Colorado Energy & Water Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COLORADO ENERGY AND WATER INSTITUTE (DBA THE INSTITUTE FOR WESTERN ENERGY (THE ORGANIZATION) IS ESTABLISHED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE ORGANIZATION IS FORMED TO BRING TOGETHER A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY, POLICY, NONPROFIT AND ACADEMIC LEADERS IN INTENTIONALLY INTIMATE SETTINGS TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NORTH AMERICA'S ENERGY AND WATER FUTURE; AND TO EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS ABOUT ISSUES CONCERNING ENERGY AND WATER AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO CHALLENGES FACING THE FUTURE OF ENERGY AND WATER. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A FORUM TO ENGAGE IN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN RESEARCH, DISCUSSION, AND COLLABORATION ON PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS AND INITIATIVES CONCERNING ENERGY AND WATER. THE ORGANIZATION MAY ENGAGE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES AS ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3), WHICH ARE RELATED TO OR FURTHER ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE.
- Income
- $889,158
- Spending
- $894,983
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $106,000, consultant
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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (2)
- $365,951 spent. WESTERN POWER PLAYERS (WPP) IS THE ORGANIZATION'S FLAGSHIP CONVENING PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF ENERGY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING UTILITIES, DEVELOPERS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, LABOR UNIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, ENERGY BUYERS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, AND CONSULTING FIRMS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED WPP VII AND VIII, WHICH FOCUSED ON WESTERN REGIONAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT, TRANSMISSION PLANNING, AND ENERGY.
- $254,885 spent. DURING 2025, THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN ENERGY CAUCUS, INCLUDING RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS AND HOSTING THREE WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE WESTERN ENERGY CAUCUS IS FUNDED ENTIRELY THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS AND DOES NOT GENERATE PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.