Elevate Energy

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

At-A-Glance

Formation:

2020

Executive Director:

Anne Evens

Location: Chicago, IL View on map
Tax ID: 36-4443093
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $58,343,027 Revenue: $60,915,201 Expenses: $57,878,205

Contents

    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

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $58,343,027 $60,915,201 $57,878,205 View
    2023 $42,389,474 $50,880,463 $46,548,460 View
    2022 $34,326,769 $40,435,759 $33,010,602 View
    2021 $26,024,460 $38,178,610 $35,178,448 View
    2020 $19,511,651 $28,275,330 $26,894,182 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 317

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Anne EvensCEO & President$265,570
    Rebecca Turner BucklandChief People Officer$212,112
    Lindy LoyetChief Financial Officer$211,892
    Abigail CorsoChief Strategy Officer$211,119
    Antonia OrnelasChief Program Officer$206,315
    Delmar GillusChief Operating Officer$201,250

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $85,673,477
    • Number of Grants: 210
    • Number of Funders: 64

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $12,000,0002020 Freedom Together FoundationTo increase the number of affordable housing units served with energy and water upgrades and innovative technologies in our core markets and newer markets thereby reducing carbon emissions; to address the need for climate adaptation; to expand our impact through networks of like-minded organizations; and to link energy efficiency, equity and wealth creation.
    $5,250,0002022 Freedom Together FoundationNATIONAL APPROACH TO SCALING EFFICIENCY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
    $4,500,0002024 Freedom Together FoundationNATIONAL APPROACH TO SCALING EFFICIENCY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
    $4,500,0002023 Freedom Together FoundationNATIONAL APPROACH TO SCALING EFFICIENCY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
    $1,575,0002021 Wells Fargo FoundationDecarbonize 100 homes owned by LMI households + BIPOC contractors
    $1,457,5002023 New Venture FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $1,064,0802020 Illinois Science and Energy Innovation FoundationCONSUMER EDUCATION
    $1,000,0002024 Builders Vision FoundationTo provide general operating support
    $1,000,0002023 Builders Vision FoundationTo support the Justice40 Accelerator's Midwest cohort and expand Elevate's Illinois workforce training and development programs
    $1,000,0002023 RF Catalytic Capital, Inc.BUILD CAPACITY OF BIPOC COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
    $1,000,0002022 Pritzker FoundationGeneral Operating Support
    $1,000,0002022 Builders Vision Foundationto support the Justice40 Accelerator cohort in the Midwest while growing Elevates workforce development programs in IL
    $1,000,0002021 Freedom Together FoundationThe goal of Justice40 Accelerator: Sprint to Succession is to ready and position frontline organizations to receive and deploy Federal stimulus funds designated for underserved communities.
    $1,000,0002021 Arie and Ida Crown MemorialPROGRAM SUPPORT
    $996,0802021 Illinois Science and Energy Innovation FoundationCONSUMER EDUCATION
    $925,0002024 United States Energy FoundationTO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.
    $750,0002024 Seattle FoundationTo increase access to green jobs and provide clean, affordable heat, power, and water through weatherization, electrification, and solar upgrades in low-income neighborhoods. Grants monies from the Salesforce Fund may not be used to purchase products or services from Salesforce or any Salesforce subsidiary; or transferred to a 501(c)(4) organization or used for any lobbying purposes. By accepting this grant, your organization agrees to provide relevant reporting to Salesforce approximately 12 months after the receipt of funds. Reporting parameters will be mutually agreed-upon between your organization and Salesforce.
    $700,0002024 RF Catalytic Capital, Inc.TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
    $650,0002020 Freedom Together FoundationCovid-19 – With this grant, Elevate aims to provide emergency funding to vulnerable community members and businesses delivering critical services, small contractor businesses facing disruptions in demand for services, and households experiencing financial instability due to unemployment, illness, or childcare/school closures and food insecurity due to the stay-at-home orders.
    $575,0002024 The Kresge FoundationThis project grant will fund Elevate to convene a multisector team developing and operating a network of resilience hubs on the east side of Detroit in its next phase of growth.
    $500,0002024 The Joyce FoundationENVIRONMENT
    $500,0002024 McKnight Foundationto develop a direct pay program that is accessible and scalable to rural municipalities, Tribes, and nonprofits, and to complete six demonstration projects that provide technical assistance to leverage direct pay
    $500,0002024 Skyline FoundationFOR THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF JUSTICE40 ACCELERATOR
    $500,0002024 Crankstart FoundationTO SUPPORT THE CLEAN ENERGY CONTRACTOR ACCELERATOR & CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS.
    $500,0002023 Crankstart FoundationTO SUPPORT THE CLEAN ENERGY CONTRACTOR ACCELERATOR & CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $19,543,442
    • Number of Grants: 74
    • Number of Recipients: 54

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $1,596,7802022 NEW ECOLOGY INCSub-grantee for national market expansion
    $1,568,8982021 NEW ECOLOGY INCSubgrantee for national market expansion
    $1,525,8492023 NEW ECOLOGY INCNational Market Expansion
    $1,519,0732020 NEW ECOLOGY INCNon-profit technical entity helping Elevate service new markets outside of Chicago
    $1,021,3352024 NEW ECOLOGY INCNational Market Expansion
    $512,3902023 Bickerdike Redevelopment CorporationProgram Services
    $277,2002024 Eastside Community NetworkProgram Services
    $250,0002021 SOLUTIONS PROJECT INCSubgrantee for Justice 40 initiative
    $226,1972024 US Green Building Council-IllinoisProgram Services
    $200,0002024 Solutions Project IncProgram Services
    $200,0002022 Csi Support & Development ServicesSub-grant facilitates elimination of fossil fuel usage in buildings
    $180,0002023 West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency IncBuilding Electrification
    $162,0002023 SOLUTIONS PROJECT INCProgram Services
    $160,0002024 Bickerdike Redevelopment CorporationProgram Services
    $155,4992024 COMMUNITYHEALTHProgram Services
    $150,0002023 Ann Arbor Housing Development CorpEnergy Efficiency Upgrades
    $150,0002023 Avalon Nonprofit Housing Corp.Energy Efficiency Upgrade
    $146,2502022 COMMUNITYHEALTHSub-grant supports health homes/homes visiting program
    $132,5002023 COMMUNITYHEALTHProgram Services
    $119,0002022 Wisconsin Housing Preservation CorpSub-grantee for building electrification program
    $115,0002022 Develop Detroit IncSub-grantee for building electrification program
    $105,0002023 Eastside Community NetworkProgram Services
    $90,0002024 Slipstream Group IncEnergy Planning
    $85,0002024 Business Services Collective NFP DBA Builders AvenueProgram Services
    $85,0002023 Business Services Collective NFP DBA Builders AvenueProgram Services

    References

    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.