NextEnergy Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Detroit, Michigan, founded in 2002. The organization operates as an innovation center and business accelerator focused on advancing energy and mobility technologies. NextEnergy maintains a physical demonstration center and testing facility in Detroit's Midtown innovation district, featuring over 10,000 square feet of leasable event space equipped with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.8M
+54.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+45.8% YoY
Grant Count
40
+37.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$76K
+5.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To enable the commercialization of energy technologies that positively contribute to economic competitiveness, energy security, and the environment. The organization's broader mission is to accelerate smarter, cleaner, and more accessible solutions for communities and cities.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Smart Mobility: Connected, automated, shared, and electrified (CASE) mobility solutions and their interaction with surrounding infrastructure and systems
- Smart Grid & Energy Efficiency: Smart, energy-efficient solutions for buildings, homes, and infrastructure, and how they interact with surrounding systems
- Smart Cities and Communities: Commercialization of technologies that optimize how buildings, homes, and infrastructure interact with surrounding systems
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NextEnergy is based in Detroit, Michigan, with operations centered in the Midtown innovation district. Recent activity indicates expansion to other Michigan regions, including the Greater Lansing area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $8,817,443
- Total Revenues: $5,925,997
- Total Expenses: $6,213,987
- Number of Employees: 15
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,817,443 | $5,697,834 | $5,322,913 |
| Revenue | $5,925,997 | $4,611,725 | $2,559,674 |
| Expenses | $6,213,987 | $4,578,580 | $2,782,246 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $25,191 | $52,700 | $7,653 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Regents of the University of Michigan ($453,225), Kettering University ($345,270), Civilized Cycles ($227,604).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADAPTABLE POWERFUL TRANSFORMATIVE SOLAR SOLUTIONS LLC ANN ARBOR, MI | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $21,500 |
| ADASTEC CORP EAST LANSING, MI | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $190,800 |
| AMERICAN CENTER FOR MOBILITY ANN ARBOR, MI | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $15,025 |
| AQUA SUPER POWER WILMINGTON, DE | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $25,255 |
| ARC BOAT COMPANY SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $20,000 |
| AUTOWED LLC COLUMBUS, IN | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $33,755 |
| BRANDMOTION NOVI, MI | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $106,785 |
| CHARGEWAY INC PORTLAND, OR | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $30,629 |
| CITY OF DETROIT DETROIT, MI | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $27,000 |
| CITY OF MARQUETTE MARQUETTE, MI | TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | $93,015 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gina Schrader – President and CEO
- Jim Saber – Director, Business Model Innovation (formerly President and CEO)
- Danny Allen – Director, Venture Services
- Roland Kibler – Director, Outreach & Branding Initiatives
- Melissa Smith – Staff member
- Dave Anderson – Staff member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIZABETH ARDISANA | BOARD CHAIR | 2 | — |
| STEVEN HILFINGER | SECRETARY-TREASURER | 2 | — |
| ERIC SHREFFLER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOHN HALE III | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KELLEE CHRISTENSEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARCO BRUZZANO | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| NED STAEBLER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RICK SPINA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ROB STEVENS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES SABER | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $228,959 |
| WILLIAM SIDDALL | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $133,723 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, NextEnergy launched the Greater Lansing area Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program in partnership with the City of Lansing and capital area communities, demonstrating expansion of its smart mobility and infrastructure initiatives beyond Detroit.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nextenergy Center fund?
**Mission:** To enable the commercialization of energy technologies that positively contribute to economic competitiveness, energy security, and the environment. The organization's broader mission is to accelerate smarter, cleaner, and more accessible solutions for communities and cities. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Smart Mobility:** Connected, automated, shared, and electrified (CASE) mobility solutions and their interaction with surrounding infrastructure and systems • **Smart Grid & Energy …
Where does Nextenergy Center make grants?
NextEnergy is based in Detroit, Michigan, with operations centered in the Midtown innovation district. Recent activity indicates expansion to other Michigan regions, including the Greater Lansing area.
What size grants does Nextenergy Center award?
In 2024, Nextenergy Center awarded 40 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $76K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Nextenergy Center's EIN?
Nextenergy Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0648628. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nextenergy Center's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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