Southface Energy Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SOUTHFACE PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE HOMES, WORKPLACES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
- Income
- $8.6 million
- Spending
- $8.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $202,828, president
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $4.3 million spent. GOODUSE: FORMERLY GRANTS TO GREEN, GOODUSE PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 501(C)(3) NONPROFITS NATIONWIDE FOR FACILITY UPGRADES THAT IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HEALTH. IN 2024, THANKS TO A NEW U.S. DOE RENEW AMERICA'S NONPROFITS GRANT, GOODUSE EXPANDED ITS IMPACT, SUPPORTING 47 ORGANIZATIONS WITH MISSIONS RANGING FROM FOOD SECURITY TO DISASTER RELIEF. TO DATE, THE PROGRAM HAS REACHED OVER 615 NONPROFITS IN 33 STATES, DELIVERING 4.5 MILLION IN ANNUAL UTILITY SAVINGS AND REDUCING EMISSIONS BY OVER 24,000 METRIC TONS OF CO?E. ON AVERAGE, PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS SAVE 28% ON UTILITY COSTS-FUNDS THAT CAN BE REDIRECTED TO CRITICAL COMMUNITY SERVICES.
- $1.8 million spent. TECHNICAL SERVICES: SOUTHFACE OFFERS FEE-FOR-SERVICE SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS: DESIGN CONSULTING: TAILORED GUIDANCE FOR NEW BUILDS OR MAJOR RENOVATIONS, ALIGNED WITH CLIENT GOALS AND BUDGET. IN 2024, SOUTHFACE SUPPORTED 27 PROJECTS. GREEN CERTIFICATION: EXPERT ASSISTANCE IN SELECTING AND ACHIEVING OPTIMAL GREEN CERTIFICATIONS. IN 2024, 29 PROJECTS AND 774 MULTIFAMILY UNITS RECEIVED CERTIFICATIONS. EARTHCRAFT: CO-DEVELOPED WITH THE GREATER ATLANTA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, EARTHCRAFT CERTIFIES HOMES AND BUILDINGS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AIR QUALITY, AND DURABILITY. IN 2024, 3,170 MULTIFAMILY UNITS AND 95 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES EARNED CERTIFICATION. BIT BUILDING: A PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS AND TENANT SPACES, BIT SUPPORTS BUILDINGS OF ANY TYPE, WITH ACCESSIBLE PRICING AND NO MINIMUM PERFORMANCE THRESHOLDS. IN 2024, 64 PROJECTS PARTICIPATED. TECHNICAL SERVICES: SOUTHFACE OFFERS FEE-FOR-SERVICE SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS: DESIGN CONSULTING: TAILORED GUIDANCE FOR NEW BUILDS OR MAJOR RENOVATIONS, ALIGNED WITH CLIENT GOALS AND BUDGET. IN 2024, SOUTHFACE SUPPORTED 27 PROJECTS. GREEN CERTIFICATION: EXPERT ASSISTANCE IN SELECTING AND ACHIEVING OPTIMAL GREEN CERTIFICATIONS. IN 2024, 29 PROJECTS AND 774 MULTIFAMILY UNITS RECEIVED CERTIFICATIONS. EARTHCRAFT: CO-DEVELOPED WITH THE GREATER ATLANTA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, EARTHCRAFT CERTIFIES HOMES AND BUILDINGS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AIR QUALITY, AND DURABILITY. IN 2024, 3,170 MULTIFAMILY UNITS AND 95 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES EARNED CERTIFICATION. BIT BUILDING: A PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS AND TENANT SPACES, BIT SUPPORTS BUILDINGS OF ANY TYPE, WITH ACCESSIBLE PRICING AND NO MINIMUM PERFORMANCE THRESHOLDS. IN 2024, 64 PROJECTS PARTICIPATED.
- $368,446 spent. RESEARCH: BUILDING AMERICA - HVAC AFDD: SOUTHFACE IS COMPLETING A MULTI-PHASE STUDY ON HVAC INSTALLATION VERIFICATION AND MONITORING TOOLS ACROSS CLIMATE ZONES 2-7. RESULTS SHOW STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, POINTING TO TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 14 BILLION HVAC SERVICE INDUSTRY. WHILE PAST EFFORTS TO SCALE INSTALLATION QUALITY FELL SHORT, OUR FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE THE MARKET POTENTIAL OF EMERGING SYSTEMS FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC. DOE ENERGY SHED (GEORGIA TECH): IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA TECH AND FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, SOUTHFACE IS HELPING REIMAGINE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING TO BETTER MEET COMMUNITY ENERGY NEEDS. AS DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES GROW, THIS RESEARCH EXPLORES LOCALIZED STRATEGIES FOR ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, AND STORAGE. GEORGIA INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER (KSU): SOUTHFACE CO-OPERATES THE GEORGIA INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER (GEO-IAC) ALONGSIDE KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY AND CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY. SINCE 2022, GEO-IAC HAS PROVIDED FREE ENERGY AND PRODUCTIVITY ASSESSMENTS TO SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURERS, RESULTING IN 4.88 MILLION IN COST SAVINGS AND 0.59 TRILLION BTU IN ENERGY SAVINGS. THE CENTER ALSO SERVES AS A TRAINING HUB, WITH 26 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ITS PROGRAMS. RESEARCH: BUILDING AMERICA - HVAC AFDD: SOUTHFACE IS COMPLETING A MULTI-PHASE STUDY ON HVAC INSTALLATION VERIFICATION AND MONITORING TOOLS ACROSS CLIMATE ZONES 2-7. RESULTS SHOW STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, POINTING TO TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 14 BILLION HVAC SERVICE INDUSTRY. WHILE PAST EFFORTS TO SCALE INSTALLATION QUALITY FELL SHORT, OUR FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE THE MARKET POTENTIAL OF EMERGING SYSTEMS FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC. DOE ENERGY SHED (GEORGIA TECH): IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA TECH AND FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, SOUTHFACE IS HELPING REIMAGINE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING TO BETTER MEET COMMUNITY ENERGY NEEDS. AS DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES GROW, THIS RESEARCH EXPLORES LOCALIZED STRATEGIES FOR ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, AND STORAGE. GEORGIA INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER (KSU): SOUTHFACE CO-OPERATES THE GEORGIA INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER (GEO-IAC) ALONGSIDE KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY AND CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY. SINCE 2022, GEO-IAC HAS PROVIDED FREE ENERGY AND PRODUCTIVITY ASSESSMENTS TO SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURERS, RESULTING IN 4.88 MILLION IN COST SAVINGS AND 0.59 TRILLION BTU IN ENERGY SAVINGS. THE CENTER ALSO SERVES AS A TRAINING HUB, WITH 26 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ITS PROGRAMS.
- $710,314 spent. ADVOCACY: SOUTHFACE'S ADVOCACY TEAM LAID CRITICAL GROUNDWORK IN 2024 TO PREPARE FOR THE 2025 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN (IRP) PROCEEDINGS BEFORE GEORGIA'S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. WE HOSTED SIX WORKSHOPS TO INFORM PARTNERS ABOUT KEY ENERGY ISSUES IN THE IRP DEBATE. OUR ADVOCACY EXTENDED TO VITAL WAREHOUSE SOLAR RESEARCH AND BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION, CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AT UGA, AND ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION-FOSTERING COLLABORATION TOWARD SHARED GOALS AND FUTURE POLICY INITIATIVES. EDUCATION: IN 2024, SOUTHFACE'S EDUCATION TEAM EQUIPPED 2,224 INDIVIDUALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO ADVANCE WITHIN THE GREEN BUILDING WORKFORCE. THROUGH 57 TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND EVENTS, PARTICIPANTS EARNED PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS SUCH AS HOME ENERGY RATER AND DUCT AND ENVELOPE TIGHTNESS VERIFIER, AMONG OTHERS. OUR INSTRUCTOR-LED VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON COURSES ENSURE WORKERS ARE PREPARED TO THRIVE IN THE GROWING CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: SOUTHFACE SUPPORTS MUNICIPALITIES IN CREATING CUSTOMIZED SUSTAINABILITY PLANS THAT PRIORITIZE CLEAN ENERGY AND EQUITY. IN 2024, WE LED THE DEKALB CLEAN ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION TRANSITION PLAN, DRIVING PROGRESS THROUGH STRATEGIC WRITING, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND ONGOING MUNICIPAL COORDINATION. WE ALSO HOSTED AND SUPPORTED CLEAN CITIES GEORGIA, A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO ADVANCING CLEAN TRANSPORTATION. OUR EVENTS, WEBINARS, AND OUTREACH ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 1,600 PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND REACHED AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ACROSS THE STATE.
- ADVOCACY: SOUTHFACE'S ADVOCACY TEAM LAID CRITICAL GROUNDWORK IN 2024 TO PREPARE FOR THE 2025 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN (IRP) PROCEEDINGS BEFORE GEORGIA'S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. WE HOSTED SIX WORKSHOPS TO INFORM PARTNERS ABOUT KEY ENERGY ISSUES IN THE IRP DEBATE. OUR ADVOCACY EXTENDED TO VITAL WAREHOUSE SOLAR RESEARCH AND BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION, CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AT UGA, AND ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION-FOSTERING COLLABORATION TOWARD SHARED GOALS AND FUTURE POLICY INITIATIVES. EDUCATION: IN 2024, SOUTHFACE'S EDUCATION TEAM EQUIPPED 2,224 INDIVIDUALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO ADVANCE WITHIN THE GREEN BUILDING WORKFORCE. THROUGH 57 TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND EVENTS, PARTICIPANTS EARNED PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS SUCH AS HOME ENERGY RATER AND DUCT AND ENVELOPE TIGHTNESS VERIFIER, AMONG OTHERS. OUR INSTRUCTOR-LED VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON COURSES ENSURE WORKERS ARE PREPARED TO THRIVE IN THE GROWING CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: SOUTHFACE SUPPORTS MUNICIPALITIES IN CREATING CUSTOMIZED SUSTAINABILITY PLANS THAT PRIORITIZE CLEAN ENERGY AND EQUITY. IN 2024, WE LED THE DEKALB CLEAN ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION TRANSITION PLAN, DRIVING PROGRESS THROUGH STRATEGIC WRITING, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND ONGOING MUNICIPAL COORDINATION. WE ALSO HOSTED AND SUPPORTED CLEAN CITIES GEORGIA, A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO ADVANCING CLEAN TRANSPORTATION. OUR EVENTS, WEBINARS, AND OUTREACH ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 1,600 PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND REACHED AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ACROSS THE STATE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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