Efficiency Forward, INC. Is a non-profit that administers and runs the dlc.the designlights consortium (dlc) is a non-profit organization with a mission to achieve energy optimization by enabling controllability with a focus on quality, people, and the environment.as a non-profit, the dlc is commited to improving energy Efficiency for commercial lighting throughout north america, and to making a positive climate impact worldwide. It's our goal to provide a trusted, impartial assessment of the industry's highest performing lighting products and systems to boost consumer trust and adoption of the technologies that save the most energy.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.1M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $349K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.1M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$1.3M
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$9.4M
-12% vs prior year
Spent
$9.3M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$4.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$9.4M
FY2023▼ -12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$9.5M
FY2021$9.7M
FY2022$10.7M
FY2023$9.4M
FY2024$7.8M
FY2025$6.2M
Expenses
$9.3M
FY2023▼ -12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$9.9M
FY2021$9.8M
FY2022$10.5M
FY2023$9.3M
FY2024$8.6M
FY2025$7.3M
Net assets
$4.8M
FY2023▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.6M
FY2021$4.5M
FY2022$4.7M
FY2023$4.8M
FY2024$4.0M
FY2025$2.9M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1998.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $7.9M Management & general 15% · $1.4M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $1.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$242,337Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$198,928Pt VII · Sec A
Technical Director
$169,989Pt VII · Sec A
Technical Manager
$143,710Pt VII · Sec A
Program Director
$135,454Pt VII · Sec A
Program Director
$119,477Pt VII · Sec A
Technical Manager
$115,871Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Christina Halfpenny’s $251K as Executive Director is at the 93rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Christina Halfpenny$250,761$258,813$242,337$231,816$221,032$216,316
Stephen White$210,959$207,011$198,928$192,966$195,685—
Carolyn Weiner$185,536—————
Steve White—————$178,643
Stuart Berjansky$178,102$172,541$169,989$161,564$159,994—
Dorene Maniccia———$177,122$169,656—
Dorene a Maniccia—————$163,483
Liesel Whitney-Schulte$159,524$153,294$119,477$148,671$148,230—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Promotes energy efficiency to protect and preserve the environment.

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3 programs · $7.2M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

The designlights consortium (DLC) solid-state lighting qualified product list (QPL) - the DLC'S solid-state lighting QPL is the industry's largest verified list of high performing led lightingproducts. The list promotes energy efficiency by distinguishing quality, high-performance led products.

$6.0Mprogram expense
02

Dlc Networked Lighting Controls (nlc) Program

The DLC'S NLC program is a suite of tools and resources that support energy efficiency administrators and other stakeholders to enable the widespread adoption of NLC with the effect of significantly reducing energy use in commercial buildings.

$684Kprogram expense
03

DLC members are state regional, and utility energy efficiency programs throughout the united states and canada. Members are integral to the success of the DLC. Our members provide expertise and insight into policy and specification development processes and on topics related to quality, performance, energy efficiency, and lighting market…

$539Kprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$9.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$318K
Investment incomeLn 3$140K
Money outPt IX
$9.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$7.9M
Managementcol C$1.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$4.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.8M
Total assetsLn 16$6.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$318K
Government grantsLn 1e$318K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$140K
Total revenueLn 12$9.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4K
SavingsLn 2$4.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$357K
Other assetsLn 15$260K
Total assetsLn 16$6.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$4.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 529
VolunteersI 67
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.3M$4.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$718K$357K
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M$6.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$4.7M$4.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$523K$330K$193K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.3M$2.2M$82K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$108K$99K$9K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$204K$190K$14K
Payroll taxesLn 10$213K$187K$26K
Legal feesLn 11b$99K$36K$64K
Accounting feesLn 11c$171K$171K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$4.1M$3.9M$149K
Office expensesLn 13$52$52
Information technologyLn 14$61K$61K
OccupancyLn 16$75K$75K
TravelLn 17$74K$60K$13K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$153K$108K$45K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$361K$361K
InsuranceLn 23$25K$25K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$852K$767K$85K
All other expensesLn 24e$10$10
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.3M$7.9M$1.4M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $6.2M$7.3M−$1.1M$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $7.8M$8.6M−$782K$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $9.4M$9.3M$96K$4.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $10.7M$10.5M$189K$4.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $9.7M$9.8M−$123K$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $9.5M$9.9M−$409K$4.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $9,405,051 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $0$318,409
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $10,695,606$8,946,516
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $16,309$140,126
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $10,711,915$9,405,051
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,432,520$3,361,840
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $7,090,437$5,946,786
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $10,522,957$9,308,626
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $188,958$96,425
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $9,405,051 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$318,409
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$318,409
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $8,946,516$8,946,516
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $140,126$140,126
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $8,946,516 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $140,126$9,405,051
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,308,626 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $329,807 · Management $193,217$523,024
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,232,415 · Management $81,794$2,314,209
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $98,524 · Management $9,222$107,746
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $190,114 · Management $13,674$203,788
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $186,760 · Management $26,313$213,073
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $35,573 · Management $63,542$99,115
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $170,701$170,701
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,927,134 · Management $148,788$4,075,922
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $52$52
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $61,100$61,100
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $74,742$74,742
IX-17 TravelPrograms $60,479 · Management $13,451$73,930
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $108,090 · Management $44,857$152,947
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $360,770$360,770
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $25,323$25,323
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $767,222 · Management $84,952$852,174
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $10$10
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $7,936,118 · Management $1,372,508 · Fundraising $0$9,308,626
Part X · Balance sheet $6,092,707 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,898$4,161
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,309,458$4,823,393
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$318,409
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $229,949$239,423
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $95,267$89,972
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $717,703$356,933
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $73,780$260,416
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,429,055$6,092,707
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,128,893$796,832
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $547,926$259,774
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $63,780$251,220
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,740,599$1,307,826
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,688,456$4,784,881
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,688,456$4,784,881
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,429,055$6,092,707
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,784,881 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$9,405,051
XI-2 Total expenses$9,308,626
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$96,425
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,688,456
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,784,881

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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