United States Energy Foundation
The United States Energy Foundation (USEF) is a 501(c)(3) public foundation and partnership of philanthropies headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1991, the organization operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on advancing clean energy policy and market transformation across the United States. The foundation maintains a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$215.7M
+10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$166.3M
+6.5% YoY
Grant Count
597
-3.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$279K
+10.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis.
Vision: USEF envisions a healthy, safe, equitable economy powered by clean energy, believing that a thriving clean energy economy can create sustainable opportunities, spur innovation, and protect the climate for today and future generations.
Primary Focus Areas:
USEF supports education and analysis to promote non-partisan policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency. The foundation's work targets the largest-emitting sectors of the economy in states with the greatest potential for carbon abatement. Specific achievements include:
- Adoption of stronger building codes and energy optimization measures
- Advancement of cleaner vehicles and fuels
- Advancement of renewable energy technologies
- Progress in low-carbon growth planning
- Government commitments to achieve 100% clean energy by target dates
The foundation's goal is to reduce energy-related carbon emissions by over one-third by 2030 compared to a 2005 baseline, putting the U.S. on a trajectory toward an 80 percent carbon reduction consistent with long-term climate protection.
Core Values: Service, Community, Equity, Learning, and Transformational Impact. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are top organizational commitments, with the foundation working to uproot racism and other forms of oppression and create equitable systems.
Grantmaking
USEF grants to organizations and institutions that, through education and analysis, advance the transition to a clean energy economy. Grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, community, faith, and consumer groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, universities, and other institutions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
USEF invests to transform every sector of America's energy economy and in every region of the country. The foundation has staff members based throughout the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Revenue: $286,003,328
- Total Expenses: $219,078,649
- Total Assets: $195,685,276
- Total Liabilities: $16,200,000
- Staff: 141 employees (2023)
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since April 2019 (EIN: 83-1740146)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $215,719,190 | $195,685,276 | $127,905,372 |
| Revenue | $261,370,036 | $286,003,328 | $133,310,567 |
| Expenses | $238,692,726 | $219,078,649 | $189,073,695 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $7,841,671 | $4,545,960 | $1,252,862 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Chief Executive Officer: Jason Mark
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JASON MARK | CEO | 40 | $489,003 |
| NICOLE SYSTROM | BOARD CHAIR | 3 | $10,000 |
| MELANIE AUDETTE | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| STUART CLARKE | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| CARLOS CURBELO | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| ARAVINTH GANESAN | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| BRYAN GARCIA | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| ROSE MCKINNEY JAMES | BOARD MEMBER (THRU MARCH 2024) | 3 | $1,875 |
| HEATHER MCTEER TONEY | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| MAKARA RUMLEY | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| SUE TIERNEY | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| PATRICK WOODOCK | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $10,000 |
| CHAD BOETTCHER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $3,750 |
| KELLY SPEAKES-BACKMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $3,750 |
| JANE BREYER | SVP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS | 40 | $395,882 |
| BRIAN STANLEY | COO/SECRETARY & TREASURER | 34 | $322,710 |
| JESSICA FINN COVEN | SVP, PROGRAMS | 40 | $357,111 |
| MARIA ALVAREZ | SR. DIRECTOR, FINANCE | 30 | $184,523 |
| SUSAN FRANK | VP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS | 40 | $321,623 |
| AMINAH ZAGHAB | VP, PROGRAMS | 40 | $275,201 |
| JONATHAN LONIAN | VP, PEOPLE & CULTURE | 40 | $280,713 |
| ADRIANNA QUINTERO | VP, PROGRAMS & EQUITY | 40 | $278,459 |
| EMILY ENDERLE | VP, PROGRAMS | 40 | $276,572 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2023, USEF continued its grantmaking focused on organizations and institutions making gains in transitioning to a clean energy economy through education and analysis. The foundation also promoted digital marketing strategies in its programs during this period.
[PDF] Who is Energy Foundation China? | State ArmorSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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