERGY AS WELL AS INCREASING THE HEALTH AND COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES.
  4. $534,426 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE: COMMERCIAL BUILDING DECARBONIZATION AND ZERO WASTE (RECYCLE RIGHT).OUR BUILDING DECARB TEAM, CITIZENS AND COMMUNITIES ARE PARTNERING WITH BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND GOVERNMENT TO BUILD A CLIMATE-PROOF FUTURE USING CLEAN HEATING AND COOLING TECHNOLOGIES. GOALS: BY 2040: ACHIEVE 100% ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRICITY | BY 2050: REDUCE EMISSIONS AT LEAST 85% BELOW 1990 LEVELS.THE RECYCLE RIGHT! APP SERVES AS SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER'S PREMIER SOLUTION FOR COST REDUCTION AND ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FOR MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL AS A RESIDENTIAL ONE-STOP RECYCLING PLATFORM DUE TO ITS EASE OF USE, CONVENIENCE, AND EFFICIENT RECYCLING INFORMATION.WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY DEF TO TRANSITION OUR RECYCLE RIGHT USERS TO RECYCLE COACH A NEWLY LAUNCHED FREE MOBILE APP THAT MAKES RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO COUNTY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.