Disable all preview features

International : Development and Relief Services

Solar Electric Light Fund

ENERGY IS A HUMAN RIGHT

three stars

89.02

1612 K Street, NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
tel: (202) 234-7265   Web Site
EIN: 52-1701564

Board Leadership
Steven Swig
Chairman

CEO
Robert A. Freling
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 89.02 three stars
  Financial 85.00 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 11/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose mission is to implement solar energy solutions to assist those living in energy poverty with economic, education, health and agricultural development. Its Whole Village Development Model takes an innovative approach to designing and implementing integrated solar systems to improve the lives of the 1.5 billion people living in energy poverty worldwide.

To help overcome the challenges of energy poverty, SELF partners with international development organizations, aid agencies, NGOs, foundations, governments, and private sector companies.

Since 1990, SELF has completed projects in more than 20 countries, pioneering unique applications of solar power for drip irrigation in Benin, health care in Haiti, telemedicine in the Amazon rainforest, online learning in South Africa, and microenterprise development in Nigeria.

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose mission is to implement solar energy solutions to assist those living in energy poverty with economic, education, health and agricultural development. Its Whole Village Development Model takes an innovative approach to designing and implementing integrated solar systems to improve the lives of the 1.5 billion people living in energy poverty worldwide.

To help overcome the challenges of energy poverty, SELF partners with international development organizations, aid agencies, NGOs, foundations, governments, and private sector companies.

Since 1990, SELF has completed projects in more than 20 countries, pioneering unique applications of solar power for drip irrigation in Benin, health care in Haiti, telemedicine in the Amazon rainforest, online learning in South Africa, and microenterprise development in Nigeria.

Impact Information

data icon
GlobalGiving is a trusted Impact Information provider for Charity Navigator. GlobalGiving has vetted this charity. GlobalGiving also further provides further information about each charity's commitment to learning and improvement. GlobalGiving's statuses and badges, below, provide information about this charity's effectiveness.  Learn More about Impact Information.
GlobalGiving Status
Partner Status
This organization holds GlobalGiving Partner Status. GG Rewards is the system GlobalGiving uses to reward nonprofits that demonstrate listening to the people they serve, learning, and improving their impact. Organizations receive points which translate into their Status: 52% of organizations are Partner, 22% are Leader, and the top 26% of organizations are Superstar. GlobalGiving is a trusted Impact Information partner of Charity Navigator.
Additional Badges from GlobalGiving
Vetted
This organization has been vetted by GlobalGiving.
GlobalGiving is the largest global crowdfunding community connecting nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country. For donors, GlobalGiving provides an additional layer of vetting and due diligence for each of its nonprofit partners every two years, which may include site visit verification. For nonprofits, GlobalGiving works to provide nonprofits access to the tools, training, and support they need to be more effective. GlobalGiving's aim is to drive more donations to more effective, community-led organizations. GG Rewards is the system that GlobalGiving uses to recognize and reward its nonprofit partners for their efforts to learn, improve, and grow their impact. Within the GG Rewards system, organizations receive points for their Effectiveness (commitment to learning) and Engagement (participation on the GlobalGiving community). These points will translate into the GG Rewards Status (Partner, Leader, or Superstar). GlobalGiving's nonprofit partners also receive badges (visible on their Charity Navigator profile) when they are verified by a GlobalGiving site visit, when they have demonstrated exceptional efforts to learn from feedback, improve, and grow their impact, or when they have been named as an exceptional nonprofit through GlobalGiving's Project of the Month program.
Learn more about GG Rewards.
This impact information is current as of March 2019, when it was provided to us by GlobalGiving. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology. Further, the availability of GG Rewards information for charities on our site has no effect on Charity Navigator's evaluation of GlobalGiving.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

85.00

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 11/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 87.9%
  Administrative Expenses 6.4%
  Fundraising Expenses 5.6%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.16
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.24
  Program Expenses Growth 13.3%
  Liabilities to Assets 41.7%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Solar Electric Light Fund on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Solar Electric Light Fund on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Solar Electric Light Fund (DC) 89.02 three stars
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) (NY) 90.00 four stars
Water Mission (SC) 100.00 four stars
ECHO (FL) 95.27 four stars
Acumen (NY) 96.85 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,238,431
   Federated Campaigns $13,067
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $1,251,498
   Program Service Revenue $3,318,811
Total Primary Revenue $4,570,309
   Other Revenue $1,881
TOTAL REVENUE $4,572,190
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $4,078,462
   Administrative Expenses $226,937
   Fundraising Expenses $192,000
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $4,497,399
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $74,791
   
Net Assets $851,500

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Due to an error on this organization's Form 990, we are unable to display program information.

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2017-12 11/01/2018 89.02 three stars
2016-12 10/01/2017 88.82 three stars
2015-12 12/21/2016 86.50 three stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 92.92 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-12 12/01/2015 95.62 four stars
2013-12 05/01/2015 91.75 four stars
2012-12 12/20/2013 94.33 four stars
2011-12 03/01/2013 91.81 four stars
2011-12 10/01/2012 89.09 three stars
2010-12 02/01/2012 89.34 three stars
2009-12 09/20/2011 78.79 two stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-12 03/01/2011 79.62 two stars
2008-12 05/01/2010 96.41 four stars
2007-12 03/01/2009 95.63 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 52-1701564
Name in IRS Master File SOLAR ELECTRIC LIGHT FUND
NTEE Code C30
NTEE Classification Natural Resources Conservation and Protection
NTEE Type Environmental Quality, Protection and Beautification
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (351) Combating or preventing pollution (air, water, etc)
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date October, 1990
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$189,000 4.20% Robert Freling Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Solar Electric Light Fund (DC) 89.02 three stars
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) (NY) 90.00 four stars
Water for Good (IN) 88.02 three stars
Acumen (NY) 96.85 four stars
Water Mission (SC) 100.00 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Solar Electric Light Fund
1612 K Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
tel: (202) 234-7265
EIN: 52-1701564

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Steven Swig
Chairman

CEO

Robert A. Freling
Executive Director

please wait...

    • I want to donate to Solar Electric Light Fund

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on