United States Energy Foundation
United States Energy Foundation (USEF) is a public charity headquartered in San Francisco, California. It supports education and analysis intended to advance clean-energy policy and a clean, equitable energy future in the United States.
Key facts about United States Energy Foundation
In short: United States Energy Foundation gave $166.3M across 597 grants in 2024 (avg $279K), top state District of Columbia. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 83-1740146
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $166,304,465
- Grants made (2024)
- 597
- Average grant
- $278,567
- Median grant
- $135,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (108 of 596, 2024)
- Total assets
- $215,719,190
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- USEF does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · 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
Is United States Energy Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 108 of 596 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $342K; repeat grants $265K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $150K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
USEF’s mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. It supports education and analysis promoting nonpartisan policy solutions, including work related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Its stated priorities are power, transportation, buildings, and industry. Its 2024 filing describes grants supporting cleaner buildings, vehicles and fuels, renewable energy technologies, and equitable access to clean-energy benefits.
USEF’s grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, community, faith, and consumer groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, and universities. For example, grantee West Harlem Environmental Action describes its mission as building healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and low-income residents participate meaningfully in environmental health and protection policies. Conservative Energy Network describes its mission as championing secure, reliable, affordable, clean American energy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, USEF reported 597 grants totaling $166,304,465. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $21 million, with a median grant of $135,000. Reported purposes include education and outreach for a clean or equitable clean-energy future, analysis of clean transportation, energy optimization, clean industry, and clean, affordable energy that protects public health.
Ready to take the next step with United States Energy Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
USEF focuses on U.S. federal action and regional, state, and local progress, and states that it does not work outside the United States. Its staff are based across the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were directed to DC (29%), California (12%), New York (9%), Michigan (4%), and Minnesota (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 597 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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
2,806 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CLIMATE POWER Washington, DC | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. | $21,000,000 |
| SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION New York, NY | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. | $2,620,000 |
| THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT INC Washington, DC | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS ON THE BENEFITS OF CLEAN TRANSPORTATION. | $2,590,000 |
| TIDES FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. | $2,325,000 |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC New York, NY | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS ON THE BENEFITS OF CLEAN TRANSPORTATION. TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS TO ADVANCE CLEAN, AFFORDABLE ENERGY THAT PROTECTS PUBLIC HEALTH. | $2,140,666 |
| UTILITY INFORMATION ALLIANCE Seattle, WA | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. | $2,100,000 |
| CONSERVATIVE ENERGY NETWORK Lansing, MI | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. | $2,027,500 |
| SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS INC Calabasas, CA | TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS TO ADVANCE ENERGY OPTIMIZATION. TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS ON THE BENEFITS OF CLEAN TRANSPORTATION. | $2,013,666 |
| ADVANCED ENERGY INSTITUTE Washington, DC | TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS ON THE BENEFITS OF CLEAN TRANSPORTATION. TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $1,970,000 |
| WEST HARLEM ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION INC New York City, NY | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE. TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS TO ADVANCE CLEAN, AFFORDABLE ENERGY THAT PROTECTS PUBLIC HEALTH. TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS TO ADVANCE ENERGY OPTIMIZATION. | $1,666,666 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $215,719,190 | $261,370,036 | $238,692,726 | $166,304,465 |
| 2023 | $195,685,276 | $286,003,328 | $219,078,649 | $156,172,400 |
| 2022 | $127,905,372 | $133,310,567 | $189,073,695 | $136,449,287 |
| 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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jason Mark as CEO and Nicole Systrom as board chair. Board members listed include Melanie Audette, Stuart Clarke, Carlos Curbelo, Aravinth Ganesan, Bryan Garcia, Heather McTeer Toney, and Makara Rumley. Rose McKinney James is listed as a board member through March 2024.
United States Energy Foundation is led by Jason Mark, CEO on every filing since 2020; all 23 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jason Mark
CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$434K (2020) → $489K (2024)
Nicole Systrom
Board Chair
Board Member → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Maria Alvarez
Senior Director & Finance
On filings since 2023
30 hrs/week
$236K (2023) → $185K (2024)
Brian Stanley
COO, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
34 hrs/week
$279K (2020) → $323K (2024)
Carlos Curbelo
Board Member
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Jane Breyer
Senior Vice President & Strategic Partnerships
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$327K (2020) → $396K (2024)
Melanie Audette
Board Member
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Rose McKinney James
Board Member
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $2K (2024)
Susan Frank
Vice President & Strategic Partnerships
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$248K (2020) → $322K (2024)
Bryan Garcia
Board Member
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $10K (2024)
Heather McTeer Toney
Board Member
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $10K (2024)
Jonathan Lonian
Vice President, People & Culture
Senior Director of Hr → Vice President, People & Culture, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$235K (2021) → $281K (2024)
Adrianna Quintero
Vice President, Programs & Equity
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$243K (2022) → $278K (2024)
Jessica Finn Coven
Senior Vice President & Programs
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$249K (2022) → $357K (2024)
Aravinth Ganesan
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$10K (2023) → $10K (2024)
Emily Enderle
Vice President & Programs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$264K (2023) → $277K (2024)
Makara Rumley
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $10K (2024)
Patrick Woodock
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $10K (2024)
Stuart Clarke
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$10K (2023) → $10K (2024)
Sue Tierney
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $10K (2024)
Aminah Zaghab
Vice President & Programs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$275K (2024)
Chad Boettcher
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$4K (2024)
Kelly Speakes-Backman
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$4K (2024)
Former officers (16)
- Former: Gina McCarthy (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Stephen Harper (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Donald Cravins Jr. (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Lupine Seran (2020–2022) — Senior Director & Knowledge Systems
- Former: Ryan Werder (2020–2022) — Senior Advisor
- Former: Susan Tierney (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Arvin Ganesan (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Skelton Roberts (2021–2022) — Senior Vice President & Programs
- Former: Rose McKinney-James (2021–2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Tiauna George (2022) — Senior Director & Grants Management
- Former: Kris Mayes (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Crane (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rodney Butler (2021) — Senior Director of Finance
- Former: Amy Fuerstenau (2020) — Vice President & Programs
- Former: Curtis Seymour (2020) — Vice President & Programs
- Former: William Ritter Jr. (2020) — Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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
Contact
Mailing address: 55 2Nd Street 24Th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 561-6700
Website: https://ef.org
Frequently asked questions about United States Energy Foundation
How much does United States Energy Foundation give each year?
United States Energy Foundation gave $166.3M across 597 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $156.2M across 617 grants.
What is United States Energy Foundation's typical grant size?
United States Energy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $135,000, and its average grant was $278,567, across 597 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from United States Energy Foundation that year got $342K on average.
Where does United States Energy Foundation give grants?
United States Energy Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest states were California (12%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (71 grants), Chicago, IL (23 grants), New York, NY (20 grants) and Portland, OR (17 grants).
Does United States Energy Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of United States Energy Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (49 of 597) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Who are United States Energy Foundation's largest grantees?
United States Energy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Climate Power ($21,000,000), Sustainable Markets Foundation ($2,620,000) and The Partnership Project Inc ($2,590,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is United States Energy Foundation?
United States Energy Foundation reported $215.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $261.4M.
What does United States Energy Foundation fund?
USEF’s mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. It supports education and analysis promoting nonpartisan policy solutions, including work related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Its stated priorities are power, transportation, buildings, and industry. Its 2024 filing describes grants supporting cleaner buildings, vehicles and fuels, renewable energy technologies, and equitable access to clean-energy benefits. USEF’s grantees include busin…
How do I apply for a grant from United States Energy Foundation?
USEF does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is United States Energy Foundation's EIN?
United States Energy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1740146. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does United States 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.
Here's the math on researching United States Energy Foundation by hand.
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