Nextenergy Center
Nextenergy Center is a Detroit, Michigan–based public charity, formed in 2002. It works with innovators and other partners to advance the commercialization, testing, and deployment of energy, mobility, and smart-community technologies.
Nextenergy Center at a glance
In short: Nextenergy Center gave $3.0M across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $96K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,981,045
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- -22.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $96,163
- +26.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $59,200
- Total assets
- $7,201,516
- -18.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (72% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Nextenergy Center
- Contact
Mailing address: 440 Burroughs St Suite 370, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 833-0100
Website: https://nextenergy.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nextenergy Center funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gerald R Ford Inter ($512K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 64 grants of 131 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NextEnergy is based in Detroit, and its website describes work on technology commercialization and programs in Michigan. In 2025, 72% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. The other leading recipient states were California, Georgia, and Colorado, each with 5%, followed by Delaware with 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Nextenergy Center gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $297K (2019) to $3.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gerald R Ford Inter Grand Rapids, MI | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $512,000 |
| Genesee County Habit- Flint, MI | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $313,118 |
| American Center for Mobility Ann Arbor, MI | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $252,715 |
| Hyfi Ann Arbor, MI | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $224,372 |
| Orange Sparkle Ball Inc Atlanta, GA | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $149,932 |
| Revision Autonomy Kalamazoo, MI | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $144,000 |
| Electreon Wireless Santa Monica, CA | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $138,000 |
| Rhythmos Boulder, CO | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $136,648 |
| Tappy Technology LLC Commerce Township, MI | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $119,515 |
| Mitsubishi Electric Northville, MI | To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States. | $102,385 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,201,516 | $4,677,502 | $5,504,037 | $2,981,045 | 31 | $18,859 |
| 2024 | $8,817,443 | $5,925,997 | $6,213,987 | $3,033,761 | 40 | $25,191 |
| 2023 | $5,697,834 | $4,611,725 | $4,578,580 | $2,081,092 | 29 | $52,700 |
| 2022 | $5,322,913 | $2,559,674 | $2,782,246 | $1,277,329 | 19 | $7,653 |
| 2021 | $5,413,697 | $1,211,953 | $1,801,915 | $575,638 | 12 | $11,971 |
| 2020 | $6,584,676 | $1,632,250 | $2,660,493 | $784,109 | 20 | $97,287 |
| 2019 | $5,617,948 | $1,092,414 | $2,169,366 | $296,985 | 6 | $75,595 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is “to enable the commercialization of energy technologies that positively contribute to economic competitiveness, energy security, and the environment.” Its filing describes federal programs for consortia-based research and development, state programs supporting research and industry development, a demonstration center for testing and validation services, and foundation-supported capacity building and programs.
The 2025 filing describes the purpose of its listed grants as supporting technology demonstrations in the United States. Among the grantees, Genesee County Habitat for Humanity describes its mission as bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Superior Watershed Partnership describes its mission as leading watershed protection, restoration, and education in the Great Lakes and beyond. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not NextEnergy’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NextEnergy reported 31 grants totaling $2,981,045. Grant amounts ranged from $7,397 to $512,000, with a median of $59,200. The largest awards included $512,000 to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, $313,118 to Genesee County Habitat for Humanity, $252,715 to American Center for Mobility, and $224,372 to HYFI. Each of these grants was described as supporting technology demonstrations in the United States.
NextEnergy also serves as program manager for the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform, which funds mobility pilot projects in Michigan communities. The platform’s stated eligibility requirements include partnering with at least one public or private Michigan entity, and a match is required from the participant’s committed partners. NextEnergy’s filing says it contracts with funded organizations, sets performance milestones and reporting requirements, and monitors completion of contract requirements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lizabeth Ardisana as board chair; Eric Shreffler, John Hale III, Kellee Christensen, Marco Bruzzano, Ned Staebler, Rick Spina, and Rob Stevens as directors; James Saber as president and CEO; and William Siddall as COO, with a term ending in July 2025.
Nextenergy Center is led by James Saber, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Saber
President & CEO
President & CEO → President, CEO & CFO, 2022
President, CEO & CFO → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$215K (2019) → $248K (2025)
Lizabeth Ardisana
Board Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric McDonald
Senior Director of Research
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$120K (2025)
Eric Shreffler
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marco Bruzzano
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ned Staebler
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Hale III
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Spina
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Stevens
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kellee Christensen
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Siddall
COO
Chief Operating Officer → COO, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$111K (2023) → $147K (2025)
Former officers (9)
- Former: Steven Hilfinger (2019–2024) — Secretary-Treasurer
- Former: Angella Durkin (2019–2022) — Chief Oper. Officer
- Former: Nigel Francis (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sarida Scott (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Patricia Glaza (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Paul F. Skalny (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: David Jackson (2020) — Director & Business Development
- Former: Jean Redfield (2019) — President & CEO
- Former: Maria A. Thompson (2019) — Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $248K, to James Saber (President & CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Nextenergy Center
How much does Nextenergy Center give each year?
Nextenergy Center gave $3.0M across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.0M across 40 grants.
What is Nextenergy Center's typical grant size?
Nextenergy Center's median grant in 2025 was $59,200, and its average grant was $96,163, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Nextenergy Center give grants?
Nextenergy Center gives mostly in Michigan: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (5%) and Georgia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (4 grants), Detroit, MI (2 grants) and Novi, MI (2 grants).
Does Nextenergy Center give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Nextenergy Center's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Technology Demonstrations in the United States." (31 grants).
Who are Nextenergy Center's largest grantees?
Nextenergy Center's largest 2025 grantees include Gerald R Ford Inter ($512,000), Genesee County Habit- ($313,118) and American Center for Mobility ($252,715), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Nextenergy Center?
Nextenergy Center reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What does Nextenergy Center fund?
The organization’s stated mission is “to enable the commercialization of energy technologies that positively contribute to economic competitiveness, energy security, and the environment.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nextenergy Center?
Nextenergy Center has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nextenergy.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Nextenergy Center's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Nextenergy Center funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nextenergy-center-morg_26d1264df93d40c9b222a5363f70d43d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_020648628_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Nextenergy Center funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nextenergy-center-morg_26d1264df93d40c9b222a5363f70d43d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Nextenergy Center'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.
Nextenergy Center down — hundreds of funders to go?