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Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Inc

EIN 93-1228867 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NONE

Income
$41.1 million
Spending
$41.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
129
Volunteers
146
Highest pay
$354,171, executive director

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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 85% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 (3)
  1. $24.8 million spent. MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTION)IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REGION, THE ALLIANCE USES THE MARKET POWER OF THE NORTHWEST TO ACCELERATE THE INNOVATION AND ADOPTION OF BOTH ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS ENERGY-EFFICIENT PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND PRACTICES. SOME KEY ACTIVITIES AND REGIONAL RESULTS STEMMING FROM THE ALLIANCE'S 2024 INVESTMENT INCLUDE: GREW THE ENERGY STAR RETAIL PRODUCTS PLATFORM (ESRPP) TO REACH 31% OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH TARGETED RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT. BUILDING SCALE THROUGH THE NATIONAL PROGRAM ENSURES GREATER INFLUENCE WITH MANUFACTURERS AND ENABLES NORTHWEST CONSUMERS TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE PRODUCT OPTIONS. MORE THAN 300 RETAIL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHWEST PARTICIPATE IN NEEA'S RETAIL PRODUCT PORTFOLIO (RPP) PROGRAM. ADDED TWO NEW PUMPS MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES TO THE EXTENDED MOTOR PRODUCTS PROGRAM TO INCREASE COVERAGE EAST OF THE CASCADES AND IN RURAL AREAS. ADDING THESE NEW PARTICIPANTS WILL PROVIDE NEW INSIGHTS TO THE PROGRAM REGARDING RURAL MARKET AND IRRIGATION PUMP SALES AND INFORM STRATEGIES TO ACCELERATE MARKET ADOPTION. REALIZED AN ESTIMATED 18% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR IN REPLACEMENT SALES OF HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS. IN 2024, NEEA FOCUSED ON INCREASING INSTALLER CONFIDENCE AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITY WITH HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER TECHNOLOGY TO PREPARE THE MARKET FOR AN UPCOMING FEDERAL WATER HEATER STANDARD. WORKED WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS, MARKET GAPS AND MARKET TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO DUAL-FUEL RESIDENTIAL HVAC. KEY ACTIVITIES INCLUDED INSTALLING FIELD UNITS FOR DUAL-FUEL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, PARTICIPATING IN TWO REGIONAL WORKGROUPS, CONDUCTING DATA AND MODELING ACTIVITIES, AND DISCUSSING REGIONAL NEEDS WITH NEEA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
  2. $7.8 million spent. MARKET RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND ANALYTICS (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTION)ALLIANCE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION EFFORTS DRIVE PROGRAMMING, DEFINE CHALLENGES WITHIN ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORK, AND PROVIDE CRITICAL MARKET DATA AND ANALYSIS ABOUT REGIONAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND BUILDING STOCK. IN 2024, THE ALLIANCE: LAUNCHED OR COMPLETED NEARLY 40 MARKET RESEARCH OR EVALUATION STUDIES TO SUPPORT BOTH ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS. PUBLISHED THE FINAL REPORT AND DATA FOR THE 2022 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING STOCK ASSESSMENT, A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF SINGLE-FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS AND ENERGY USE IN THE REGION. LAUNCHED THE 2025 COMMERCIAL BUILDING STOCK ASSESSMENT TO COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND PUBLISH BUILDING CHARACTERISTIC AND ENERGY USAGE DATA FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS IN THE NORTHWEST.
  3. $1.9 million spent. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, CORPORATE STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTION)THE GOAL OF NEEA'S STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION TEAM IS TO FACILITATE AND ADVANCE REGIONAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN NEEA AND ITS FUNDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. IN 2024, THE ALLIANCE: DELIVERED THE ANNUAL EFFICIENCY EXCHANGE CONFERENCE AS A HYBRID EVENT TO FACILITATE REGIONAL COLLABORATION ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES AND SHARE SUCCESS STORIES AND BEST PRACTICES. THE CONFERENCE DREW MORE THAN 450 ATTENDEES, WHICH INCLUDED ENERGY PROFESSIONALS FROM THE NORTHWEST AND ACROSS THE NATION. ORGANIZED AND FACILITATED QUARTERLY BOARD, ADVISORY AND COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO ENSURE REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT, ALIGNMENT AND COLLABORATION ON ALLIANCE MARKET TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMS. IN 2024, THERE WERE SIX ALLIANCE COMMITTEES: REGIONAL PORTFOLIO ADVISORY COMMITTEE, COST-EFFECTIVENESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, NATURAL GAS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, REGIONAL EMERGING TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL + INDUSTRIAL COORDINATING COMMITTEES.

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 2025.

    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 February 1998.

    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.