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Alliance for Environmental Sustainability

EIN 38-3629786 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Empowering people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of the places we live

Income
$315,701
Spending
$411,785
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
3

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $102,030 spent. The GreenHome Institute primary service is to assist homeowners, developers, architects, designers, and consumers qualify their new or renovation single or multifamily residential construction projects for third party Green Building Certification. This certification may be achieved through a variety of sustainable residential development programs including LEED for Homes, Enterprise Green Communities, National Green Building Standard, GreenStar Homes Certification, and the DOE Home Energy Score. We assist people select the certification program that best suits them and help manage their project through the construction process towards certification. The goal is to create living spaces that are healthier, more durable that conserve energy and water, reduce overall living expenses, reduce reliance on the power grid, and minimize the impact on our environment. These housing units may also qualify for low-income tax credits and other tax credits and rebates.
  2. $73,311 spent. The GreenHome Institute provides educational programming that reaches over 15,000 YouTube Subscribers on a nearly weekly basis. The online training featuring the expertise of sustainable housing professionals reaches architects, designers, contractors, construction tradespeople, consumers, and others seeking to learn how to develop or renovate residential properties in accordance with sustainability principles. Some of the webinars qualify for Continuing Education Units for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), LEED Green Associates, Accredited Building Performance Institute, and the American Institute of Building Designers. In addition, the GreenHome Institute provides training for people to qualify as LEED Green Raters, LEED Green Associates, GreenStar Raters, GreenStar Professionals, and DOE Home Energy Assessors.
  3. $46,401 spent. Thanks to grants and financial support from the Wege Foundation, the Cites of Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Holland, enabled us to provide our training to local residents in making their homes more sustainable. The funding underwrites our efforts to provide housing energy assessments for persons living at or below 100% average median income in those areas which are primarily the elderly, veterans, youth, persons with special needs, and other vulnerable population groups. We are completing our 2nd year of funding from the Wege Foundation and have been approved for an increased amount for two more years. Our work in other cities also enabled us to provide services in the areas of technical training, plan review, housing assessments, energy modeling and resource identification for appliance upgrades and construction expenses with the goal of achieving a Green certification for the projects. (Continued on Schedule O)

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 March 2002.

    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.