Sustainability Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Advancing sustainable and resilient communities while building the next generation of conservation leaders
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 47%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $130,700, executive dir.
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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
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 (3)
- $531,566 spent. Our Weatherization and Critical Home Repair Program provides no-cost services to low-income homeowners. We focus on providing sustainable, lasting upgrades to homes in Berkeley, Georgetown, Horry, and Charleston Counties. Our weatherization services adhere to industry-leading standards to support homeowners in improving energy efficiency, lowering utility costs, and enhancing home comfort and safety. Our holistic approach to weatherization is designed to save homeowners anywhere from 10 to over 30 on their energy bills, often translating into hundreds of dollars in savings annually. We also offer free energy workshops that provide knowledge and tools to empower neighborhoods/ communities to make long-lasting improvements to their homes while enhancing energy efficiency, home comfort, health and safety, and sustainability.
- $495,210 spent. The Environmental Conservation Corps is a service-learning and workforce development program affiliated with the national Corps Network that engages young people as AmeriCorps members in conservation service experiences that promote climate resilience, quality of life and sustainability in both protected places and urban environments within our Lowcountry region. Our goal is to create the next generation of conservation leaders while performing critically needed conservation projects that advance coastal resilience and protect the places most vulnerable to a changing climate.
- $18,507 spent. Charleston RISES is a green building certification designed to address the specific green building needs, priorities, and strategies of the South Carolina region. It promotes new construction projects that are at least 30 more energy and water efficient than projects that are simply code compliant, and projects that are constructed using materials and products that do not adversely affect the health and well-being of building occupants.
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 January 2002.
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.
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.