Energy Action Fund FY2020 filing

Not tax-deductible

San Francisco, CA501(c)(4)Since 2008Environment EIN 26-3390444Revenue $12.3M in FY2020Latest return filed Nov 5, 2025

On file with the IRSenergyactionfund.org55 2nd Street 24th Floor, 94105-3491 · San Francisco, CATax-exempt since Jan 2009

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Energy Action Fund advocates for a clean and equitable Energy future to tackle the climate crisis.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
100¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$503K 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

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
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
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $4.1M a year · 18% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
100%
of spending
Looks good: 100% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$503K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
12 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 11.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $200K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$355K
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 5 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
$12.3M
Spent
$9.4M
To programs
100%
Net assets
$8.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$12.3M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$12.3M
FY2021$15.4M
FY2022$12.0M
FY2023$48.0M
FY2024$24.4M
Expenses
$9.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$9.4M
FY2021$11.9M
FY2022$16.9M
FY2023$23.1M
FY2024$30.3M
Net assets
$8.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.8M
FY2021$12.4M
FY2022$7.6M
FY2023$32.6M
FY2024$26.7M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jan 2009.

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

Where the money goes

100 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 100% · $9.4M Management & general 0% · $3K

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

14 people listed on the 990; $503K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Eaf Executive Director
$256,359Pt VII · Sec A
Eaf Executive Director(thru 1/15/20)
$146,752Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director, Finance
$19,983Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Regional Director, Southeast
$19,501Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Regional Director, West
$19,487Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Regional Director, Midwest
$19,452Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Regional Director, Northeast
$19,383Pt VII · Sec A
$2,288Pt VII · Sec A

Ryan Werder’s $249K as Eaf Executive Director is at the 50th percentile of top reported officer pay among 324 $10–100M 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Amy Fuerstenau————$256,359
Ryan Werder$248,557$188,751$133,334$53,032$19,452
Thomas McClure$185,559————
Carrie Doyle————$146,752
Elizabeth Shroff$141,103$142,900———
Bianca Joseph$107,539————
Mariah Tate$100,667————
Maria Alvarez$61,508————

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.

See Energy Action Fund executive salaries →

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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Advocates for a clean and equitable energy future by funding grants that support clean energy and energy efficiency policies to tackle the climate crisis.

Questions for Energy Action Fund

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3 programs · $9.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

To provide grants to support the advancement of clean energy and energy efficiency policies.

$8.9Mprogram expense
02

To provide strategic consultation on state-level campaigns to support clean energy solutions.

$294Kprogram expense
03

To provide strategic consultation on state and federal campaigns to advance clean energy solutions.

$180Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
IncaendoFY2025$200K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$200K
Grants paid · 559 grants · $61.3M · 2020–2024
Tides AdvocacyCA · FY2024$1,135,000
Counterspark INCDC · FY2024$695,000
Faith in Place Action FundIL · FY2024$660,000
Pennsylvania UnitedPA · FY2024$515,000
Utility Action AllianceWA · FY2024$350,000
Western Conservation ActionCO · FY2024$330,000
Solar United Neighbors ActionDC · FY2024$300,000
Ceres INCMA · FY2024$277,000
See all 559 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.4M
Money outPt IX
$9.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.4M
Managementcol C$3K
Owns and owesPt X
$8.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9.0M
Total assetsLn 16$9.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$355K
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$4.2M
Gains on assetsLn 7−$18K
Total revenueLn 12$12.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.9M
SavingsLn 2$4.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$9.0M
Total assetsLn 16$9.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$355K
Net assetsLn 32$8.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 539
VolunteersI 64
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$4.2M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.3M$9.0M
Total assetsLn 16$6.7M$9.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$847K$355K
Net assetsLn 32$5.9M$8.8M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$6.2M$6.2M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$437K$435K$3K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$189K$189K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$47K$47K
Legal feesLn 11b$99K$99K
Accounting feesLn 11c$4K$4K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$2.3M$2.3M
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$538$538
Office expensesLn 13$6K$6K$77
Information technologyLn 14$29K$29K$34
OccupancyLn 16$68K$68K
TravelLn 17$152$152
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$829$829
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.4M$9.4M$3K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 5, 2025 $24.4M$30.3M−$5.9M$26.7M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 13, 2024 $48.0M$23.1M$25.0M$32.6M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2023 $12.0M$16.9M−$4.8M$7.6M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2022 $15.4M$11.9M$3.6M$12.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 10, 2021 $12.3M$9.4M$2.9M$8.8M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,338,784 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $9,895,000$12,356,587
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0−$17,803
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,895,000$12,338,784
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $3,780,616$6,216,350
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $381,258$673,288
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,719,805$2,523,986
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,881,679$9,413,624
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,013,321$2,925,160
Part VI · Governance 5 of 6 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
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
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $12,338,784 across 6 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $27 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1d Related organizations$1,000,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$11,356,587
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$4,182,170
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$12,356,587
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$17,830−$17,830
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$17,803$12,338,784
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,413,624 across 13 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $6,216,350$6,216,350
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $434,608 · Management $2,552$437,160
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $188,902$188,902
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $47,226$47,226
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $98,546$98,546
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $4,400$4,400
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $2,315,912$2,315,912
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $538$538
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,258 · Management $77$6,335
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $29,410 · Management $34$29,444
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $67,830$67,830
IX-17 TravelPrograms $152$152
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $829$829
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,410,961 · Management $2,663 · Fundraising $0$9,413,624
Part X · Balance sheet $9,177,467 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $5,343,738$4,850,024
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$4,182,179
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,400,000$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$145,264
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,743,738$9,177,467
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $156,925$297,675
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $689,681$57,500
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $846,606$355,175
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,236,015$4,456,850
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,661,117$4,365,442
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,897,132$8,822,292
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,743,738$9,177,467
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $8,822,292 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,338,784
XI-2 Total expenses$9,413,624
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,925,160
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,897,132
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$8,822,292

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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