California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy is to convene broad roundtable dialogues in the areas of energy, water, transportation, telecommunications and technology, housing, and circular economy. Our participants include leaders from across California representing business, labor, state and local government, and respected environmental organizations. Our dialogues take place both in state and through study travel projects designed to maximize the exchange of information, learn about new technological developments abroad, and explore common ground among our diverse participants. CFEE continually monitors the many complex issues facing California in our key issue areas.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 17.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 91
- Highest pay
- $509,761, president & ceo
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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2595 of 95 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
0 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, 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 (2)
- $978,936 spent. CFEE held four high level conferences focused on our core topics of energy, transportation, technology and broad, and water. Key accomplishments in our conferences during 2024 included:1. Accelerating the construction and deployment of new energy projects to meet state needs, considering the opportunities for carbon capture and how nuclear power could increase the pathway to a carbon neutral energy future, and evaluating opportunities to manage costs.2. How the switch to autonomous vehicles and bikes and pedestrian usage are changing our transportation needs and landscape, planning for decarbonization at ports and airports and for trucking, challenges in paying for and deploying the states public transit and high-speed rail project, and developing transportation solutions for a functional statewide EV infrastructure.3. Understanding the challenges with implementing the Broadband For All amid the complicated federal and state funding opportunities, the role of AI and how it can be used to accelerate opportunities in healthcare, education, and logistics, considering the downsides and perils of AI misinformation, job losses through automation and obsolescence, and the expanded chances for security risks.4. Evaluating Californias progress in building resiliency with regards to weather extremes, The changing relationship with the federal government and how California can better align to new policy metrics, how can California better plan for its water needs to support business, farming, and residents, sustainable ground management at ten years old what are the next challenges to implementing this policy with a minimum of disruptions, and finally how can California capture more water to take advantage of what we currently have and where we are headed.
- $630,052 spent. CFEE conducted three study travel projects in 2024. The projects facilitate real life experiences and relationship building to help provide for more successful policy making.CFEE conducted a study travel project to the United Kingdom studying the partnership between our two countries in supply lines and energy security among other topics. We met with Llyods of London to examine the need for California to update insurance protocols to respond to a shrinking insurance market and what this global does to set rates, we toured the countrys new largest construction site for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant while examining the workings of the active Sizewell B power plant before moving on to see the UKs efforts to capitalize on the need for small modular nuclear reactors. Sustainable aviation fuel was another key technological item explored and studied. The UKs efforts in offshore wind are world leading and provided a snapshot of what California may need to prepare for as it explores the same opportunities.The second study travel project was held in Colorado and New Mexico, and it focused on the circular economy and recycling. The trip featured best practices on legislation with meetings with state legislators. Our program highlighted textile recycling and innovative reuse programs for major consumer producers. We toured cutting edge aluminum canning operations and learned about the long-life span of the cans when properly recaptured from the waste stream. A visit to an Indian Pueblo brought to life the challenges with recycling and reuse in a highly rural community. And lastly, as construction booms for datacenters we learned how can they and other easy to build warehouses can take advantage of carbon sequestration in concrete materials and strengthen the composite. Our third tour brought CFEE to Taiwan and Vietnam to learn about the challenges in both hyper capitalist nations despite the very different political realities of both. We met with high-speed rail officials and rode the rail to see the experience firsthand before learning about Taiwans cutting-edge electric scooter delivery and rider companies. CFEE also met with the countrys top disaster preparedness administrator to see lessons learned from past earthquakes, floods, and other climate challenges. Solar panel recycling is a looming issue for California and Taiwan has an elegant technology to share for this vexing problem that allows valuable composite materials to be recaptured and reused. Vietnam provided a window into supply chains and production for a major EV manufacturer that is growing internationally while building their own electric charging network in country.
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 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 2024.
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 July 1979.
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.