Novara Energy Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Novara Energy Alliance brings people, ideas, and investment together to solve the Inland Northwest's most pressing energy and related water challenges - turning innovation into real-world solutions that are resilient, affordable and built to scale. (Program accomplishments reported for the 2025 fiscal year were achieved under the Organization's former name, Urbanova, prior to its 2026 name change to Novara Energy Alliance.)
- Income
- $699,140
- Spending
- $662,175
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 52%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $138,413, ~ ceo
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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $220,434 spent. NSF Regional Economic Engines Development - supported creation of Inland NW Center for Energy Innovation with goal to advance new technologies to solve global energy challenges, including advanced long-duration storage and microgrid technology.
- $149,935 spent. Services to Spokane & Inland NW Communities. Evaluating outcomes and preferences for installed distributed energy resources (DERs) in buildings for up to 150 residents and small/medium businesses. The project is targeting a 7.5-15% improvement representing a 440-900 MWh reduction in annual energy savings. ~ ~ ~ AVISTA DIGITAL EXCHANGE - supporting development of digital platform designed to provide secure data sharing and analysis for energy-related transactions
- $121,298 spent. Funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Organization was awarded an Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) grant in mid-2025 to advance the development of a regional energy innovation cluster. Building on foundational research, the program supported the transition of cluster leadership toward a new nonprofit governance structure and facilitated the formation of Novara Energy Alliance. The program successfully hosted a two-day Energy Innovation Summit that convened utilities, tribal leaders, educators, and technology innovators to address regional energy reliability and resilience.
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 November 2017.
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.