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Ce Buyers Institute

EIN 84-2207299 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CLEAN ENERGY BUYERS INSTITUTE (CEBI) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON SOLVING THE TOUGHEST MARKET AND POLICY BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING A CARBON-FREE ENERGY SYSTEM IN COLLABORATION WITH POLICYMAKERS, LEADING PHILANTHROPIES, AND ENERGY MARKET STAKEHOLDERS.

Income
$7.9 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$802,820, ceo (beg 05/2024)

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $3.8 million spent. CEBI'S NORTH AMERICA PROGRAMS CREATED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO SOLVE THE TOUGHEST POLICY AND MARKET BARRIERS TO FACILITATE UNLOCKING DOMESTIC CLEAN ENERGY MARKETS.
  2. $2.5 million spent. CEBI'S GLOBAL PROGRAMS EDUCATED BUYERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO DECARBONIZE SUPPLY CHAINS AND CREATE WELCOMING MARKETS FOR CLEAN ENERGY ACCELERATION IN SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST FOSSIL-FUEL INTENSIVE REGIONS.
  3. $215,709 spent. CEBI'S COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM FACILITATED THE DISTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS PREPARED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORTED THE STRATEGIC POSITIONING OF THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, AND WEBSITE CONTENT.
  4. $138,606 spent. CEBI'S CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING AND GROWING CLEAN ENERGY TRANSACTIONS BY ENSURING THE BEST IDEAS ARE UNDERSTOOD AND PERPETUATED THROUGH IN-PERSON, ONLINE, AND PUBLISHED EDUCATION.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2020.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.