Vote Solar
Vote Solar fights for a 100% clean energy transition that puts the interests, health and well-being of people at its center.
Vote Solar at a glance
In short: Vote Solar gave $88K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $88,125
- +827.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +300.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,031
- +131.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $19,500
- Total assets
- $14,678,705
- -1.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Vote Solar funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gridlab ($43K). Together the top 4 received $88K.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 10 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Vote Solar gives
- Giving fell 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2023) to $285K (2021). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $88K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gridlab Berkeley, CA | Grid Equity Midwest (GEM) Coalition | $42,625 |
| Community Power Coon Rapids, MN | Grid Equity Midwest (GEM) Coalition | $19,500 |
| Soulardarity Highland Park, MI | Grid Equity Midwest (GEM) Coalition | $19,500 |
| Illinois Peoples Action Bloomington, IL | Grid Equity Midwest (GEM) Coalition | $6,500 |
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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 | $14,678,705 | $9,548,879 | $9,488,163 | $88,125 | 4 | $596,168 |
| 2023 | $14,841,283 | $9,365,023 | $9,681,702 | $9,500 | 1 | $359,634 |
| 2022 | $15,251,412 | $7,417,991 | $8,701,220 | $268,000 | 2 | $45,791 |
| 2021 | $16,151,293 | $12,907,354 | $7,403,908 | $285,000 | 2 | $16,496 |
| 2020 | $11,225,315 | $9,944,750 | $6,814,308 | $280,000 | 1 | $34,009 |
About Vote Solar
Based on IRS filings
Vote Solar is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Oakland, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $14.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $88K. Net investment income was $596K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Vote Solar is led by Sachu Constantine, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 9 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sachu Constantine
Executive Director
Mng Director Regulatory → President & Executive Director, 2021
President & Executive Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2020) → $268K (2024)
Zaid Ashai
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Kenworthy
Senior Reg. Director Mdwt
Reg Director Midwest → Senior Reg. Director Mdwt, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$135K (2021) → $163K (2024)
Nathan Phelps
Mng Director Regulatory
Mngng Director Regultry → Mng Director Regulatory, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$154K (2022) → $180K (2024)
Marta Tomic
Mng Director Nat Prgm
Managing Director → Mng Director Nat Prgm, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$166K (2023) → $164K (2024)
Lindsay Hallock
Dpt Prgm Director Stst
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2024)
Heather McTeer Toney
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Carson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Curtis Seymour
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Wallace
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tarak Shah
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steph Speirs
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Brooks
CFO
Treasurer → Treasurer & Staff, 2021
Treasurer & Staff → CFO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$101K (2020) → $202K (2024)
Ayesha Herian
Chief of Staff
Mng Director Committee → Chief of Staff, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$144K (2021) → $168K (2024)
Irina Cortez
Talent Officer
Mngng Director Talent → Talent Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$153K (2022) → $177K (2024)
Sean Garren DeKrey
Secretary & Cpo
Secretary & Staff → Secretary & Cpo, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$185K (2022) → $209K (2024)
Former officers (18)
- Former: James Gilliam (2020–2023) — Senior Regulatory Director
- Former: Jessica Brittsan (2020–2023) — Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Former: Steph Spiers (2023) — Director
- Former: Kristin Mayes (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Wallace (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Sheridan Pauker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Stephanie Chen (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Adam Browning (2020–2021) — President & Executive Director
- Former: Katherine Chiles Ottenweller (2020–2021) — Se Director
- Former: Annie Lapp (2021) — Secretary & Staff
- Former: Emily Cozart-Mohammed (2021) — Director Philanthropy
- Former: Sean Garren (2021) — Secretary & Staff
- Former: Anna Lappe (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Cecil Corbin-Mark (2020) — Director
- Former: David Crane (2020) — Director
- Former: Edward Smeloff (2020) — Program Director
- Former: Melanie Santiago-Mosier (2020) — Access & Equity Director
- Former: Sanjay Wagle (2020) — Director
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $268K, to Sachu Constantine (Executive Dir.). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Vote Solar
How much does Vote Solar give each year?
Vote Solar gave $88K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $10K across 1 grant.
What is Vote Solar's typical grant size?
Vote Solar's median grant in 2024 was $19,500, and its average grant was $22,031, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Vote Solar give grants?
Vote Solar's top state is California, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Minnesota (22%) and Michigan (22%).
Does Vote Solar give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Vote Solar's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grid Equity Midwest (GEM) Coalition" (4 grants).
How large is Vote Solar?
Vote Solar reported $14.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.5M.
What is Vote Solar?
Vote Solar is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Oakland, CA. It holds $14.7M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Vote Solar's EIN?
Vote Solar's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4396728. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vote Solar's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Vote Solar'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.
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