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SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER INC
MOUNT KISCO, NY · EIN 352397750 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C35 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · sustainablewestchester.org
revenue
$2.3M
expenses
$2.2M
net assets
$571K
employees
28
volunteers
19
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER'S PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE HEALTHY, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS, ADMINISTERS AND FACILITATES PROGRAMS THAT HELP FURTHER THE TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE, THAT ENABLE MEMBER MUNICIPALITIES TO MEET THEIR OWN SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE GOALS, THAT FOSTER CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY AND THAT MOVE THE COUNTY FORWARD IN MEETING NY STATE'S CLIMATE ACTION AND LEADERSHIP PROTECTION ACT (CLCPA) GOALS. SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER'S PROGRAMS ARE BUILT ON THE PILLARS OF COMMUNITY, COLLECTIVE, COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

Sustainable Westchester is a New York-based nonprofit advancing clean energy and climate resilience across Westchester County. The organization implements programs that expand access to community solar, promote energy efficiency in homes, and reduce peak electricity demand through its GridRewards app. It supports municipalities and residents in meeting state climate goals while advancing environmental justice and workforce development in underserved communities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $158K
    COMMUNITY SOLAR REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO OPT-IN AND BENEFIT FROM SOLAR ENERGY WHILE SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. COMMUNITY SOLAR OFFERS ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING RENTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE UP A MINIMUM OF 5% OF THE ELECTRICITY THAT THEIR SHARE PRODUCES EACH MONTH ON THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR PANEL INSTALLATION ON THEIR HOMES OR PROPERTIES. LAYERING COMMUNITY SOLAR IN ADDITION TO THE WESTCHESTER POWER PROGRAM DOUBLES THE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
  2. #2 $156K
    ENERGYSMART HOMES PROVIDES ACCESS TO ENERGY EFFICIENT CLEAN HEATING AND COOLING TECHNOLOGIES, ENABLING RESIDENTS TO ELIMINATE FOSSIL-FUEL BURNING SYSTEMS, WHILE SAVING MONEY AND ENERGY AS WELL AS INCREASING THE HEALTH AND COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Climate Smart Communities Program
Supports member municipalities in achieving certification and recertification under New York's Climate Smart Communities initiative
Community Solar
Connects residents, including renters, to local solar energy projects enabling savings of up to 10% on electricity bills without installing panels
DIY Energy Kit Workshops
Distributes free energy-saving kits and provides education on reducing energy use to seniors and community members in Yonkers and other municipalities
EnergySmart Homes
Provides access to clean heating and cooling technologies, including heat pumps and energy efficiency upgrades, to eliminate fossil fuel use in homes
GridRewards
Free app that rewards Con Edison customers with cash for reducing electricity use during peak demand periods, helping avoid activation of polluting peaker plants
Westchester Power
Community Choice Aggregation program that secures cleaner and more affordable electricity supply for residents and municipalities
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Local Clean Energy Adoption & Education 7 activities
    • Clean Heating and Cooling Adoption
      Helps residents adopt clean heating and cooling technologies by providing education, access to vetted NYSERDA-accredited contractors, information on federal tax credits (available through 2025), utility rebates, and financing options through EnergySmart Homes partner contractors.
    • Commercial and Municipal Solar Support
      Implements streamlined solar programs for municipalities and provides solarization support for businesses, non-profits, and commercial sites. Offers independent professional guidance to municipalities on solar and energy storage projects, including assistance with developing competitive RFPs, coordinating site visits, responding to bidders, and contractor selection.
    • Community Solar Enrollment
      Connects residents, including renters, to shared local solar projects that generate electricity for the grid and provide monthly bill savings through solar credits; participants save at least 5% on electricity bills without installing panels. The organization has enrolled thousands of participants, including over 3,000 residents in Westchester.
    • Demand Response Programs (GridRewards)
      Engages schools, students, and communities in demand response initiatives to reduce electricity use during peak periods, preventing over 200 tons of carbon emissions in 2021 and achieving a 7 MW load reduction in 2022. Provides presentations, no-obligation energy analyses, cash rewards, and financial payments to participants who reduce energy usage during events.
    • Energy-Saving Education and Outreach
      Hosts DIY energy education workshops and distributes energy-saving kits containing LED bulbs and insulation materials, particularly targeting seniors. Also offers recorded webinars and co-hosts events like Women in Climate webinars and Clean Energy Job and Resource Fairs to promote sustainability awareness and career opportunities.
    • Municipal Clean Energy Grant Support
      Assists municipalities in accessing NYSERDA grants ($5,000–$15,000) and earning High Impact Action points by participating in Clean Energy Communities campaigns focused on clean heating and cooling. Secured a $92,000 grant to support thermal energy network infrastructure development in Yonkers and Peekskill.
    • Regional Energy Consortium Development
      Supports inter-municipal collaboration on energy efficiency and clean energy adoption by helping form regional consortia such as the Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (SWEAC), modeled after successful collaborations in northern Westchester.
  • Climate Change Public Awareness & Advocacy 1 activity
    • #CrushCarbon Challenge
      Runs a community engagement campaign that incentivizes student and public participation in energy reduction efforts through competitive recognition and financial rewards, promoting pollution reduction via demand response actions.
  • Construction Industry Standards and Contractor Support Services 1 activity
    • Clean Energy Contractor Network Management
      Selects and maintains a network of accredited, high-quality contractor partners through a competitive selection process for programs like EnergySmart Homes, ensuring access to reliable, NYSERDA-compliant services for residents.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Earth Month Event Coordination
      Organizes and promotes annual Earth Month events across Westchester County, including festivals, nature walks, repair cafes, and neighborhood cleanups to engage the public in environmental stewardship.
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiatives 1 activity
    • Solar Canopy Development
      Supports the development of solar canopies over parking lots through the “Black Gold” initiative, working with municipalities and private landowners to install solar infrastructure on parking areas.
  • Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
    • Student Advocacy and Career Engagement
      Engages middle and high school students in clean energy advocacy and career pathways through presentations, marketing toolkits, checklists, and template emails to support demand response program adoption in schools, in partnership with New Yorkers for Clean Power.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Energy App for Usage Tracking
      Offers a free app that links to ConEd accounts to help users track and reduce electricity consumption, enabling them to earn cash rewards through active energy management.
    • Residential Solarize Program
      Provides end-to-end guidance to homeowners adopting solar energy, including preliminary solar studies, connections to pre-qualified installer partners for competitive quotes, access to financing and incentives, and ongoing support throughout the installation process.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.28M
Contributions & grants$762K33%
Program service revenue$1.52M67%
Investment income$9780%
Other revenue$200
expenses
Total expenses$2.25M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.55M
Grants paid out$250
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$891K
Cash$308K
Investments$0
Liabilities$321K
Net assets$571K
Liquid reserves1.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +22.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
NOAM BRAMSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $201K
DANIEL WELSH PROGRAM DIRECTOR 40 $124K
LEO WIEGNAM SOLAR PROGRAMS DIRECTOR 40 $118K
JIM KUSTER CO-CHAIR 3 $7K
board members · 17
  • ANILLA CHERIAN — DIRECTOR
  • BRIDGET GIBBONS — DIRECTOR
  • DANE WARREN — DIRECTOR
  • JASON BAKER — SECRETARY
  • JOAN GRANGENOIS-THOMAS — DIRECTOR
  • JULIE CHANG — DIRECTOR
  • JUNE WALLACH — DIRECTOR
  • KEN JENKINS — DIRECTOR
  • MELISSA KAPLAN-MACEY — DIRECTOR
  • MOHIT CHANDRA — DIRECTOR THRU 2024
  • SARA GODDARD — CO-CHAIR
  • SARA KAYE — DIRECTOR
  • SHAWYN PATTERSON-HOWARD — DIRECTOR
  • SU-FERN TAN — DIRECTOR THRU 2024
  • TOM WATSON — DIRECTOR
  • VENNELA YADHATI — DIRECTOR
  • WARREN LUCAS — TREASURER
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Checkbook Partner — Partner organization used to distribute GridRewards payments to participants via direct deposit, virtual debit card, or physical check.
  • Con Ed Partner — Collaborates with Con Ed to enable access to utility rebates and state incentives for heat pump water heater installations.
  • Con Edison Government — Utility partner whose customers participate in the GridRewards program as part of its Smart Usage Rewards Program.
  • Con Edison Government — Works with Con Edison, which offers heat pump incentive programs in New York, referenced in connection to EnergySmart HOMES outreach.
  • ConEd Government — Works with ConEd to apply solar credits to participants' electricity bills.
  • ConEdison Government — Partners with ConEdison to utilize their upgraded smart meter infrastructure for energy management programs in Westchester and NYC.
  • Logical Buildings Partner — Collaborates to provide the SmartKit AI™ platform for real-time energy management and demand response participation.
  • Logical Buildings Partner — Partner organization that developed the GridRewards platform and serves as aggregator for demand response revenues.
  • Logical Buildings Partner — Partnered with Sustainable Westchester to recognize Westchester municipalities for performance during the 2025 demand response season.
  • Municipalities in Westchester County Partner — Partners with local municipalities to implement solar energy programs.
  • NYPA Government — Supporting partner in a clean energy workforce initiative focused on training residents in heat pump installation and home performance.
  • NYSEG Government — Works with NYSEG to apply solar credits to participants' electricity bills.
  • NYSEG Partner — Collaborates with NYSEG to enable access to utility rebates and state incentives for heat pump water heater installations.
  • NYSERDA Government — Collaborates with NYSERDA to provide financial incentives and rebates to homeowners and municipalities for clean heating and cooling upgrades.
  • NYSERDA Government — Partner contractors are accredited and in good standing with NYSERDA.
  • NYSERDA Government — Works with NYSERDA to provide financing options and state incentives for heat pump water heater installations.
  • New York State Clean Heat Program Government — Partner contractors are accredited and in good standing with the New York State Clean Heat Program.
  • New Yorkers for Clean Power Partner — Collaborates with Sustainable Westchester to deliver clean energy career presentations to students.
  • Partner Installers Partner — Solar installation companies that are pre-qualified and provide competitive proposals to homeowners through the Residential Solarize Program.
  • Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (SWEAC) Partner — Consortium of eleven southern Westchester municipalities that formed a sister collaboration modeled after Sustainable Westchester's northern initiative.
  • The Healthy Home Academy Partner — Partnered with Sustainable Westchester on a multi-year clean energy workforce initiative to train residents in heat pump installation and home performance.
  • Town of North Salem Partner — Partnered with Sustainable Westchester through the Municipal Solarize program to develop and issue a competitive RFP for solar energy projects.
  • Westchester County Government — Collaborates with Sustainable Westchester on the Black Gold solar canopy initiative.
  • Westchester County Partner — Co-hosted the Clean Energy Job and Resource Fair and collaborated on sustainability initiatives including Earth Month events.
  • Westchester Power Program Partner — Collaborates with the Westchester Power Program to amplify environmental impact through combined clean energy offerings.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Behavioral Engagement Through Incentives and Gamification
    methodology: behavioral_engagement_through_gamification
    By combining financial rewards with gamified challenges during peak demand periods, the organization drives measurable reductions in household energy use because tangible incentives and social motivation produce behavior change more effectively than information alone.
  • Clean Energy Workforce Development for Equity and Resilience
    methodology: two_generation_approach
    By connecting residents from disadvantaged communities to paid training and careers in clean energy, the organization advances both economic mobility and environmental sustainability because workforce pipelines create long-term resilience and ensure inclusive benefits from the green economy.
  • Community Solar Access Model
    methodology: community_solar_access_model
    By enrolling residents in off-site community solar subscriptions, the organization enables access to renewable energy without requiring rooftop installations or upfront costs, because removing structural and financial barriers increases participation among low- and moderate-income households.
  • Group-Purchasing and Municipal Partnership Model for Solar Adoption
    methodology: solarize
    By leveraging group purchasing power and partnering with municipalities, the organization reduces soft costs and builds trust, thereby increasing residential solar adoption because collective action lowers prices and streamlines decision-making.