Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

EIN 94-2711707 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACEEE SEEKS TO MOBILIZE AND SCALE UP ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO REDUCE ENERGY WASTE AND CLIMATE POLLUTION, AND TO DO SO AT SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC SAVINGS. WE SEEK A VIBRANT AND EQUITABLE ECONOMY THAT USES ENERGY MORE PRODUCTIVELY, REDUCES ENERGY COSTS, AND PROMOTES THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING OF ALL.

Income
$17.3 million
Spending
$14.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
90
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$387,396, exec dir until 11/2025

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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, 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)
  1. $9.4 million spent. RESEARCH AND OUTREACH - ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS ESSENTIAL TO MANAGING RISING ENERGY DEMAND AND A KEY PATH TO A STRONGER ECONOMY AND CLEANER ENVIRONMENT. OUR RESEARCH FOCUSES ON THE ROLE EFFICIENCY CAN PLAY IN THE U.S., DOCUMENTING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AND LESSONS LEARNED, AND WAYS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES. ALL OF OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN A FOUNDATION OF EQUITY.
  2. $1.7 million spent. CONFERENCES - WE SPARK ADVANCEMENTS IN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS BY CONVENING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT OUR CONFERENCES AND VIRTUAL EVENTS EACH YEAR. WE HOLD ROUGHLY 20 WEBINARS ANNUALLY TO DISCUSS OUR RESEARCH AND RELATED TOPICS. IN TYPICAL YEARS, WE HOLD 3 -4 CONFERENCES ON TOPICS SUCH AS BUILDING AND INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY, HOT WATER AND HOT AIR, AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY AS A RESOURCE.
  3. $414,280 spent. POLICY ADVOCACY - WE HELP ADVANCE EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS AND POLICIES BY ADVISING AGENCIES ON IMPLEMENTATION AND ASSISTING WITH DEVELOPMENT OF LAWS REQUIRING ENERGY-EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT AND PROMOTING EFFICIENCY IN INDUSTRY, TRANSPORTATION, AND NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 1981.

    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 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.