Top 10 Renewable Energy Nonprofits Leading Climate Action in 2025
Discover how top renewable energy charities are making headway through advocacy, innovation, policy reform, and beyond.
Jamy-Lee Holt
Discover how top renewable energy charities are making headway through advocacy, innovation, policy reform, and beyond.
Did you know that wind and solar power generation are set to surpass nuclear power generation by 2026? While there is a notable uptick in clean energy adoption among first-world countries and emerging markets, there is still a lot of progress to be made – and renewable energy nonprofits are leading the charge.
In this article, we highlight the top 10 clean energy nonprofits catalyzing the world’s transition to sustainable energy usage. We also share what they have in common and how you can show your support.
Let’s dive in!
Renewable energy nonprofits and charities share the common goal of reducing fossil fuel emissions, promoting sustainable energy usage, and accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy.
They do this by:
Many renewable energy charities also host campaigns to raise funds for energy projects that make clean energy sources accessible to all.
Here are the top 10 renewable energy charities you can support in 2025 and beyond.
Mission: To accelerate energy sustainability and independence in each local region it operates.
Gigawatt Global is a multinational renewable energy nonprofit pioneering the development and management of global utility-scale solar fields. They’ve also launched a hydro project and entered into a joint venture focused on wind energy solutions.
With a global footprint in Burundi, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, London, and beyond, they create socially responsible investments in renewable energy in partnership with energy financial partners, governments, development groups, and institutions.
Key milestones include:
Gigawatt Global is transforming rural economies in Africa through its Abundance Initiative. They aim to multiply small-farmer income through solar-powered facilities.
Want to support their cause? Donate to the Abundance Initiative via their Donorbox-hosted donation page:
Mission: Uniting finance, policy and technology to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.
Founded in 2001, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is the driving force behind America’s pan-renewable economy. They unite finance, policy, and technology to take clean energy capacity growth to new heights in the U.S.
ACORE’s impact is spread across three areas:
ACORE is scaling the transition to clean energy through two key initiatives, namely ACORE Accelerate and the Macro Grid Initiative.
ACORE Accelerate empowers small- to medium-sized renewable energy companies by providing hands-on support that elevates their growth in the sector.
The Macro Grid Initiative is an educational program geared toward growing the nation’s local transmission capacity by developing new high-voltage regional and interregional power lines, advanced transmission technologies, and an offshore power grid.
Key milestones include:
Check out this video to see how ACORE is driving change in America’s adoption of clean energy:
Want to get involved? ACORE invites clean energy companies to join its membership program, which opens the doorway to exclusive perks like invite-only roundtables and networking opportunities that shape policy reform and drive business growth.
Alternatively, become a sponsor or donate to help fuel their mission.
Mission: To enable people living in poverty – especially those living in rural, off-grid communities – to transform their lives by improving their access to clean energy, empowering them to develop sustainable and resilient livelihoods, and mitigating the impact of climate change.
Renewable World is one of the leading clean energy nonprofits that provides disadvantaged communities with access to clean energy and empowers them to lead sustainable lives.
Their projects address the root causes of issues faced by impoverished communities and provide solutions powered by renewable energy to transform lives.
Renewable World provides tailored support to those working with communities, enabling the adoption of reliable and affordable technologies that drive productivity among farmers and small businesses. They also provide training and institutional development, and facilitate partnerships to encourage positive change.
But they don’t stop there. Their groundbreaking work includes installing solar-powered water pumps in communities, enabling access to clean energy cooking stoves, and installing solar energy systems in health and education facilities.
Key milestones include:
Renewable World collaborates with communities, manufacturers, and beyond to unlock economic opportunities through access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy. In addition, they equip farmers with the knowledge, tools, and technologies that enable climate-smart agriculture techniques.
Donate to Renewable World’s incredible cause here!
Mission: To help its global membership provide the technical answers to accelerate the transformation to 100% renewable energy.
The International Solar Energy Society (ISES) is the world’s longest-standing solar organization, with a history dating back to 1954. Since its establishment, ISES has led the worldwide transition to solar energy by raising awareness through in-person and online conferences, events, and webinars. They’ve also written several prestigious academic publications on solar energy advances.
ISES established the International Cooperation in Higher Education on Renewable Energy (InCoRE) Education Initiative to strengthen global connections in renewable energy research, facilitate knowledge sharing, and equip international students with access to the most updated scientific advancements. Students completing their theses or research projects collaborate with renowned global advisors to spearhead international solar energy education and research.
Industry leaders making exceptional contributions to advance solar energy applications and make renewable energy more accessible receive recognition through the ISES Awards – a prestigious awards ceremony that occurs every two years.
Together with Elsevier, ISES created the Renewable Transformation Challenge, a bi-annual challenge that spotlights the remarkable strides made in powering and providing renewable energy on a global scale.
Key milestones include:
Immerse yourself in more than 70 years of global breakthroughs in solar research and development by checking out the ISES Online Museum of Solar Energy. To make an online donation or become a founding supporter of the museum, visit this link.
You can support the remarkable work they do by becoming a member of the ISES community. They have membership programs for individuals and organizations, with various membership tiers and benefits available. Learn more here.
Mission: To push the technology and policy changes needed to achieve a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost.
The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is pushing to scale technologies and policies that enable a zero-emissions, high-energy planet cost effectively, focusing on the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the MENA region.
In their efforts to decarbonize the global ecosystem, they aim to effect change in three ways:
The Clean Air Task Force takes a comprehensive approach to clean energy transmission and safeguarding against the effects of climate change. They focus on a broad spectrum of key areas, including energy access, carbon capture, methane pollution prevention, advanced nuclear energy, power plants, and transportation decarbonization, to name a few.
With a four-star rating on Charity Navigator and more than 25 years of experience (and decades of collective knowledge), CATF combines cutting-edge science and analysis with leading technologies and policies to catalyze the world’s transition to clean energy.
Key milestones include:
Want to get involved? Give a one-time or recurring donation to drive their mission forward. Donate here.
Mission: To leave fossil fuels in the ground and learn to live without them.
Leave it in the Ground (LINGO) aims to inspire, educate, and empower progressive leaders with solutions that combat climate change.
As one of the leading renewable energy charities in Germany, LINGO focuses on stopping fossil fuel projects, educating about fossil fuels, and conducting research and analysis on climate change, carbon emissions, climate policy, and beyond. They also explore game-changing climate change solutions and provide support for their implementation.
Key milestones include:
Since its inception, LINGO has launched many notable projects addressing fossil fuel resistance, including its Leave it in the Ground initiative, which aims to leave as much oil, gas, and coal in the ground as possible.
Learn more and give to this initiative by visiting their Donorbox-hosted donation page:
If you’d like to get involved, LINGO also offers internship and volunteer opportunities. Learn more here.
Mission: To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by means of energy conservation and the use of renewable energy.
As one of the pioneering renewable energy charities for England and Wales, the Renewable Energy Foundation (REF) aims to scale public awareness of climate change and energy supply issues and encourage knowledge-driven debate on structured energy policy in the United Kingdom.
REF commissions evidence-based reports from major academics and professionals to provide an independent and authoritative information source. They publish comprehensive data on renewable energy generation in the U.K., providing monthly load factor statistics for the more than 5,000 local renewable energy generators registered under the Renewable Energy Obligation.
They also leverage hourly Met Office data to anticipate the predicted behavior of a large wind carpet, a study acknowledged for its important and innovative contribution to the debate. In addition, REF supports and publishes findings on the relationship between wind energy output, electricity spot prices, and international electricity trading in Germany and Denmark.
REF speakers attend meetings regularly across the U.K. to respond to public consultations.
Key milestones include:
Since its founding, this renewable energy nonprofit has provided critical, data-driven insights into the generation of renewable energy, along with potential issues blocking energy conservation. Some of their findings include:
REF relies on private donations to continue bringing objective information led by data to discussion tables. Help them make a difference and donate to their cause today.
Mission: To promote a better future based on energy, water and materials conservation, renewable energy use, environmental resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental justice for all.
The Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment (FREE) sponsors research, supports graduate education and strategic consultations with organizations to create new sustainability models, advises policymakers and leaders, and provides community outreach to transform energy-environment-society relations.
Led by experts and distinguished academics, FREE has a global footprint in more than 40 countries and works with cities, nonprofits, governments, businesses, and academic institutions on issues related to the environment and renewable energy.
At its core, FREE develops cutting-edge technical, economic, and policy analyses and education approaches to drive significant change in global energy usage. They also sponsor graduate students who focus on issues across energy and environmental sustainability, equity, security, and resilience.
In addition, FREE manages projects that aim to develop carbon footprint and greenhouse gas reduction plans and implementation. They also design future-ready models aimed at the conservation of energy, materials, and natural resources.
Their outreach efforts include hosting and participating in conferences, seminars, forums, and beyond. They arrange school-focused competitions spotlighting sustainability for youth, and improving the performance of government and private institutions across sustainability, renewable energy, conservation, and more.
Key milestones include:
Help FREE in its mission to promote a better, sustainable future for all by donating to their cause.
Mission: To light up every home, school and clinic in Africa by 2030, using safe, clean, solar power.
SolarAid is sparking change across sub-Saharan Africa by providing solar lights to individuals and families who have no safe form of lighting. Their solution mitigates the ignition of kerosene lamps and paraffin candles which emit toxic fumes into the lungs of people, as well as the atmosphere.
They have created several programs to address this issue and combat CO2 emissions. Their programs help provide families with solar home systems, tackle solar e-waste, and train and support entrepreneurs to sell solar lights.
SolarAid is creating sustainable markets for renewable energy in some of the world’s most remote and disadvantaged countries, including Malawi and Zambia.
Key milestones include:
Become an active participant and help SolarAid raise more for their cause by donating here.
Alternatively, help them fundraise, purchase a solar light, or leave a legacy gift. Discover how you can become involved here.
Mission: To expand public knowledge and acceptance of cleaner energy technologies to all North Carolinians through local, community-based initiatives.
With roots in Raleigh, NC GreenPower is a notable renewable energy charity making significant strides in the North Carolina community. They’re driving change by supporting renewable energy and carbon offset projects and providing grants for solar installations at K-12 schools.
NC GreenPower leads local, community-based initiatives to support their mission, including the Solar+ Schools initiative launched in 2015. Through this program, they provide grants for solar educational projects for K-12 schools, along with a weather station, data monitoring, a STEM curriculum, and teacher training.
Key milestones include:
If you’d like to show your support, you can become a corporate sponsor or volunteer for NC GreenPower. Learn more here!
From maintaining transparency through impact reports to setting concise goals, here’s what these renewable energy nonprofits have in common.
While they all ultimately share a common goal of creating a world powered by clean energy solutions, these nonprofits have unique objectives and a clear plan to achieve them.
Creating a compelling mission statement ensures donors, sponsors, and communities understand what you are trying to accomplish. Your mission statement should clearly state what you are going to do to make your vision a reality.
Being transparent with supporters and communities at large is essential to maintaining their trust – and keeping those much-needed donations coming in.
These nonprofits share impact reports on their website, via email, and on social media so donors know how their funds are being used and the positive impact they’re making by supporting these missions.
Having a simple donation process is crucial to streamline the process for donors and avoid donor drop-offs. These clean energy nonprofits have an easy-to-find donate button on their website that links to a donation form offering multiple ways to donate.
Many also encourage recurring giving by having recurring donation options like “monthly” on their donation forms! This is a great way to let donors know how they can have the greatest impact on your cause.
Even the biggest renewable energy nonprofits rely on support from donors.
By making a donation to a clean energy charity, you’ll enable them to continue doing groundbreaking work and making an impact on the communities they support.
Most nonprofits are understaffed and overworked. Volunteering is a fantastic way to show your support and become actively involved in their causes!
From research to community outreach, there are many ways you can help. Find out how you can participate in campaigns and projects for a renewable energy nonprofit that has a mission you’re passionate about.
Are you a professional in the industry or do you simply want to raise awareness around the importance of clean energy?
Show your support by signing petitions, sharing a specific campaign or impact report, or connecting with a local representative to learn how you can help raise public awareness in your community.
You don’t have to be an industry expert to share evidence-based information about renewable energy sources and the benefits of clean energy for the planet!
Educate your family, friends, and colleagues by sharing facts on clean energy.
As climate change continues to cause significant damage to our planet, the efforts of renewable energy nonprofits like the ones on this list are critical to fuel the global transition to clean energy. Renewable energy solutions not only ensure a more sustainable future but also enable economic and social justice for disadvantaged communities.
Through advocacy, education, policy reform, and groundbreaking technologies, these nonprofits are making incredible progress and achieving their missions.
Donorbox is here to help nonprofit organizations like these fuel their missions forward. Our powerful fundraising features make it possible for clean energy nonprofits and beyond to boost donations to their causes.
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