Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) is a public charity based in Sanford, North Carolina. It connects local government sustainability practitioners and supports collaboration, learning, and projects that advance local sustainability.
Urban Sustainability Directors Network at a glance
In short: Urban Sustainability Directors Network gave $362K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), top state New York. 78% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $362,074
- -67.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,115
- -65.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $16,714,588
- -6.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 78% first-time grantees (14 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Urban Sustainability Directors Network
- Contact
Mailing address: 500 Westover Drive 14973, Sanford, NC 27330
Phone: (248) 880-1745
Website: https://usdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Urban Sustainability Directors Network funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was City of Amsterdam ($100K). Together the top 10 received $260K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 68 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
USDN’s stated mission refers to local government leaders in the United States, Canada, and abroad. Its website says it works through partner networks so local government sustainability leaders in the United States and Canada can access peer learning. In the 2024 grant data, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (28%), California (26%), Washington (8%), Maryland (7%), and Indiana (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Urban Sustainability Directors Network open to new grantees?
78%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 18 grantees (78%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 11% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $206K (2019) to $1.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $362K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Amsterdam Baldwinsville, NY | Growing Secondary Markets to Inform Construction Materials Policy | $100,000 |
| City of Balitmore Baltimore, MD | Hydro Panels, Canopy, and Resilience for Ashburton | $26,000 |
| County of Louisville Louisville, KY | Community-Led Climate Action Through Food Justice | $20,000 |
| City of Green Bay Greenbay, WI | Bridging the heat pump cost gap for midwest electrification | $19,450 |
| County of Alameda Oakland, CA | Community-Centered Climate Training Cohort and Government Partnership | $19,300 |
| Coastal Quest Santa Clara County, CA | Collaborative design of federal funding proposal in santa Clara county | $15,000 |
| King County Seattle, WA | Community Driven Climate Policy in King County | $15,000 |
| City of Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Community voice matters - evolving from stipends to partner mous | $15,000 |
| City of Shoreline Shoreline, WA | Building an Equitable Ev Future in Shoreline | $15,000 |
| City of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Greater Cincinnati Higher Education Sustainability Cohort | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,714,588 | $11,313,811 | $18,652,870 | $362,074 | 18 | $153,279 |
| 2023 | $17,813,014 | $15,776,915 | $11,264,994 | $1,106,987 | 19 | $11,922 |
| 2022 | $13,354,681 | $6,959,055 | $8,925,526 | $591,647 | 12 | $1,092 |
| 2021 | $14,958,599 | $9,810,102 | $6,685,547 | $348,586 | 8 | $1,263 |
| 2020 | $11,671,422 | $6,620,497 | $6,244,561 | $987,583 | 11 | $20,178 |
| 2019 | $10,397,149 | $4,005,123 | $5,383,251 | $205,812 | 6 | $6,828 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is to connect local government leaders in the United States, Canada, and abroad to accelerate sustainability practices. Its website describes a mission of creating equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities by advancing local-government sustainability and equipping practitioners to catalyze change.
The website identifies equity, greenhouse-gas reduction, and resilience as priorities. Its project materials include work on sustainable buildings, resilience hubs, clean energy, and other urban sustainability practices. The website says its Catalyst Fund supports incubating and refining new approaches to climate work, partnerships with community-based organizations, and collaborations across members, departments, and jurisdictions.
The 2024 filing describes a proposed five-year urban forestry program involving pass-through tree-planting funds and technical assistance, with goals that include equitable access to urban tree canopy and stronger community engagement. The filing also describes work by the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network and Green Cities California. These are program descriptions in USDN’s filing, not descriptions of the missions of individual grantees.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, USDN reported 18 grants totaling $362,074. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $100,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest reported grant was $100,000 to the City of Amsterdam in Baldwinsville, New York, for “Growing Secondary Markets to Inform Construction Materials Policy.” Other notable grants included $26,000 to the City of Baltimore for “Hydro Panels, Canopy, and Resilience for Ashburton”; $20,000 to the County of Louisville for “Community-Led Climate Action Through Food Justice”; and $19,450 to the City of Green Bay for “Bridging the Heat Pump Cost Gap for Midwest Electrification.”
USDN also awarded $19,300 to the County of Alameda for a community-centered climate training cohort and government partnership. Coastal Quest received $15,000 for collaborative design of a federal funding proposal in Santa Clara County. Coastal Quest describes its own mission as accelerating solutions to build resilient coastal communities for people, nature, and the climate.
USDN’s website describes its funding opportunities as collaborative and member-driven. It says members receive funding guidance and support, and that applications to network grant funds are available to Partner Networks when they meet the grant request for proposals’ requirements and provide a secondary benefit to the network.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sidney Ribaux as chair, Ingrid Fish as vice chair, Cheyenne Flores as treasurer, and Laurene Hamilton as chief membership experience officer. It also lists Austin Blackmon, Katherine Gajewski, Alvaro Sanchez, Jesse King, Darice Ellis, and Sadhu Johnston as members.
Urban Sustainability Directors Network is led by Deneine Christa Powell, CEO on the 2024 filing; 9 of 18 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Deneine Christa Powell
CEO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$138K (2024)
Megan Jamison
Executive Director & Ssdn
Ssdn Director → Executive Director & Ssdn, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$130K (2022) → $174K (2024)
Sidney Ribaux
Chair
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirsten Maynard
Managing Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$171K (2024)
Tracy Morgenstern
Director of Climate Justice
Cnca Co-Director & Climate Justice Director → Director of Climate Justice, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$143K (2022) → $146K (2024)
Ann Livingston
Director of Programs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$148K (2024)
Jamal Brown
CFO
Director of Finance → CFO, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$121K (2023) → $148K (2024)
Jon Crowe
Chief of Strategy
Director → Chief of Strategy, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$150K (2024)
Laurene Hamilton
Chief Membership Exp Officer
Interim Executive Director → Chief Membership Exp Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$112K (2023) → $161K (2024)
Amber Weaver
Vice President of Capacity Bldg
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$146K (2024)
Alvaro Sanchez
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jesse King
Member
Secretary → Chair, 2023
Chair → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheyenne Flores
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darice Ellis
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ingrid Fish
Vice Chair
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sadhu Johnston
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Austin Blackmon
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Gajewski
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Barbara Buffaloe (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Lauren Bradley (2019–2023) — CFO
- Former: Deborah Raphael (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Neche' Nelson (2023) — Secretary
- Former: Shauna Sylvestor (2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Zachary Baumer (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Shank (2019–2022) — Cnca Co-Director & Engagement Director
- Former: Zach Baumer (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Jenita McGowan (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Kristin Baja (2021–2022) — Director, Support & Innova
- Former: Deborah Rafael (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Mia Arter (2019–2021) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Nils Moe (2019–2021) — CEO
- Former: Garrett Fitzgerald (2020–2021) — Chief Programs Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $174K, to Megan Jamison (Executive Director, SSDN). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Urban Sustainability Directors Network
How much does Urban Sustainability Directors Network give each year?
Urban Sustainability Directors Network gave $362K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 19 grants.
What is Urban Sustainability Directors Network's typical grant size?
Urban Sustainability Directors Network's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $20,115, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Urban Sustainability Directors Network that year got $22K on average.
Where does Urban Sustainability Directors Network give grants?
Urban Sustainability Directors Network's top state is New York, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (26%) and Washington (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Urban Sustainability Directors Network give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Urban Sustainability Directors Network's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Urban Sustainability Directors Network's largest grantees?
Urban Sustainability Directors Network's largest 2024 grantees include City of Amsterdam ($100,000), City of Balitmore ($26,000) and County of Louisville ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Urban Sustainability Directors Network?
Urban Sustainability Directors Network reported $16.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.3M.
What does Urban Sustainability Directors Network fund?
The organization’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is to connect local government leaders in the United States, Canada, and abroad to accelerate sustainability practices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Urban Sustainability Directors Network?
Urban Sustainability Directors Network has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check usdn.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Urban Sustainability Directors Network's EIN?
Urban Sustainability Directors Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-5015863. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Urban Sustainability Directors Network funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/urban-sustainability-directors-network-morg_fe5339c4dc26448fb61b9945a3cbce45
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_825015863_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Urban Sustainability Directors Network funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/urban-sustainability-directors-network-morg_fe5339c4dc26448fb61b9945a3cbce45},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Urban Sustainability Directors Network'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.
Urban Sustainability Directors Network down — hundreds of funders to go?