Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc
Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc (ECC) is a national nonprofit founded in 2009 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It advances racial, economic, and climate justice through place-based work in community and worker powerbuilding, economic inclusion, and equitable implementation.
Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $19,749,373
- -45.0% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $7,062,301
- -72.1% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $172,478
- +469.2% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $22,890,571
- +129.7% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1660 L Street Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 449-9780
Website: https://emeraldcities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 13 grants of 20 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ECC says it works in five regions: the Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, the Northeast, and the DMV region (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia), as well as in select cities throughout the United States. Its 2022 grant list includes recipients in Michigan and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $125K (2020) to $1.1M (2022). In 2023 it reported $776K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture Atlanta, GA | Operations | $200,000 |
| Center on Race Poverty and the Environment Emeryville, CA | Operations | $90,000 |
| We Want Green Too Detroit, MI | Operations | $80,000 |
| East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CA | Operations | $75,000 |
| Community Development Technologies Center Los Angeles, CA | Operations | $75,000 |
| Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA Los Angeles, CA | Operations | $73,750 |
| Self-Help Enterprises Visalia, CA | Operations | $60,000 |
| Foothill-De Anza Foundation Los Altos, CA | Operations | $55,214 |
| State Center Community College District Fresno, CA | Operations | $50,000 |
| Riverside Community College District Riverside, CA | Operations | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,749,373 | $7,062,301 | $22,890,571 | — | — | $172,478 |
| 2023 | $35,884,029 | $25,351,981 | $9,963,849 | $776,000 | Total only | $30,302 |
| 2022 | $16,701,011 | $17,600,386 | $4,966,874 | $1,070,124 | 18 | $-1,126,905 |
| 2021 | $3,918,361 | $4,577,838 | $2,453,801 | $125,000 | 1 | $225 |
| 2020 | $1,755,559 | $1,000,855 | $1,848,502 | $125,000 | 1 | $568 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ECC’s mission is to advance racial, economic, and climate justice to build communities that are more equitable, economically just, and sustainable. Its stated focus areas include community and worker powerbuilding, economic inclusion, and equitable implementation of climate interventions. Its Energy Democracy work supports community efforts to develop and implement policies and projects for a transition to renewable energy systems.
ECC’s 2022 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Detroit-based We Want Green Too described its work as environmental literacy, skills, and green-job-readiness instruction for veterans and returning citizens. Highland Park-based Soulardarity described work to install solar-powered streetlights and build a just and equitable energy system through education, organizing, and community-powered clean energy. Other 2022 recipients included organizations whose stated missions concerned community development, housing, education, and support for community-serving organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2022, ECC reported 18 grants totaling $1,070,124. The listed awards include $80,000 to We Want Green Too; $75,000 to Community Development Technologies Center; $60,000 to Self-Help Enterprises; $50,000 each to Riverside Community College District and Soulardarity; $15,000 to Urban Core Collective; and $8,695 to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs. These examples are not a complete list of the 18 grants.
ECC’s Energy Democracy Emergent Communities Capacity Building program materials describe general operating support or planning grants of $25,000–$50,000 for a one-year period, with potential non-cost extensions. The materials describe eligible applicants as BIPOC frontline community-based organizations in the United States or U.S. territories, prioritizing those with budgets of $1 million or less and organizations with 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor. Listed eligible uses include stipends, technical assistance and training, strategy support, community education, fundraising planning, and community engagement or organizing; lobbying is listed as ineligible. The materials do not establish that this program is currently accepting applications.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gerry Hudson as Chairman; Joel Rogers as Co-chairman; Donald Gilligan as Secretary/Treasurer; and John Doherty, Eric Mackres, Cliff Majersik, Traci Scott, Don Moncrief 111, Avni Jamdar, and Kevin Reilly as directors.
ECC’s website announced that Adetola Shabi would serve as interim CEO effective November 15, 2025.
Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc is led by Meishka Mitchell, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 5 of 27 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Meishka Mitchell
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$235K (2023) → $236K (2024)
Gerry Hudson
Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joel Rogers
Co-Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Avni Jamdar
Director & Bay Area Regional Director
Director → Bay Area Regional Director, 2022
Bay Area Regional Director → Director & Bay Area Regional Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $186K (2024)
Angel Wendy
Southern Ca Regional Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $153K (2024)
Cliff Majersik
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Don Moncrief
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Mackres
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Shealey
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hilari Varnadore
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Sigmon
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Reilly
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ellen Sprenkel
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sunia Zaterman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Traci Scott
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Ribeiro
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donnel Baird
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Cohen
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Patterson
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Doherty
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Thompson
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosa Garcia
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victor Robertson
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yasmin Zaerpoor
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adetola Shabi
Chief Financial & Administrator Officer
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer → Controller, 2023
Controller → Chief Financial & Administrator Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $211K (2024)
Daryl Wright
Chief Strategy Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$149K (2022) → $206K (2024)
Donald Gilligan
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Denise Fairchild (2020–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Don Mathis (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jack Hayn (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kalima Rose (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lauren Ross (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Tyler Wilson (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $236K, to Meishka Mitchell (President/CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc
How large is Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc?
Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc reported $19.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.1M.
What does Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc fund?
ECC’s mission is to advance racial, economic, and climate justice to build communities that are more equitable, economically just, and sustainable. Its stated focus areas include community and worker powerbuilding, economic inclusion, and equitable implementation of climate interventions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc?
Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check emeraldcities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc make grants?
ECC says it works in five regions: the Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, the Northeast, and the DMV region (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia), as well as in select cities throughout the United States. Its 2022 grant list includes recipients in Michigan and California.
What is Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc's EIN?
Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0920269. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 29, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?