International Sustainable Energy Foundation
International Sustainable Energy Foundation (ISEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2021 and based in Austin, Texas. It supports climate action and environmental preservation, with a focus on the Global South; its stated program descriptions include several areas of sustainable energy and development in India.
International Sustainable Energy Foundation at a glance
In short: International Sustainable Energy Foundation gave $5.4M across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $192K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,371,897
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $191,853
- -16.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $155,000
- Total assets
- $48,154,884
- +6.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to International Sustainable Energy Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
ISEF does not accept unsolicited requests. For awarded grants, its filing says grantees must keep written records of grant receipts and expenditures, submit quarterly progress updates and a final report, make records available for inspection, and have financial reports certified as reviewed and approved by the grantee’s CEO and Finance Head.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3300 N Ih-35 625, Austin, TX 78705
Phone: (512) 923-5462
Website: https://isefus.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who International Sustainable Energy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was International Council on Clean Transportation ($875K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 29 grants of 48 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ISEF states that its mission focuses on the Global South and its website describes its projects as global. Its listed program descriptions and 2024 filing describe multiple focus areas in India.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How International Sustainable Energy Foundation gives
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2022) to $5.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $5.4M.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy New York, NY | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Green Transportation Programs to support projects with a primary focus on the electrification of transportation vehicles (e.g., public transportation, freight, trucks, cars, mopeds, three wheels, delivery vans) in India. | $440,006 |
| Swaniti Initiative Houston, TX | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Clean Electricity & Cooling to support projects that focus on renewable energy sources in India and/or clean sources for India's cooling needs. | $400,000 |
| International Council on Clean Transportation Washington, DC | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Green Transportation Programs to support projects with a primary focus on the electrification of transportation vehicles (e.g., public transportation, freight, trucks, cars, mopeds, three wheels, delivery vans) in India. | $350,000 |
| Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis Lakewood, OH | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Sustainable Finance & Capacity building to support projects that define the financial needs of India's sustainable and renewable energy efforts and/or the necessary industrial capacity building required to achieve successful outcomes of those efforts. | $300,000 |
| World Resources Institute Washington, DC | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Clean Electricity & Cooling to support projects that focus on renewable energy sources in India and/or clean sources for India's cooling needs. | $299,999 |
| The Asia Society New York, NY | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Sustainable Finance & Capacity building to support projects that define the financial needs of India's sustainable and renewable energy efforts and/or the necessary industrial capacity building required to achieve successful outcomes of those efforts. | $260,000 |
| Center for Strategic and International Studies Washington, DC | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Green Transportation Programs to support projects with a primary focus on the electrification of transportation vehicles (e.g., public transportation, freight, trucks, cars, mopeds, three wheels, delivery vans) in India. | $250,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund New York, NY | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Sustainable Finance & Capacity building to support projects that define the financial needs of India's sustainable and renewable energy efforts and/or the necessary industrial capacity building required to achieve successful outcomes of those efforts. | $250,000 |
| Calstart Inc Pasadena, CA | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Green Transportation Programs to support projects with a primary focus on the electrification of transportation vehicles (e.g., public transportation, freight, trucks, cars, mopeds, three wheels, delivery vans) in India. | $200,000 |
| International Council on Clean Transportation Washington, DC | Grants were provided and expenses were incurred for Green Transportation Programs to support projects with a primary focus on the electrification of transportation vehicles (e.g., public transportation, freight, trucks, cars, mopeds, three wheels, delivery vans) in India. | $200,000 |
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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 | $48,154,884 | $30,080,227 | $30,618,687 | $5,371,897 | 28 | $736,289 |
| 2023 | $45,212,125 | $36,864,355 | $23,279,271 | $4,619,623 | 20 | $382,117 |
| 2022 | $23,831,431 | $24,223,116 | $1,403,215 | $1,202,577 | Total only | $16,678 |
"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
ISEF’s mission is to promote an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world through climate action and environmental preservation. Its 2024 filing describes work spanning development, adaptation, air quality, climate finance, cities and urban planning, decarbonization, just transition, land use, low-carbon development, resilience, smart agriculture, sustainable energy policies, and water.
The foundation’s stated focus areas include clean electricity and cooling; sustainable finance and capacity building; green governance, public diplomacy, and legal policy; green transportation; sustainable food and agriculture; and greening industry and manufacturing. Its website also identifies green building, air quality, and urban planning. The 2024 filing describes these programs in relation to India, including renewable energy integration and cooling, industrial capacity, sustainability policy, transport electrification, agriculture, and energy practices in sectors such as steel and cement.
The 2023 grantees listed include organizations whose own missions span related fields. The World Resources Institute says it works to improve people’s lives and ensure the natural world can thrive, using research to inform action. The International Institute for Energy Conservation says it promotes efficient and sustainable energy resources. Research Triangle Institute describes itself as a research institute that turns knowledge into practice and provides expertise in areas including energy. The Asia Society says it connects people and institutions in Asia and the world to build understanding and address challenges. CEED Foundation says it works in climate, energy, and social development, including climate mitigation and adaptation.
Grantmaking
The 2023 filing reports $4,619,623 in grants across 20 grants, an average of about $231,000 per grant. The 2024 filing reports no grants. The website states that ISEF has supported nearly 600 development projects globally, but does not specify a time period for that figure. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 28 grants totaling $5.4 million.
Notable 2023 grants listed include two grants to the World Resources Institute for $535,135 and $320,128; two to the International Institute for Energy Conservation for $277,109 and $250,017; two to Research Triangle Institute for $220,000 and $207,514; $200,000 to the Asia Society; and $199,980 to CEED Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Chris Munson as President and Elizabeth McKeon, Nathan Argent, Tejas Vakil, and SatKartar Khalsa as directors.
The foundation’s website also lists Korina Smith as Executive Director; Matt Morgan as Grants Officer; Kendra Hull as Grants Accountant; Stephanie Sites as Director of Compliance; Swati Nigam as Director of Grants and Partnerships, Asia; Mark McCarthy as Programs Technical Director; Jud Maxwell as Director of Grant Accounting; Ashton Winzeler as Controller; Angelina Rejon as Grant Funding Accountant; Julie Kneupper as Business Operations Specialist; and McKenna Keller as Administrative Manager.
International Sustainable Energy Foundation is led by Chris Munson, President on every filing since 2022; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chris Munson
President
On filings since 2022
15 hrs/week
$25K (2022) → $80K (2024)
Elizabeth McKeon
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Nathan Argent
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
SatKartar Khalsa
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Tejas Vakil
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anand Gopal (2022–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 $80K, to Chris Munson (President).
Frequently asked questions about International Sustainable Energy Foundation
How much does International Sustainable Energy Foundation give each year?
International Sustainable Energy Foundation gave $5.4M across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $4.6M across 20 grants.
What is International Sustainable Energy Foundation's typical grant size?
International Sustainable Energy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $155,000, and its average grant was $191,853, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does International Sustainable Energy Foundation give grants?
International Sustainable Energy Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (23%) and California (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Pasadena, CA (2 grants).
Does International Sustainable Energy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on International Sustainable Energy Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are International Sustainable Energy Foundation's largest grantees?
International Sustainable Energy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include International Council on Clean Transportation ($875,000 across 4 grants), The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy ($440,006) and Climate Policy Initiative ($425,303 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is International Sustainable Energy Foundation?
International Sustainable Energy Foundation reported $48.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $30.1M.
What does International Sustainable Energy Foundation fund?
ISEF’s mission is to promote an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world through climate action and environmental preservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from International Sustainable Energy Foundation?
ISEF does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is International Sustainable Energy Foundation's EIN?
International Sustainable Energy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2509491. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Does International Sustainable Energy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). International Sustainable Energy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/international-sustainable-energy-foundation-morg_cf20bde560394fbc80d426bf82fa7cd3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_872509491_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{International Sustainable Energy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/international-sustainable-energy-foundation-morg_cf20bde560394fbc80d426bf82fa7cd3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from International Sustainable Energy Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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