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Non-profit

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)

Website:

www.b-e-f.org
Location:

Portland, OR
Tax ID:

93-1248274
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $22,287,565
Expenses: $17,692,839
Assets: $37,270,230
Type:

Environmentalist group
Formation:

1998
CEO:

Todd Reeve
Budget (2023):

Revenue: $49,593,635
Expenses: $38,138,540
Net Assets: $45,610,682 27

References

  1. Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2023.

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The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is a left-of-center environmentalist group established in 1998 in Portland, Oregon. BEF partners with businesses and organizations on projects to develop sustainable water solutions and solar projects. 1 In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Biden administration announced a $56 million grant to the group. 2 3

Background

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1998 by environmentalist Angus Duncan to support the development of weather-dependent sources of energy within the Pacific Northwest, mostly focused on solar energy. 4 1

BEF has supported left-of-center climate certifications and environmentalist programs such as 1% for the Planet, B Lab certifications, the Climate Label certification through Change Climate, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 5 6

Activities

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) claims to have advocated for environmentalist programs focused on advancing water sustainability, carbon credits, and solar energy while working with businesses, environmentalist organizations, and policymakers to advance them. 7 In 2024, BEF claimed to invested in 65 watershed restoration projects and supported the installation of 12 solar projects that benefit low-income households. 8

BEF developed and provides a renewable energy STEM education program along with science kit materials for K-12 educators. 9 Originally established in 2002 as “the Solar 4R Schools program,” it was renamed to “Clean Energy Bright Futures” in 2018. In 2019, its educator training program was named Clean Energy Fellows and focused on left-of-center weather dependent energy solutions. 10

Partnerships

As of 2025, several of the listed climate certifications and environmentalist programs which the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is partnered with include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 1% for the Planet, 11 the Meyer Memorial Trust, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Climate Resilience Fund, The Nature Conservancy, 12 the Climate Action Reserve, and GRID Alternatives. 13 14

Funding

According to its 2023 990 form, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) reported $49,593,635 in total revenue, almost 70 percent of which was from government grants. 2

Previous donors to the BEF include Western Resource Advocates, the Environmental Defense Action Fund, the World Resources Institute, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Windward Fund, the Tides Foundation, and the New Venture Fund. 15

In 2024, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund awarded BEF a $31.6 million grant to develop a solar solution for 1,500 low-income households. 16

In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Biden Administration awarded BEF a $56 million Solar for All grant to deliver solar to “low-income, tribal, and disadvantaged communities” within the state of Idaho. The award was part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant competition through the Biden administration-backed Inflation Reduction Act which it claimed would “advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis.” 3

BEF was also awarded $30.2 million through the same program to develop solar energy for “low-income and disadvantaged communities” in the state of Wyoming 17 and another $43.7 million to be used to help similar communities “benefit from residential-serving distributed solar energy and storage projects.” 18 The Solar for All program is a $7 billion investment by the Biden administration to address climate change through solar projects in low-income communities. 19

In August 2024, the United States Forest Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded BEF $1.9 million “to help underserved forest landowners in WA, OR access climate markets.” 20 This grant was part of the Forest Landowners Support initiative under the Biden administration-backed Inflation Reduction Act. 20

In February 2025, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation awarded $5 million in grants for six climate projects that were scheduled to be administered through BEF, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the Nisqually Indian Tribe. 21

Grantmaking

According to its 2023 990 form, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) awarded 77 grants totaling over $16.5 million to support environmental projects and organizations. Its grantees included the American Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Council for Watershed Health, River Partners, Forterra, the National Audubon Society, the Ecostudies Institute, and the Climate Center. 22

In 2024, the EPA awarded the Washington State Department of Ecology $9 million in funds to develop a grant program to improve the Puget Sound riparian systems. BEF is involved in the development of this grant program along with the Washington State Conservation Commission and the University of Washington. 23

Leadership

Todd Reeve is the CEO of Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), serving in the role since 2011. He has been with the organization since 2000, starting as director of the watersheds program. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon with a major in environmental studies and a master’s in physical geography and earth science from the University of Wisconsin. 24

As of 2025, Andy Macklin was the board chair. He is the managing director of WSP, a global professional services firm that provides engineering and design services related to transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, power, energy, water, and mining. 25 Macklin earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University. In addition to BEF, he is a board member of Portland State University and utility technology association Grid Forward. 26

References

  1. Bonneville Environmental Foundation – Solutions. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.b-e-f.org/#
  2. Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VIII). 2023.
  3. “EPA Announces Bonneville Environmental Foundation to Receive $56M to Deliver Residential Solar, Lowering Energy Costs and Advancing Environmental Justice Across Idaho.” United States Environmental Protection Agency. April 23, 2024. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-bonneville-environmental-foundation-receive-56m-deliver-residential
  4. “Angus Duncan.” Portland Sustainability Institute. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://pdxinstitute.org/index.php/board/5-board/9-angus-duncan
  5. “About Us.” Change Climate. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.changeclimate.org/about
  6. “Carbon Credits.” Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.b-e-f.org/programs/bef-carbon-credits/
  7. “Bonneville Environmental Foundation.” Candid Foundation Directory. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=BONN020
  8. Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part III). 2023.
  9. LinkedIn – Bonneville Environmental Foundation – About. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/company/bonneville-environmental-foundation/about/
  10. “About CE.” Clean Energy Bright Futures. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.cebrightfutures.org/about/
  11. “Water Restoration Certificates.” Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.b-e-f.org/programs/water-restoration-certificates/
  12.  “Watersheds Program.” Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.b-e-f.org/programs/bef-watersheds-program/
  13. “Carbon Credits.” Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.b-e-f.org/programs/bef-carbon-credits/
  14. “Solar for All.” Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.b-e-f.org/programs/solar-for-all/
  15. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&q=93-1248274&sort=best&submit=Apply&year%5B%5D=2020&year%5B%5D=2021&year%5B%5D=2022&year%5B%5D=2023
  16. “City Council approves $300 million from Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) for large-scale transformative projects throughout city.” Portland.gov. December 18, 2024. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.portland.gov/bps/cleanenergy/news/2024/12/18/city-council-approves-300-million-portland-clean-energy-community
  17. “Biden-Harris Administration announces Bonneville Environmental Foundation to receive $30.2 million to deliver residential solar in Wyoming, lowering energy costs and advancing Environmental Justice.” United States Environmental Protection Agency. April 22, 2024. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-bonneville-environmental-foundation-receive-302
  18. Ken Braun. “Low-Quality Energy for the LIDACs and $21.8 Billion in Waste from the EPA.” Capital Research Center. January 16, 2025. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/low-quality-energy-for-the-lidacs-and-21-8-billion-in-waste-from-the-epa/
  19. “Solar for All: Solar for Energy Communities Highlights.” United Ststes Environmental Protection Agency. February 25, 2025. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund/solar-all-solar-energy-communities-highlights
  20.  Catherine Caruso. “Portland-based organization to receive $1.9 million to help underserved forest landowners in WA, OR access climate markets.” USDA Forest Service. August 29, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1202299
  21. Matthew Smith. “From forests, to beavers, millions in grant money headed to WA climate solutions.” Fox13 Seattle. February 27, 2025. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/grant-money-washington-climate-solutions
  22. Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Schedule I). 2023.
  23. “Puget Sound Riparian Systems Lead Grants.” Department of Ecology State of Washington. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/payments-contracts-grants/grants-loans/find-a-grant-or-loan/climate-resilient-riparian
  24. LinkedIn – Todd Reeve. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-reeve-120b6639/
  25. “Our Story.” WSP. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.wsp.com/en-us/who-we-are/our-story
  26. LinkedIn – Andy Macklin. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-macklin-3643173/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: March - February
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 1998

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Mar Form 990 $22,287,565 $17,692,839 $37,270,230 $5,207,467 N $14,605,724 $7,316,235 $72,483 $713,430 PDF
    2021 Mar Form 990 $18,155,144 $11,694,327 $29,779,523 $2,311,486 N $13,340,661 $4,441,654 $91,893 $524,663
    2020 Mar Form 990 $11,379,109 $9,012,187 $23,029,155 $2,021,935 N $6,548,099 $4,320,217 $111,490 $346,838 PDF
    2019 Mar Form 990 $11,402,053 $8,033,367 $19,505,645 $865,347 N $7,024,310 $4,058,807 $71,730 $278,923 PDF
    2018 Mar Form 990 $6,494,035 $6,099,090 $16,549,518 $1,277,906 Y $3,009,836 $3,239,816 $39,930 $268,445 PDF
    2017 Mar Form 990 $4,979,425 $5,933,627 $15,969,075 $1,092,408 N $1,363,107 $3,368,642 $10,583 $316,773 PDF
    2016 Mar Form 990 $7,547,173 $5,663,206 $17,292,400 $1,222,896 N $3,682,802 $3,676,610 $9,107 $305,863 PDF
    2015 Mar Form 990 $6,662,535 $5,211,757 $16,277,253 $1,981,404 N $3,097,088 $3,330,577 $10,642 $305,942 PDF
    2014 Mar Form 990 $6,944,122 $4,802,122 $14,562,212 $1,618,103 N $3,276,710 $3,427,344 $5,975 $292,739 PDF
    2013 Mar Form 990 $5,747,245 $6,205,653 $12,034,776 $1,147,068 N $2,218,543 $3,275,158 $4,827 $304,602 PDF
    2012 Mar Form 990 $6,698,251 $6,986,247 $12,435,187 $1,039,162 N $2,217,147 $4,187,916 $14,405 $552,665 PDF
    2011 Mar Form 990 $7,664,511 $8,819,000 $13,239,597 $1,197,864 N $1,859,536 $5,434,063 $109,119 $392,279 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)

    1500 SW FIRST AVENUE SUITE 710
    Portland, OR 97201-5817