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Energy Smart Colorado

EIN 46-5237082 · Frisco, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENERGY SMART COLORADO IS HELPING COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCE COMMUNITY-BASED GOALS FOR EFFICIENCY OR CLIMATE ACTION BY SHARING RESOURCES, BUILDING CAPACITY, AND PROVIDING MUTUAL SUPPORT.

Income
$784,092
Spending
$897,568
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
4
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$124,269, executive di

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    5 of 10 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

    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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $849,469 spent. ENERGY SMART COLORADO (ESC) IS A COLLABORATION OF 11 COMMUNITY PARTNERS SERVING 20 COLORADO COUNTIES WHOSE COLLECTIVE GOAL IS TO MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE WHILE ADVANCING COMMUNITY- BASED GOALS FOR CLIMATE ACTION. ESC ASSISTS RURAL COMMUNITIES, CONSISTING OF NON-PROFIT ENTITIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND UTILITY PROVIDERS DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMS TO HELP RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE NETWORK WORKS ON THE IDEA OF COLLECTIVE IMPACT AND THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER AND SHARING RESOURCES, THE GROUP CAN HAVE A LARGER IMPACT. THROUGH ESC'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES ARE PROVIDED WITH ENERGY ASSESSMENTS, ADVISING ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS, ELECTRIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES, DIRECT INSTALLS, ACCESS TO FINANCING (INCLUDING REBATES, LOANS AND ON-BILL REPAYMENT PROGRAMS), AND CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO COMPLETE RETROFIT PROJECTS. IN ADDITION TO STARTING UP AND SUPPORTING ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, ESC PROVIDES SERVICES TO UTILITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO HELP MEET STATEWIDE AND COMMUNITY GOALS FOR EFFICIENCY AND CLIMATE ACTION. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE A CONSISTENT FIELD ASSESSMENT TOOL, A ROBUST DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, PARTICIPANT ENROLLMENT SUPPORT, WELL AS ENERGY SAVINGS TRACKING, PROGRAM MARKETING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO GROW THE CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE. ENERGY SMART COLORADO (ESC) IS A COLLABORATION OF 11 COMMUNITY PARTNERS SERVING 20 COLORADO COUNTIES WHOSE COLLECTIVE GOAL IS TO MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE WHILE ADVANCING COMMUNITY- BASED GOALS FOR CLIMATE ACTION. ESC ASSISTS RURAL COMMUNITIES, CONSISTING OF NON-PROFIT ENTITIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND UTILITY PROVIDERS DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMS TO HELP RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE NETWORK WORKS ON THE IDEA OF COLLECTIVE IMPACT AND THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER AND SHARING RESOURCES, THE GROUP CAN HAVE A LARGER IMPACT. THROUGH ESC'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES ARE PROVIDED WITH ENERGY ASSESSMENTS, ADVISING ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS, ELECTRIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES, DIRECT INSTALLS, ACCESS TO FINANCING (INCLUDING REBATES, LOANS AND ON-BILL REPAYMENT PROGRAMS), AND CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO COMPLETE RETROFIT PROJECTS. IN ADDITION TO STARTING UP AND SUPPORTING ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, ESC PROVIDES SERVICES TO UTILITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO HELP MEET STATEWIDE AND COMMUNITY GOALS FOR EFFICIENCY AND CLIMATE ACTION. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE A CONSISTENT FIELD ASSESSMENT TOOL, A ROBUST DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, PARTICIPANT ENROLLMENT SUPPORT, WELL AS ENERGY SAVINGS TRACKING, PROGRAM MARKETING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO GROW THE CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE.

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 November 6, 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 October 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 November 4, 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.