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Midwest Renewable Energy Association Inc

EIN 39-1666119 · Custer, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY RENEWABLE ENERGY EDUCATION AND TRAINING. OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WILL (I) RESPOND TO EVOLVING ENERGY ISSUES, (II) EMPOWER PEOPLE TO MAKE SENSIBLE ENERGY CHOICES, AND (III) BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE BROADEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE INTERESTED IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
39
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$96,971, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    12 of 12 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $615,546 spent. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:DELIVER PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS (PV) TO INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS, SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR.PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION THROUGH BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON FORMATS TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF LEARNERS NATIONWIDE.MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS OF INSTRUCTION BY OFFERING COURSES ACCREDITED BY THE INTERSTATE RENEWABLE ENERGY COUNCIL (IREC) AND ALIGNED WITH CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BOARD OF CERTIFIED ENERGY PRACTITIONERS (NABCEP).ACCOMPLISHMENTS:DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION ENROLLED OVER 2,000 STUDENTS IN SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) TRAINING COURSES. A TOTAL OF 39 CUSTOM TRAINING SESSIONS WERE DELIVERED IN COLLABORATION WITH 21 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY EDUCATION.MORE THAN 120 STUDENTS EARNED NABCEP CERTIFICATIONS, ENHANCING THEIR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY. IN-PERSON TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED ACROSS SIX U.S. STATES, WHILE ONLINE COURSES REACHED PARTICIPANTS IN 30 STATES, AS WELL AS WASHINGTON D.C., GUAM, AND BERMUDA.
  2. $573,579 spent. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:EXPAND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO SOLAR ENERGY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE GROW SOLAR MIDWEST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT SOLAR ADOPTION.COORDINATE SOLAR GROUP PURCHASE PROGRAMS TO REDUCE COSTS AND INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS.SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BY OFFERING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOLAR INSPECTORS AND INSTALLERS.ACCOMPLISHMENTS:DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PROGRAM FACILITATED THE INSTALLATION OF OVER 1,086.33 KW OF SOLAR CAPACITY ACROSS MORE THAN 140 PROPERTIES. THESE INSTALLATIONS WERE COMPLETED IN COLLABORATION WITH FIVE SOLAR INSTALLERS. THESE INSTALLATIONS TOOK PLACE IN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY (IL), JEFFERSON, WAUKESHA, MILWAUKEE, PORTAGE, AND BROWN COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN. THE PROGRAM'S EFFORTS HELPED REDUCE COSTS FOR PARTICIPANTS AND INCREASE ADOPTION OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.
  3. $106,972 spent. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:SUPPORT WISCONSIN SCHOOLS IN DEVELOPING SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE.SIMPLIFY THE SOLAR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING TOOLS.PROMOTE THE FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY ADOPTION IN K12 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.ACCOMPLISHMENTS:DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED THE INSTALLATION OF OVER 915 KW OF SOLAR CAPACITY ACROSS 10 WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HELPING SCHOOLS REDUCE ENERGY COSTS AND INTEGRATE RENEWABLE ENERGY INTO THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 November 1994.

    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.