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Empowered by Light Foundation

EIN 45-2440266 · Sausalito, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWERED BY LIGHT IS A MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION EMPOWERING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ON THE FRONTLINES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WILDLIFE LOSS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$865,667
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
18.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$100,000, executive dir.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (1)
  1. $625,468 spent. EBL completed four projects in Puerto Rico in 2024. EBL installed solar and energy storage (batteries) on a direct services facility on the island of Vieques that provides daily meals to elderly and bedridden neighbors. EBL also installed solar+storage on three community centers in very poor and/or vulnerable areas of Puerto Rico that have a high percentage of elderly people or are at risk of being cut off from supplies and services due to flooding during major storms.EBL installed an off-grid solar-powered water system (pumping, storage and irrigation) for a village in Zambia benefitting approximately 300 people. The solar water systems are managed by a women?s collective that also oversees the gardens irrigated by water pumped by the system. These systems save the women significant time they used to spend walking to and from the river hauling water. The systems also keep the women safer since they?re no longer having to risk encounters with hippos, crocodiles and elephants while collecting water from the river. - EBL also installed an off-grid solar and energy storage system on the St Thomas Community School, a school serving over 400 students in a remote part of Zambia. The solar energy system allows students to study after dark and increases student safety with security lighting. - In response to Africa?s severe drought, EBL supported battery installations at two pans (watering holes) in Zimbabwe to enable the existing solar-powered water pumping systems to pump water into the pans during the night. This was particularly important to the health and survival of African elephants who typically avoid the mid-day in order not to overheat. - EBL installed a solar-powered water pump for a poor and remote village in Kenya enabling the community to readily access drinking water, saving women time previously spent collecting water from the river and improving the safety of everyone in the village.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 June 2012.

    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 October 21, 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.