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Calstart Inc

EIN 95-4375022 · Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, CALSTART HAS PARTNERED WITH INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITIES TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES. CALSTART DESIGNS AND IMPLEMENTS VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE EMISSIONS, GROW DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAINS, AND IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. CALSTART PROVIDES TECHNICAL, REGULATORY AND POLICY SUPPORT TO SCALE COMMERCIALLY VIABLE, ZERO-EMISSION TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT FLEET OPERATORS, LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND THE PUBLIC.

Income
$396.8 million
Spending
$396.6 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
250
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$342,513, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 97% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 134% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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 September 30, 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. $382.2 million spent. MARKET ACCELERATION: ENABLING FLEET TRANSFORMATION-CALSTART DESIGNS, LEADS, AND IMPLEMENTS ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE AND INFRASTRUCTURE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR TRUCKS, BUSES, CARS, AND OFF-ROAD EQUIPMENT FOR FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FLEETS ACROSS THE U.S., HELPING REDUCE OPERATING COSTS AND EXPANDING DOMESTIC ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MANUFACTURING. HIGHLIGHTS FROM FY2024 INCLUDE: - THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AWARDED CALSTART $4 MILLION TO LEAD THE CHARGE@WORK PROGRAM, A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT EMPLOYER-BASED CHARGING. - THE COMMUNITIES IN CHARGE PROJECT, WITH AN $88 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION (CES) AND THE ENERGIIZE PROJECT ($276 MILLION INVESTMENT THROUGH 2026) PROVIDES INCENTIVES VIA REIMBURSEMENT FOR EV AND H2 INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT MEDIUM/HEAVY-DUTY ZEVS. - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER (MASSCEC), CALSTART LAUNCHED THE RIDE CLEAN MASS PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE AIMED AT HELPING THE VEHICLE-FOR-HIRE (VFH) INDUSTRY SWITCH TO ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES. BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, THE RIDE CLEAN MASS PROGRAM HAS EARMARKED $5.35 MILLION TO SUPPORT DRIVERS THROUGH 2025. RIDE CLEAN MASS CHARGING HUB PROGRAM IS THE SECOND PHASE OF THE MASSCEC PARTNERSHIP WITH A $6.1 MILLION INVESTMENT TO CONSTRUCT 57 CHARGING HUBS ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH 2026. - CALIFORNIA'S AIR RESOURCES BOARD'S (CARB) CLEAN OFF-ROAD EQUIPMENT VOUCHER INCENTIVE PROJECT (CORE) HAS CUMULATIVELY RECEIVED $538 MILLION IN FUNDING, INCLUDING $15 MILLION ALLOCATED IN 2024 FOR ZERO-EMISSION EQUIPMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES. - CARB HAS CUMULATIVELY FUNDED $2.288 BILLION FOR THE HYBRID AND ZERO EMISSION TRUCK AND BUS VOUCHER INCENTIVE PROJECT (HVIP), INCLUDING $15 MILLION FOR THE INNOVATIVE SMALL E-FLEET (ISEF) SET-ASIDE WITHIN HVIP IN 2024.
  2. $5.5 million spent. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM- CALSTART PROVIDES INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AND GUIDANCE TO HELP GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY ACCELERATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF COMMERCIALLY VIABLE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES. CALSTART SERVES AS THE MEDIUM- AND HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE ADVISOR TO THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD (CARB) AND ASSISTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF ITS ONGOING HEAVY DUTY INVESTMENT PLAN, OFFERING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO ALIGN VEHICLE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING WITH MARKET NEEDS.IN 2024, CALSTART HOSTED TWO LARGE-SCALE RIDE AND DRIVE EVENTS IN POMONA AND OAKLAND, CA, FEATURING 70+ ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT FOR FLEET OPERATORS, DEMONSTRATING REAL-WORLD PRODUCT READINESS AND PERFORMANCE.CALSTART IS A SUBRECIPIENT ON THREE EPA CLEAN PORTS PROGRAM AWARDS ON THE EAST COAST: - WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ($451M TOTAL AWARD), CALSTART IS MANAGING $51M IN SUPPORT OF A CLEAN EQUIPMENT VOUCHER PROGRAM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEAR-PORT CHARGING HUBS THROUGH A GREEN DRAYAGE ACCELERATOR. - IN MARYLAND, CALSTART IS SUPPORTING THE PORT AUTHORITY'S PLANNING GRANT AWARD ($147M TOTAL AWARD) THROUGH TRUCK OPERATOR ENGAGEMENT. CALSTART IS MANAGING $20M TO ADMINISTER A CLEAN EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE VOUCHER PROGRAM THROUGH A GREEN DRAYAGE ACCELERATOR. - CALSTART WAS AWARDED THE PRIME CONTRACT BY MASSCEC FOR THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED MHD MOBILE CHARGING PROGRAM, THROUGH WHICH FOUR FLEETS WILL PILOT MOBILE/TEMPORARY CHARGING SOLUTIONS TO ENABLE FLEET ELECTRIFICATION. - AS A PART OF A CONSULTANT TEAM, CALSTART COMPLETED THE MAINE CLEAN TRANSPORTATION ROADMAP FOR MEDIUM- AND HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES FOR MAINE DOT, THE GOVERNOR'S ENERGY OFFICE, AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF POLICY INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE. - CALSTART ALSO ADMINISTERS AND PROVIDES OUTREACH TO NYSERDA'S NEW YORK TRUCK VOUCHER INCENTIVE PROGRAM (NYTVIP). - MASS FLEET ADVISOR IS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE MHDV FLEETS; CALSTART IS THE PRIME RECIPIENT OF MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER'S (MASSCEC) PROGRAM. - IN 2024, CALSTART WAS AWARDED A FLEET ADVISORY PROGRAM IN NEW JERSEY BY THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
  3. $1.3 million spent. PROMOTING ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPIONS (MEMBER SERVICES, PUBLICATIONS, AND CONFERENCES)- CALSTART PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF NETWORKING AND STRATEGIC PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS 250+ MEMBER COMPANIES AND STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS. CALSTART MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM THE UNIQUE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS REPORTS AND HAVE ACCESS TO CURATED INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND INDUSTRY TRENDS IN ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES. OUR PROGRAM TEAMS ALSO CONDUCT WEBINARS TO INFORM MEMBERS AND OTHERS OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND FORECASTS ABOUT EV'S AND OTHER ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES.IN 2024, CALSTART PUBLISHED UPDATES TO ITS INDUSTRY-LEADING "ZEROING IN ON ZERO-EMISSION TRUCKS AND "ZEROING IN ON ZERO-EMISSION BUSES" REPORTS, BOTH OF WHICH PROVIDE CONCISE AND CURRENT SNAPSHOTS OF ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE DEPLOYMENT STATISTICS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THESE REPORTS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO KEY TRENDS DRIVING GROWTH IN ADOPTION, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER ACCELERATE THIS GROWTH THAT CAN HELP INFORM POLICYMAKERS, MANUFACTURERS, FLEET OWNERS, AND FINANCIAL STAKEHOLDERS. CALSTART ALSO DEVELOPED A GROUNDBREAKING FINANCIAL MODEL, PUBLISHED IN "FINANCING FLEET ELECTRIFICATION: BATTERY-ELECTRIC TRUCK COMPONENT RESALE HIGHLIGHTS RESIDUAL VALUE UPSIDE", FOR BENCHMARKING THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF BATTERY-ELECTRIC TRUCKS (BETS) AT THE END OF THEIR FINANCING TERMS. THIS METHOD SHOWS THAT BET LEASE AND FINANCING UNDERWRITERS SHOULD LOOK TO SECOND-LIFE APPLICATIONS OF BET COMPONENTS AND CAN ATTRIBUTE BETS WITH HIGHER RESIDUAL VALUE, MEANING MORE AFFORDABLE PAYMENTS FOR FLEETS. IN ADDITION, CALSTART'S DRIVE TO ZERO PROGRAM PUBLISHED THE THIRD ANNUAL "GLOBAL PROGRESS TOWARD DECARBONIZING TRANSPORTATION: MULTI-COUNTRY ACTION PLAN FOR 2024 UPDATE (MCAP)", WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE FORWARD ACTION OF THE 38 GLOBAL MOU COUNTRY SIGNATORIES TOWARD FULFILLING THE GOAL OF 30% NEW MEDIUM- AND HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE (MHDV) SALES BEING ZERO-EMISSION BY 2030, WITH 100% BY 2040. THE 2024 MCAP, PREPARED FOR GLOBAL MOU COUNTRIES AND ENDORSERS, PROVIDES NEW INFORMATION ON THE OVERALL ZERO-EMISSION MHDV MARKET AND OFFERS AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACTFUL POLICY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY GLOBAL MOU SIGNATORY NATIONS.
  4. $2.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.