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U S Green Building Council Inc

EIN 52-1822816 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO TRANSFORM HOW BUILDINGS AND COMMUNITIES ARE DESIGNED, BUILT, AND OPERATED TO CREATE THRIVING, HEALTHY, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT PLACES THAT ADVANCE HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELLBEING.

Income
$50.3 million
Spending
$51.4 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
299
Volunteers
5,125
Highest pay
$998,915, president & ceo

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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 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 (4)
  1. $18.8 million spent. LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN) IS THE MOST WIDELY USED GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEM IN THE WORLD. AVAILABLE FOR VIRTUALLY ALL BUILDING TYPES, LEED PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTHY, HIGHLY EFFICIENT, AND COST-SAVING GREEN BUILDINGS. LEED CERTIFICATION IS A GLOBALLY RECONGIZED SYMBOL OF SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP.
  2. $8.9 million spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: USGBC MEMBERSHIP/COMMUNITY (MARKET TRANSFORMATION DEVELOPMENT) USGBC IS POWERED BY ITS MEMBERS. OUR MEMBERS HAVE SHAPED OUR ORGANIZATION INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY AND ARE DRIVING THE ENTIRE GREEN BUILDING COMMUNITY TO GO FURTHER FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE. WE'RE MADE UP OF COMPANIES LARGE AND SMALL, LOCAL AND MULTINATIONAL. WE'RE EDUCATORS AND INNOVATORS, SCIENTISTS AND ACTIVISTS, NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES AND POLICYMAKERS, ADVOCATES AND MORE. WE BRING DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES BUT SHARE ONE STEADFAST VISION: THAT THE GREEN BUILDING COMMUNITY CAN HELP CHANGE OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER. (SEE SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III) VOLUNTEERS ARE USGBC'S ON-THE-GROUND ADVOCATES, SHARING IDEAS, NETWORKING AND EDUCATING, AND SPREADING INFORMATION AND EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES ALSO ADMINISTER AN ACTIVE NETWORK OF EMERGING PROFESSIONALS GROUPS WHO ARE NEW TO THE GREEN BUILDING INDUSTRY AND SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT AND WHO ARE PROVIDED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO HONE THEIR LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.
  3. $4.3 million spent. EDUCATION - TO ADVANCE THE GREEN WORKFORCE, USGBC OFFERS GREEN BUILDING EDUCATION COURSES AND PUBLICATIONS TO HELP PROFESSIONALS ALONG THEIR GREEN BUILDING CAREER PATH.
  4. $1.2 million spent. GREENBUILD IS THE LARGEST ANNUAL EVENT FOR GREEN BUILDING PROFESSIONALS. FOUNDED IN 2002, THE GREENBUILD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & EXPO HAS BECOME THE GO-TO PLACE FOR THE GREEN BUILDING INDUSTRY TO CONVENE. IT'S THE HUB WHERE LEADERS DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SUSTAINABLE STANDARDS GATHER DIGITALLY AND IN-PERSON TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE ON THE PLANET.THE MISSION OF THE CENTER FOR GREEN SCHOOLS AT USGBC IS TO SUPPORT AND TRAIN THOSE IMPLEMENTING CHANGE TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PEER NETWORKS, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY. SINCE 2010, THE CENTER HAS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE GREEN SCHOOL MOVEMENT BY LEADING A WIDE ARRAY OF INITIATIVES, INCLUDING IN COMMUNICATIONS, ADVOCACY, NETWORK-BUILDING, TRAINING, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS AND PLATFORMS THROUGH WHICH TO ACCELERATE ACTION. THE CENTER DRIVES TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN ATTEND SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS THAT ENHANCE THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, PREPARE THEM FOR GREEN CAREERS, AND SUPPORT A THRIVING PLANET.

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 2003.

    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.