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Global ESG Leadership Association Corp
New York, NY · EIN 933220042 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE C60 · Environment · Micro (<$100K) · gela-ngo.org
revenue
$60K
expenses
$54K
net assets
$17K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

To advance charitable and educational activities related to public interest initiatives organizational programs and community outreach in furtherance of the organizations exempt purposes

profile · synthesized from sources

The Global ESG Leadership Association (GELA) is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2023 to empower youth in advancing global sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It operates through university chapters, an accelerator for impact ventures, and a research institute. GELA connects students, institutions, and industry leaders via forums, research initiatives, and UN-affiliated dialogues to foster youth leadership in ESG and sustainable development.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

AC Accelerator
Incubation and mentorship program for early-stage, impact-driven ventures, providing access to global investor networks and support for sustainable innovation.
GELA Global Impact Series
Annual research and recognition platform highlighting sustainability leaders, including 35 Under 35, 25 Under 25, Top 100 Enterprises, and Women in Sustainability, to showcase transformative action and inspire broader change.
SustainX Institute
Research arm producing interdisciplinary insights on AI, climate and energy, life sciences, finance, and global governance to advance sustainable development and inform policy and practice.
University Chapters Alliance
Network of student-led university chapters at institutions like Columbia, Harvard, NYU, and Penn that promote ESG awareness, leadership development, and cross-campus collaboration on sustainability.
activities · 14 groups

What they do

  • Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
    • Administers recognition programs for sustainability leaders and organizations
      Runs an annual global impact platform that recognizes outstanding individuals and enterprises through three tracks: Youth Leaders (35 Under 35 & 25 Under 25), Leading Enterprises Top 100, and Women in Sustainability Top 30.
  • Youth Global Leadership & Model UN Programs 1 activity
    • Advocates for youth participation in global sustainability governance
      Sends youth delegates to the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and organizes UN visit activities each semester to represent youth perspectives and advance the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Scientific Conference & Symposium Management 1 activity
    • Builds global networks for research and innovation
      Fosters a global network connecting scholars, scientists, policy experts, entrepreneurs, and practitioners to enable joint research, innovation partnerships, and knowledge exchange through initiatives like the CGELA TALK series and CXO HUB community.
  • Industry Research and Benchmarking 1 activity
    • Conducts case-based research on sustainability leadership
      Produces research reports, comments on current sustainability topics, tracks industry trends, interprets policies, and conducts case-based research to highlight organizations and leaders with measurable sustainability contributions.
  • Professional Field Knowledge Development 1 activity
    • Conducts research through SustainX Institute on sustainable development topics
      Operates SustainX Institute as an independent research arm producing annual, quarterly, and thematic publications on youth development, climate technology, sustainable finance, and governance, and provides professional advisory services on carbon neutrality and global policy intelligence.
  • SDG Advancement & Global Advocacy 1 activity
    • Facilitates strategic partnerships and institutional collaborations
      Establishes collaborations with non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and companies globally, including formal partnerships with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Midea Partner, to address sustainable development challenges.
  • Impact Investing Knowledge & Technology Platforms 1 activity
    • Hosts ESG & Green Finance Bootcamps and student-driven research initiatives
      Implements educational programs including ESG & Green Finance Bootcamps and supports student-driven research on ESG and sustainability risk management and investing.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Manages global volunteer and talent development programs
      Offers volunteer opportunities, internships, fellowships, and project-based roles; runs international fellowship programs with mentorship, research tracks, and publication opportunities; and recruits volunteers globally to support sustainability initiatives.
  • Digital Communications and Content Management 1 activity
    • Manages media presence and content creation across digital platforms
      Creates and maintains content on WeChat, REDnote (Xiaohongshu), LinkedIn, Instagram, and other platforms; produces event videos and photography; and engages with external media to promote organizational visibility.
  • Student Club and Organization Support 1 activity
    • Operates intercollegiate chapters and student engagement programs
      Runs active chapters at Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Pennsylvania, supporting student recruitment, alumni coordination, administrative management, and awareness-raising activities around ESG and sustainability.
  • Global Sustainability Convenings & Forums 1 activity
    • Organizes annual Global Sustainability Summit and Global Youth Sustainable Development Summit
      Hosts flagship annual events at Columbia University and other global cities, featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, youth dialogues, and industry showcases to advance sustainability leadership and global collaboration. The 2025 summit was held at Columbia University’s Low Memorial Library.
  • Professional Networking Events 1 activity
    • Organizes company visits and professional engagement programs
      Conducts biannual company visit programs during winter and summer breaks, connecting members with investment institutions and industry-leading companies across multiple cities.
  • Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
    • Organizes sustainability-focused community and outdoor activities
      Plans and executes green rides, hikes, river tracing, and low-carbon experiential events such as a spring walking event in Princeton and the "Beyond Buying" winter clothing donation drive at Columbia University to promote sustainable living and responsible consumption.
  • Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Supports career development and business engagement for members
      Provides career counseling, organizes business events and sharing sessions, collaborates with sponsors, and supports member career development through employment guidance and networking opportunities.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$60K
Contributions & grants$58K97%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$54K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$9K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$17K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$17K
1 years on record · 2025–2025
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 3
  • Dazhong Wu — President and Director
  • Xueyi Fu — Director
  • Ya Man Pai — Director
relationships · 32

Who they work with

  • Alpha Centauri Accelerator Partner — Supports early-stage, impact-driven ventures through incubation, mentorship, and investor networks under the GELA ecosystem
  • Berkeley Partner — Collaborates with the University of California, Berkeley on research and academic initiatives related to sustainable development and innovation.
  • Columbia Partner — Collaborates with Columbia University through academic and research partnerships, including the GELA University Chapter (CGELA).
  • Columbia University Partner — Hosts a GELA intercollegiate chapter and co-hosts the Columbia Global Sustainability Summit.
  • Columbia University Partner — Hosts the Columbia Global ESG Leadership Association, indicating an institutional affiliation or partnership.
  • Columbia University Partner — Hosts the flagship convening of the Global Sustainability Summit in New York.
  • Columbia University Global ESG Leadership Association Partner — Predecessor organization (CGELA) and core component of the GELA ecosystem; hosts flagship events and university chapter activities
  • GSDI Foundation Partner — Strategic partner in a coordinated platform where GSDI provides resources and ecosystem support, and GELA implements programs and impact projects.
  • Global ESG Leadership Association (GELA) Network — PGELA is an affiliate chapter connected to the parent organization GELA
  • HKU Partner — Collaborates with the University of Hong Kong on research and academic initiatives related to sustainable development and innovation.
  • Kaixinrong Group Partner — Engaged in multiple dialogues with Ivy League student leaders on youth exchanges, green transition, and global economic development
  • Leonard N. Stern School of Business Partner — Location and institutional base for GELA@NYU activities and events.
  • Midea Partner Partner — Collaborates with Global ESG Leadership Association on sustainable development initiatives.
  • NYU Partner — Collaborates with New York University through academic and research partnerships, including the GELA University Chapter (GELA @ NYU).
  • New York University Network — Host institution for the GELA@NYU chapter and site of organizational activities.
  • New York University Partner — Hosts a GELA intercollegiate chapter.
  • Project Planning and Intercollegiate Cooperation department Partner — Department within the organization that provides direct assistance to students starting new university chapters
  • SustainX Institute Network — Research arm of GELA, operating as a global platform for sustainable innovation and interdisciplinary research
  • SustainX Institute Partner — Co-publishes the GELA Global Impact Series
  • Sydney Partner — Collaborates with the University of Sydney on research and academic initiatives related to sustainable development and innovation.
  • Tsinghua Partner — Collaborates with Tsinghua University on research and academic initiatives related to sustainable development and innovation.
  • Tsinghua University Student Green Association Partner — Hosted a delegation visit and dialogue on sustainability, youth engagement, and China-U.S. collaboration
  • UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Network — Member organization, joined on June 4, 2025, to advance sustainable development and youth leadership.
  • UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Partner — Global ESG Leadership Association is a formal member institution of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, approved by its Networks Strategy Council.
  • UN-affiliated organizations Government — Collaborates with United Nations-affiliated institutions on global sustainability research, policy development, and youth engagement initiatives.
  • UPenn Partner — Collaborates with the University of Pennsylvania through academic and research partnerships, including the GELA University Chapter (PGELA).
  • University of Pennsylvania Partner — Host institution for the Penn Global ESG Leadership Association (PGELA) chapter
  • University of Pennsylvania Partner — Hosts a GELA intercollegiate chapter.
  • World Academy of Sustainable Development (WAOSD) Partner — Co-convened a dialogue on global youth action and sustainable development
  • non-profit organizations Partner — Collaborates with non-profit organizations globally on sustainable development initiatives.
+ 2 more
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Cross-Sectoral Co-Creation of Sustainable Solutions
    methodology: cross-sectoral_collaboration
    By convening UN bodies, universities, think tanks, and private sector actors in collaborative partnerships, we co-create high-impact sustainability projects because diverse sectoral expertise and resources generate more innovative and implementable solutions than any single entity could alone.
  • Frontier Knowledge Production Through Affiliated Autonomy
    methodology: affiliated_yet_autonomous
    By maintaining an "affiliated yet autonomous" research model, we advance sustainable development because it preserves academic independence while enabling access to global networks, thus accelerating credible, innovative, and actionable knowledge production.
  • Youth-Led Ecosystem for Sustainability Leadership
    methodology: integrated-youth-ecosystem
    By integrating education, research, and innovation through youth-led university chapters, accelerator programs, and research institutes, we build a self-reinforcing ecosystem that advances sustainable development because young leaders drive scalable, authentic change when supported by structured institutional pathways and mentorship.