Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SOUTHERN ALLIANCE FOR CLEAN ENERGY PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE ENERGY CHOICES TO ENSURE CLEAN, SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST.
- Income
- $5.4 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 32.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $309,424, 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (5)
- $1.4 million spent. CLIMATE SACE HAS LAUNCHED OUR ENERGY AFFORDABILITY CAMPAIGN WHICH GIVES MEMBERS WAYS TO SPEAK UP TO BRING POWER BILLS DOWN. THE CAMPAIGN LISTS RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND THEIR BILLS, AND WAYS TO HELP MANAGE COSTS BY CHOOSING CLEANER RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS WHEN POSSIBLE. THERE IS ALSO A FORM TO SEND A MESSAGE TO UTILITIES IN ALL OF OUR STATES, ALONG WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENERGY CHOICES THAT WILL LOWER BILLS AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS FROM THE UTILITY SECTOR. SACE'S CLEAN ENERGY GENERATION ALSO CONTINUED TO HOLD MONTHLY CALLS, DISTRIBUTE MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, AND INVITE OUR MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE REGION TO TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY POLICY. THROUGH THE CLEAN ENERGY GENERATION CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR MEMBERS TO SHARE STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES ABOUT TAKING ACTION FOR CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY AND HAVE SHARED MANY ACTION OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS PETITIONS, CALL-IN DAYS, AND EVENTS. TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOW CLEAN ENERGY IMPROVES LIVES, AND TO BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCES HERE IN OUR DIVERSE REGION, SACE AND OUR PARTNERS SSDN AND GENERATION180 CONTINUED CREATING CONTENT FOR ENERGY FOR ALL YALL, A CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTING CLEAN ENERGY SUCCESSES, INSPIRING ACTION, AND DEMONSTRATING WHY CLEAN ENERGY IS GOOD FOR COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. EFAY HAS ALREADY CREATED AN ARSENAL OF TRUE SUCCESS STORIES SHOWING THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE HEALTHIER, OUR POCKETS ARE FULLER, AND OUR AIR IS CLEANER WHEN WE MAKE THE SWITCH TO RELY ON CLEANER SOURCES OF ENERGY. CLIMATE SACE HAS LAUNCHED OUR ENERGY AFFORDABILITY CAMPAIGN WHICH GIVES MEMBERS WAYS TO SPEAK UP TO BRING POWER BILLS DOWN. THE CAMPAIGN LISTS RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND THEIR BILLS, AND WAYS TO HELP MANAGE COSTS BY CHOOSING CLEANER RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS WHEN POSSIBLE. THERE IS ALSO A FORM TO SEND A MESSAGE TO UTILITIES IN ALL OF OUR STATES, ALONG WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENERGY CHOICES THAT WILL LOWER BILLS AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS FROM THE UTILITY SECTOR. SACE'S CLEAN ENERGY GENERATION ALSO CONTINUED TO HOLD MONTHLY CALLS, DISTRIBUTE MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, AND INVITE OUR MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE REGION TO TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY POLICY. THROUGH THE CLEAN ENERGY GENERATION CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR MEMBERS TO SHARE STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES ABOUT TAKING ACTION FOR CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY AND HAVE SHARED MANY ACTION OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS PETITIONS, CALL-IN DAYS, AND EVENTS. TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOW CLEAN ENERGY IMPROVES LIVES, AND TO BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCES HERE IN OUR DIVERSE REGION, SACE AND OUR PARTNERS SSDN AND GENERATION180 CONTINUED CREATING CONTENT FOR ENERGY FOR ALL YALL, A CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTING CLEAN ENERGY SUCCESSES, INSPIRING ACTION, AND DEMONSTRATING WHY CLEAN ENERGY IS GOOD FOR COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. EFAY HAS ALREADY CREATED AN ARSENAL OF TRUE SUCCESS STORIES SHOWING THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE HEALTHIER, OUR POCKETS ARE FULLER, AND OUR AIR IS CLEANER WHEN WE MAKE THE SWITCH TO RELY ON CLEANER SOURCES OF ENERGY.
- $1.6 million spent. CLEAN ENERGY SACE PUBLISHED THE 8TH EDITION OF OUR SOLAR IN THE SOUTHEAST REPORT IN OCTOBER 2025. WE ALSO PUBLISHED THE 6TH ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION IN THE SOUTHEAST IN SEPTEMBER 2025, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ATLAS PUBLIC POLICY, TO TRACK AND CONTEXTUALIZE THE SOUTHEASTS EV MARKET. THESE ANNUALLY-PUBLISHED REPORTS TRACK MARKET, UTILITY, AND PUBLIC POLICY TRENDS ACROSS THE REGION IMPACTING THE ADVANCEMENT (OR STALLS IN PROGRESS, WHEN APPROPRIATE) OF CLEAN ENERGY. THROUGH THESE ANNUAL REPORTS, SACE RANKS THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR REGION'S UTILITIES IN COMPARISON WITH THEIR REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PEERS. THESE KEY ANNUAL REPORTS PROVE TO BE IMMENSELY VALUABLE TOOLS WHEN WE APPEAR BEFORE UTILITIES AND REGULATORS, AS WELL AS IN OUR ADVOCACY FOR SMART PUBLIC POLICY. THROUGHOUT 2025, SACE CONTINUED OUR "ELECTRIFY THE SOUTH COLLABORATIVE" PROGRAM. WE HOSTED FOUR WEBINARS (APRIL, SEPTEMBER, AND NOVEMBER 2025 & MARCH 2026); AS WELL AS STATE-SPECIFIC IN-PERSON MEETINGS WHICH BOOSTED OVERALL PARTICIPATION SIGNIFICANTLY. CLEAN ENERGY SACE PUBLISHED THE 8TH EDITION OF OUR SOLAR IN THE SOUTHEAST REPORT IN OCTOBER 2025. WE ALSO PUBLISHED THE 6TH ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION IN THE SOUTHEAST IN SEPTEMBER 2025, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ATLAS PUBLIC POLICY, TO TRACK AND CONTEXTUALIZE THE SOUTHEASTS EV MARKET. THESE ANNUALLY-PUBLISHED REPORTS TRACK MARKET, UTILITY, AND PUBLIC POLICY TRENDS ACROSS THE REGION IMPACTING THE ADVANCEMENT (OR STALLS IN PROGRESS, WHEN APPROPRIATE) OF CLEAN ENERGY. THROUGH THESE ANNUAL REPORTS, SACE RANKS THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR REGION'S UTILITIES IN COMPARISON WITH THEIR REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PEERS. THESE KEY ANNUAL REPORTS PROVE TO BE IMMENSELY VALUABLE TOOLS WHEN WE APPEAR BEFORE UTILITIES AND REGULATORS, AS WELL AS IN OUR ADVOCACY FOR SMART PUBLIC POLICY. THROUGHOUT 2025, SACE CONTINUED OUR "ELECTRIFY THE SOUTH COLLABORATIVE" PROGRAM. WE HOSTED FOUR WEBINARS (APRIL, SEPTEMBER, AND NOVEMBER 2025 & MARCH 2026); AS WELL AS STATE-SPECIFIC IN-PERSON MEETINGS WHICH BOOSTED OVERALL PARTICIPATION SIGNIFICANTLY.
- $125,591 spent. ENERGY EFFICIENCY OUR INTERVENTION INTO THE GEORGIA POWER IRP AND RATE CASE SETTLEMENT RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY: GEORGIA POWERS CURRENT EE IS APPROXIMATELY 0.26% OF RETAIL SALES, THE IRP PROPOSES 0.5% OF RETAIL SALES. IN JANUARY 2026, SACE PUBLISHED OUR 7TH EDITION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE SOUTHEAST REPORT RANKING UTILITY ENERGY EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIOS BASED ON ENERGY SAVED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE UTILITYS TOTAL ELECTRICITY SOLD IN THE PRIOR YEAR, AND COMPARING TO STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL AVERAGES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT IS TO DOCUMENT CURRENT PROGRESS AND TRENDS AT BOTH UTILITY AND STATE LEVELS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFY POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO DRIVE CONTINUED ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE SOUTHEAST. ENERGY EFFICIENCY OUR INTERVENTION INTO THE GEORGIA POWER IRP AND RATE CASE SETTLEMENT RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY: GEORGIA POWERS CURRENT EE IS APPROXIMATELY 0.26% OF RETAIL SALES, THE IRP PROPOSES 0.5% OF RETAIL SALES. IN JANUARY 2026, SACE PUBLISHED OUR 7TH EDITION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE SOUTHEAST REPORT RANKING UTILITY ENERGY EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIOS BASED ON ENERGY SAVED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE UTILITYS TOTAL ELECTRICITY SOLD IN THE PRIOR YEAR, AND COMPARING TO STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL AVERAGES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT IS TO DOCUMENT CURRENT PROGRESS AND TRENDS AT BOTH UTILITY AND STATE LEVELS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFY POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO DRIVE CONTINUED ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE SOUTHEAST.
- THE SOUTHERN ALLIANCE FOR CLEAN ENERGY PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE ENERGY CHOICES TO ENSURE CLEAN, SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST.
- THE SOUTHERN ALLIANCE FOR CLEAN ENERGY PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE ENERGY CHOICES TO ENSURE CLEAN, SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST.
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
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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 September 1985.
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 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.