Built Buildings Lab Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Built Buildings Lab Inc is an educational and scientific green initiative organization organized and operated to conduct research and disseminate knowledge to the public regarding existing buildings and their use and importance as climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions The Organization believes that existing buildings are a significant responsibility and resource for global sustainability and by taking care of them community leaders and building owners can steer the future fabric of resilient healthy and equitable communities The Organization engaged in studies analyses assessments and projects around architectural design research and sustainability services to help community-based organizations building owners city governments and other organizations understand maintain and integrate existing buildings into strategic sustainability and climate action plans
- Income
- $199,668
- Spending
- $233,178
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Highest pay
- $81,250, executive director president clerk director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $103,072 spent. The organizations primary program Decarbonizing the Built Environment Through Heritage DBTH advances climate action by integrating cultural heritagebased strategies into building decarbonization policy and practice During the year the organization expanded this multi-year initiative through research advisory work and stakeholder engagement focused on positioning existing buildings as climate solutions Activities included developing policy frameworks convening nonprofit and community partners and supporting collaboration across practitioners policymakers and advocacy organizations The organization also contributed to international climate discourse through participation in global convenings including representation at COP30 and Climate Week events where it advanced the role of existing buildings and heritage-based approaches within broader climate policy conversations Through this work the organization is helping to shift how existing buildings are understood and used in climate policy moving from a niche concern to a practical scalable strategy for reducing emissions and supporting resilient community-driven outcomes
- $10,852 spent. The organization advanced development of the CARE Tool Carbon Avoided Retrofit Estimator an online resource that supports community leaders heritage advocates building owners educators and designers in evaluating strategies to reduce whole life carbon through building reuse and retrofit The tool enables users to estimate and compare the embodied operational and avoided carbon impacts of reuse versus new construction supporting early decision-making During the year the organization expanded the tool to allow users to save and manage portfolios of projects improving its usefulness across multiple buildings and over time The CARE Tool is free and publicly accessible ensuring broad access to practical data-informed guidance for decarbonization Through this work the organization is increasing access to actionable tools that support wider adoption of reuse and retrofit as scalable climate strategies
- $46,865 spent. The organization contributed to applied research and publications with the Urban Land Institute ULI including Whats Old Is New The Business Case for Urban Adaptive Reuse and The Whole Life Carbon of Commercial to Residential Conversions Aligning the Climate and Housing Imperative This work advances strategies to accelerate adaptive reuse in commercial real estate to achieve co-benefits of urban revitalization housing development community preservation and climate action The research demonstrates how converting existing buildings can reduce carbon emissions while addressing housing shortages and vacancy challenges supporting alignment between climate goals and real estate decision-making Findings were disseminated through public webinars industry events and presentations including Climate Week NYC helping to translate technical economic and policy insights into accessible guidance for developers policymakers and community leaders Both reports are available free of charge Through these efforts the organization is supporting broader adoption of adaptive reuse as a viable and scalable development strategy
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.