Elevate Energy is an environmentalist advocacy organization based in Chicago, Illinois. It was established in 2000 by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), a nonprofit focused on sustainable urban development. Elevate Energy works in areas such as building performance, real-time electricity pricing, climate change analysis, energy planning, and “green” building research. The organization receives funding from various left-of-center organizations, including the New Venture Fund, a nonprofit managed by Arabella Advisors.  ^{1 2}

Background

Elevate Energy, originally called “Community Energy Cooperative,” was created following widespread blackouts in the Chicago area. Initially focused on reducing energy demand, the organization now works on building performance, real-time electricity pricing, energy planning, and “green” building research. It was established as a spinoff of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, a nonprofit centered on sustainable urban development. ^{3 4}

Leadership

Anne Evens serves as the CEO of Elevate Energy and has worked in nonprofit and governmental roles for over 30 years. Her prior work includes research contributions to the Chicago Climate Action Plan and the Regional Energy Plan for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Evens also holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health and is a board member for the Rebuilding Exchange, National Housing Trust, and Health Alliance International. ^{5 6 7}

According to the organization’s tax forms, David Shryock is the vice chair and treasurer at Elevate Energy.⁸ Shryock is the founder of SB Partners Capital Fund and serves as a director of both Metal Flow Corporation and the Slovak American Foundation. ⁹

Financials

In 2022, Elevate Energy reported revenues of $38,178,610 and expenses of $35,178,448, with assets totaling $26,024,460. That year, the organization awarded a $1,596,780 grant to New Ecology, an environmental nonprofit based in Boston. ⁸

Funding

In 2023, Elevate Energy reported receiving approximately $27 million in grants, including $7.8 million in donor-restricted funds. The remaining funding came from various sources, with $1.4 million provided by the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit managed by Arabella Advisors. ^{10 2}

1. “Elevate – Equity Through Climate Change Action.” Elevate. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024. www.elevatenp.org/.
2. “New Venture Fund 2023 990 Public Disclosure Copy.” New Venture Fund. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024. newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NVF-2021-990-Public-Disclosure-Copy.pdf.
3. “History – Elevate.” Elevatenp.org. https://www.elevatenp.org/history/.
4. “Vision + Mission.” Center for Neighborhood Technology, 17 July 2024, cnt.org/vision-and-mission.
5. “Anne Evens.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-evens-376b8614/.
6. “Anne Evens.” Financial Health Network, 24 Apr. 2024, finhealthnetwork.org/team/anne-evens/.
7. “Meet the Team.” Accessed 25 Nov. 2024. Elevatenp.Org, www.elevatenp.org/team/.
8. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Elevate Energy 2022 Form 990. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/364443093/202343149349301914/full.
9. “Team.” SB Partners, 8 July 2017, sbpartners.com/team/.
10. “2023 Elevate Annual Impact Report.” Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.  www.elevatenp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-EE-annual-report.pdf.