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Clean Energy Leadership Institute

EIN 46-3102331 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 58 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CELI'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND CONNECT EMERGING, CLEAN ENERGY LEADERS TO DRIVE THE TRANSITION TO AN EQUITABLE, DECARBONIZED, AND RESILIENT CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.

Income
$832,229
Spending
$890,771
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
4
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$128,056, energy leadership director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 58 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    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, 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 (1)
  1. $612,312 spent. CELI FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: CELI'S SIGNATURE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM EQUIPS EMERGING LEADERS ACROSS THE CLEAN ENERGY ECOSYSTEM WITH ENERGY SYSTEMS EXPERTISE, AN ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP APPROACH, AN UNDERSTANDING OF ENERGY JUSTICE PRINCIPLES, AND A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE TO DRIVE THE TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY. CELI'S FELLOWSHIP FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS IS TAUGHT BY INFLUENTIAL THOUGHT LEADERS AND EXPERT PRACTITIONERS IN THE FIELD. FELLOWS ARE CHALLENGED TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT CURRENT ENERGY POLICY AND MARKET STRUCTURES, EXAMINE EXISTING AND HISTORICAL INEQUITIES, IDENTIFY EXISTING BARRIERS TO CLEAN ENERGY DEPLOYMENT AND INNOVATION, AND DEVELOP HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS TOWARDS AN EQUITABLE ENERGY TRANSITION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 September 2014.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Leadership Institute (Arlington, VA), EIN 51-0235174. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.