The Energy Foundation
The Energy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking charitable organization headquartered in San Francisco, California. Established in 1991, the organization operates as an independent philanthropic entity focused on advancing clean energy solutions and addressing climate change. The Foundation maintains a significant presence in China through its China branch (Energy Foundation China), established in 1999, and operates in multiple countries including the United States, Ghana, France, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$141.6M
+29.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+46.3% YoY
Grant Count
14
+75.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$230K
-16.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Energy Foundation's mission is to achieve greenhouse gas emissions neutrality, world-class air quality, energy access, and green growth through transforming energy and optimizing economic structure. The organization envisions a healthy, safe, equitable economy powered by clean energy.
The Foundation supports education and analysis to promote non-partisan policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Clean energy vehicles and sustainable transportation
- Renewable energy technologies
- Energy efficiency
- Low carbon growth planning
- Sustainable cities and urbanization
- Long-term decarbonization strategies
- Air quality improvement
- Electrification and power systems
- Industrial decarbonization
- Policy research and capacity building
The Foundation's grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, community, and faith groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, universities, policy research institutes, academies, and non-governmental organizations committed to sustainable energy development.
Grantmaking
The Energy Foundation makes grants to organizations and institutions working on climate change and the low carbon energy transition. Typical grant awards range from $17,177 to $5,424,950.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Energy Foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- China — The organization's substantial efforts center on China, given the scale of its energy sector and its role in global emissions. Energy Foundation China is the main re-grantor for international philanthropies engaged on climate issues in China.
- United States — Including California, Massachusetts, and Wyoming
- International — The Foundation draws on a network of international experts to inform strategies and programs
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $141,600,498
- Total Revenue: $109,226,201
- Total Expenses: $82,890,976
- Net Income: $26,335,225
- Total Liabilities: $20,800,000
- Total Giving: $58,494,831
Historical Data (2020):
- Revenue: $181,891,970
- Expenses: $141,941,371
- Assets: $173,205,171
The Foundation maintains a four-star rating (94% score) based on accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $141,600,498 | $109,761,570 | $102,177,476 |
| Revenue | $109,226,201 | $84,464,278 | $57,878,896 |
| Expenses | $82,890,976 | $77,339,890 | $69,460,889 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,803,117 | $1,536,498 | $800,424 |
| 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
62 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include International Council on Clean Transportation Inc ($550,000), President & Fellows of Harvard College ($492,477), Institute for Transportation and Development Policy ($360,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAY AREA COUNCIL FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT ENGAGEMENT ON CARBON NEUTRALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE | $190,620 |
| INNOVATION CENTER FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION LOS ANGELES, CA | TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY CLIMATE SOLUTIONS | $185,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES MONTPELIER, VT | TO SUPPORT GREEN ENERGY TRANSITION | $120,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT LOW-CARBON ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION | $360,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT LOW-CARBON ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION | $550,000 |
| JACKSON HOLE CENTER FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS JACKSON, WY | TO SUPPORT GREEN ENERGY TRANSITION | $175,000 |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, MA | TO SUPPORT ENGAGEMENT ON CARBON NEUTRALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE, TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, TO SUPPORT LOW-CARBON ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION | $492,477 |
| REGENTS OF THE UC AT BERKELEY BERKELEY, CA | TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND CONTROL AIR POLLUTION | $300,000 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS DAVIS, CA | TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE | $300,000 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE - BOULDER CO BOULDER, CO | TO SUPPORT LOW-CARBON ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION | $220,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jason Mark is identified as a key leader at the organization (as of 2020).
The Foundation employs over 100 staff members based in locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions of the United States. Energy Foundation China maintains approximately 90 staff members supporting its grantmaking operations.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HONGPENG LEI | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| SHENYU BELSKY | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| JORGEN THOMSEN | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| JONATHAN PERSHING | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| HONGJUN ZHANG | BOARD CHAIR | 3 | $6,000 |
| KELLY SIMS GALLAGHER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $4,500 |
| STEPHEN HARPER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $5,250 |
| KEBIN HE | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 11/28/24) | 3 | $6,262 |
| BERNICE LEE | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $6,000 |
| DAVID NIEH | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $6,000 |
| MARY NICHOLS | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $6,000 |
| WALTER REID | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $6,000 |
| ZOU JI | CEO | 40 | $504,832 |
| DAVID VANCE WAGNER | SECRETARY | 40 | $306,611 |
| FANG YUWEI | COO/TREASURER | 40 | $296,129 |
| JEAN KU | DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP | 40 | $238,742 |
| PIOTR KODZIS | FINANCE DIRECTOR | 40 | $229,155 |
| DANIELLE FULLER-WIMBUSH | DIRECTOR OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT | 40 | $196,619 |
| YUN CAI | PROGRAM MANAGER | 40 | $138,570 |
| YUNSHU JI | GRANTS MANAGER | 40 | $161,456 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Energy Foundation fund?
The Energy Foundation's mission is to achieve greenhouse gas emissions neutrality, world-class air quality, energy access, and green growth through transforming energy and optimizing economic structure. The organization envisions a healthy, safe, equitable economy powered by clean energy. The Foundation supports education and analysis to promote non-partisan policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency. Primary funding focus areas include: • Clean energy vehicles and sus…
How do I apply for a grant from The Energy Foundation?
The Energy Foundation makes grants to organizations and institutions working on climate change and the low carbon energy transition. Typical grant awards range from $17,177 to $5,424,950. In 2024, the Foundation granted a total of $58,494,831 to support solutions in clean energy vehicles, renewable energy, low carbon growth planning, sustainable cities, and energy efficiency. Historical grantmaking includes a $15,000,000 grant (2017-2020) and a $3,000,000 grant (2018-2021) for climate solutions…
Where does The Energy Foundation make grants?
The Energy Foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • **China** — The organization's substantial efforts center on China, given the scale of its energy sector and its role in global emissions. Energy Foundation China is the main re-grantor for international philanthropies engaged on climate issues in China. • **United States** — Including California, Massachusetts, and Wyoming • **International** — The Foundation draws on a network of international experts to inform strategies and programs
What size grants does The Energy Foundation award?
In 2024, The Energy Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $230K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Energy Foundation's EIN?
The Energy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3126848. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Energy Foundation'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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