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Energy Trust of Oregon Inc

Annual Giving
$4.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Energy Trust of Oregon Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Revenue: $222.7 million (2023)
  • Annual Grant-Making: $4.5 million+ to community nonprofits (2023)
  • Total Incentives Distributed: $121.6 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,000 (Working Together Grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Oregon and Southwest Washington (utility service territories)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.energytrust.org/

Working Together Grants Contact:

Main Office: 421 SW Oak Street, Suite 300 Portland, OR 97204

Overview

Energy Trust of Oregon was established in 2001 as an independent, public purpose nonprofit to invest in cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. The organization is funded by customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, and Avista. With approximately 120 employees and $222.7 million in annual revenue (2023), Energy Trust exceeded all energy goals in 2023 while launching new programs and partnerships to support communities facing rising costs and climate change effects. Since inception through 2023, Energy Trust has helped 765,000 homes save energy, created 90,400 equivalent jobs through economic investments, and delivered $7.2 billion in utility bill savings. The organization distributed $4.5 million in 2023 specifically to nonprofit organizations serving environmental justice communities, working with 54 community partners to reach diverse and rural populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Working Together Grants (competitive application, rolling cycles) Energy Trust offers two levels of funding specifically for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving priority communities (communities of color, customers with low incomes, and rural populations):

  • Level One: Up to $5,000 - Supports outreach, capacity building, and education about energy efficiency and renewable energy for organizations serving priority communities. Eligible uses include staff training, community education, event costs, and translation services.

  • Level Two: Up to $10,000 - Funds programs or projects that result in priority customer participation in Energy Trust's energy efficiency and renewable energy offerings.

Application Method: Online application portal with fixed funding cycles. Recent cycles have been held twice annually (e.g., applications open July 10 and close August 15, with awards announced in September).

Community Partner Funding: Separate from Working Together Grants, Energy Trust maintains ongoing partnerships with 54 community-based organizations to deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy services in diverse and rural communities.

Priority Areas

Energy Trust's Working Together Grants prioritize:

  • Organizations serving communities of color, low-income customers, and rural communities (defined as populations under 25,000)
  • Activities that help priority communities access Energy Trust's energy efficiency and renewable energy programs
  • Outreach, education, and capacity building in clean energy
  • Projects that increase participation of underserved populations in energy-saving programs
  • Organizations located outside Portland metro area
  • Smaller organizations that have not previously received Working Together Grants

What They Don't Fund

Working Together Grants explicitly do not fund:

  • Purchase or installation of home repairs, energy efficiency equipment, or renewable energy equipment (these are covered by Energy Trust's direct incentive programs)
  • Projects or activities already covered by existing Energy Trust programs or contracts
  • Activities that fall within the scope of existing Energy Trust contracts with the applicant organization
  • Equipment costs - grants are for outreach, education, and capacity building only

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Officers:

  • Henry Lorenzen, President
  • Roland Risser, Vice President
  • Eric Hayes, Secretary

Voting Members:

  • Melissa Cribbins
  • Thelma Fleming
  • Ellsworth Lang
  • Jane S. Peters
  • Anne Haworth Root
  • Silvia Tanner
  • Peter Therkelsen
  • Bill Tovey
  • Ellen Zuckerman

Ex Officio Members (Non-voting):

  • Janine Benner, Oregon Department of Energy
  • Les Perkins, Oregon Public Utility Commission

The board is comprised of 13 voting members and two non-voting ex-officio members, bringing backgrounds in business, private consulting, government, utilities, trades, and nonprofits. The board is non-stakeholder and volunteer-based, consulting community-based organizations and advisory councils to identify candidates with appropriate experience and knowledge of customers underserved by Energy Trust.

Executive Leadership

  • Michael Colgrove, Executive Director
  • Dinah Choi, General Counsel
  • Chris Dunning, Chief Financial Officer
  • Scott Clark, Director of Information and Technology Services
  • Amber Cole, Director of Communications and Customer Service
  • Spencer Moersfelder, Director of Planning and Evaluation
  • Alicia Moore, Director of DEI Services
  • Lizzie Rubado, Director of Innovation and Development
  • Amanda Sales, Director of People Services
  • Tracy Scott, Director of Energy Programs

Key Quote from Leadership:

Michael Colgrove, Executive Director: "Our results in 2023 go beyond energy savings and generation. While we exceeded all of our energy goals, we also launched new programs and partnerships to support people and businesses."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Energy Trust's Working Together Grants have a public application process with competitive funding cycles held approximately twice per year.

Application Method:

  • Online application portal at https://forms.energytrust.org/working-together-grants/
  • Applications must be submitted during designated open periods
  • Each organization may submit only one application per funding cycle, choosing either Level One or Level Two
  • Organizations in early stages of concept development are welcome to apply
  • Fiscal sponsor arrangements accepted for organizations in the process of becoming 501(c)(3)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Oregon or Washington (or work with a fiscal sponsor)
  • Activities must benefit utility customers in Energy Trust's service territory
  • Must serve underrepresented communities (communities of color, low-income customers, rural populations)
  • Cannot overlap with existing Energy Trust programs or contracts

Pre-Application Considerations:

  • Organizations already receiving Energy Trust funding through Trade Ally Network or Community Partner Funding should contact the grants team to confirm eligibility before applying
  • Review existing Energy Trust programs to ensure proposed activities don't duplicate available services

Decision Timeline

  • Application Period: Approximately 5 weeks (e.g., July 10 - August 15)
  • Awards Announced: Approximately 6-8 weeks after application close (e.g., September)
  • Project Period: Typically 12 months
  • Final Reports Due: Approximately 11-12 months after award (e.g., following August)

Success Rates

Energy Trust awarded grants to 48 organizations across four funding rounds from March 2022 through February 2025:

  • February 2025: 12 recipients
  • October 2023: 11 recipients
  • January 2023: 8 recipients
  • March 2022: 17 recipients

In 2023, Energy Trust awarded two rounds of Working Together Grants to 20 organizations total across Oregon. Specific success rates (percentage of applicants funded) are not publicly disclosed.

Selection Process

Level One Selection uses a tiered prioritization system with random selection if applications exceed available funds:

  • Tier 1: Organizations serving all three priority communities (communities of color, low-income, rural), located outside Portland, smaller organizations without prior grants, and rural-based organizations
  • Tier 2: Organizations serving two priority communities, located outside Portland, smaller organizations without prior grants
  • Tier 3: Other eligible organizations
  • Within each tier, if more applications than funds, awards made through random selection

Level Two Selection uses a scoring system:

  • Applications reviewed by diverse panel of Energy Trust staff and external stakeholders
  • Scored for community impact and implementation capability
  • Applications divided into two geographic groups: Portland Metropolitan Area and outside Portland
  • Emphasis on greatest benefit to diversity, equity, and inclusion priority customers

Review Criteria:

  • How well organization reflects and serves priority communities
  • Benefit delivered to Energy Trust customers, especially DEI priority audiences
  • Feasibility of implementation
  • Whether activities could be served through existing Energy Trust programs

Applications may receive approval for partial funding with amended activity descriptions.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may reapply in subsequent funding cycles. However, the tiered selection system gives preference to organizations that have not previously received Working Together Grants, making it more competitive for past recipients.

Organizations already receiving other forms of Energy Trust funding (Trade Ally Network, Community Partner Funding) should consult with the grants team before applying to ensure proposed activities don't overlap with existing contracts.

Application Success Factors

Based on Energy Trust's documented guidance and selection criteria, successful applications demonstrate:

  1. Deep Connection to Priority Communities: Applications stand out when organizations clearly reflect and authentically serve communities of color, low-income customers, and/or rural populations. Reviewers assess how well the organization is embedded in these communities.

  2. Geographic Consideration: Energy Trust divides applications into Portland Metropolitan Area and outside-Portland groups to ensure geographic distribution. Organizations outside Portland, particularly in rural areas (under 25,000 population), receive priority consideration in the tiered selection system.

  3. Clear Pathway to Energy Trust Programs: Strong applications articulate how their activities will result in priority customers participating in Energy Trust's energy efficiency and renewable energy offerings. The connection between outreach/education and program participation should be explicit.

  4. Avoid Duplication: Applications must demonstrate that proposed activities fall outside existing Energy Trust programs. Reviewers specifically assess whether activities could be served through current offerings. Organizations should review Energy Trust's full program portfolio before applying.

  5. Implementation Feasibility: For Level Two grants, reviewers score applications on implementation capability. Early-stage concepts are acceptable, but the application should demonstrate organizational capacity to execute.

  6. Smaller Organizations Prioritized: The selection criteria explicitly favor smaller organizations, particularly those that have not received previous Working Together Grants and may lack access to Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund mini grants.

  7. Allowable Activities Only: Applications must focus on staff time, training costs, materials design, translation services, and event hosting. Equipment installation, energy upgrades, or project costs already covered by Energy Trust programs will be rejected.

  8. Complete Documentation: While specific to Energy Trust's incentive programs (not grants), the organization emphasizes that incomplete applications cause the most delays. Ensure all required information is provided and questions fully answered.

  9. Assigned Support: Each grant awardee is assigned an Energy Trust staff member for assistance. This suggests relationship-building with staff during the application process may be beneficial.

  10. Narrative Reporting Required: Grantees must submit narrative reports and cost summaries detailing fund use. Strong applications likely anticipate these reporting requirements with clear metrics and documentation plans.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic advantage for rural applicants: Energy Trust explicitly prioritizes organizations outside Portland metro area and in rural communities (under 25,000 population) to ensure statewide distribution. If your organization is based outside Portland, emphasize this advantage.

  • First-time applicants have priority: The tiered selection system favors organizations that have not previously received Working Together Grants, making this an excellent opportunity for first-time applicants to Energy Trust.

  • Level One uses random selection within tiers: For Level One grants (up to $5,000), if applications exceed funds within a priority tier, awards are made by random selection—not competitive scoring. Focus on meeting the tier criteria rather than crafting the "perfect" narrative.

  • Demonstrate authentic community connection: Reviewers specifically assess "how well the organization reflects and serves" priority communities. Surface-level claims won't succeed—show deep, authentic relationships with communities of color, low-income customers, or rural populations.

  • Contact grants team if you have existing Energy Trust relationships: If your organization is already a Trade Ally or Community Partner, contact workingtogethergrants@energytrust.org before applying to confirm your proposed activities don't conflict with existing contracts.

  • Only apply for capacity building, not equipment: This is strictly for outreach, education, and capacity building—not for installing solar panels, upgrading HVAC, or purchasing energy equipment. If your project involves equipment, apply to Energy Trust's direct incentive programs instead.

  • Two shots per year: With funding cycles occurring approximately twice annually, organizations have multiple opportunities to apply. If unsuccessful in one round, you can reapply in the next cycle, though preference is given to first-time recipients.

References

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