ELEPHANT ENERGY INC

Illuminating Opportunity

Denver, CO   |  www.elephantenergy.org
This organization has not appeared on the IRS Business Master File in a number of months. It may have merged with another organization or ceased operations.

Mission

Use the power of entrepreneurship to solve energy problems in rural Africa.

Ruling year info

2009

Founder

Doug Vilsack

Main address

1031 33rd St. Suite 174

Denver, CO 80205 USA

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EIN

26-3338741

NTEE code info

International Development, Relief Services (Q30)

Energy Resources Conservation and Development (C35)

Management & Technical Assistance (J02)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Energy access is a vital to nearly every aspect of development. Appropriate sustainable energy technologies (ASETs) used in developing countries have been proven to improve health and education, while increasing productivity, income, and financial savings. In southern Africa more than 200 million people lack access to basic energy sources, relying instead on costly, harmful, and dangerous lighting sources such as kerosene, candles, single-use batteries, and wood. Two hurdles to providing ASETs to communities that need them most are their remote locations and low-income populations. Over the last ten years, Elephant Energy (EE) has developed a distribution model that specializes in reaching these rural and low-income communities with affordable, reliable, solar energy. EE works to alleviate these burdens by identifying, recruiting and training motivated men and women from low-income communities to start their own small-scale solar energy businesses.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Light Libraries

Elephant Energy works closely with the communities it serves to ensure those who need light have access to it. Our Light Libraries initiative identifies schools that lack energy and have high populations of students that do not have energy at home. By providing the schools with lights that students can "check out" like a library book, we are offering a solution to energy poverty and empowering students to complete their studies.

Population(s) Served

Elephant Energy identifies, recruits, trains and supports individuals living in off grid communities to become energy entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are then able to sell affordable, small-scale solar lights throughout their community. This not only allows the entrepreneurs added income for household expenses, but allows our work to reach into communities that would not otherwise be accessible.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of jobs created and maintained

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year

Number of clients who complete job skills training

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year

Number of job skills training courses/workshops conducted

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year

Number of links and collaborations with external organizations that support student learning and its priority tasks

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year

Number of carbon emissions prevented (estimated by CO2 equivalent)

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Elephant Energy (EE) focuses on local solutions to the global issue of energy poverty. By establishing a distribution and sales network for small-scale solar light and charging devices, Elephant Energy enables households without grid electricity to access clean, sustainable energy on their own terms putting them in control of their escape from energy poverty.

Elephant Energy identifies, recruits, trains and supports individuals living in off grid communities to become energy entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are then able to sell affordable, small-scale solar lights throughout their community. This not only allows the entrepreneurs added income for household expenses, but allows our work to reach into communities that would not otherwise be accessible.

Elephant Energy began with a light and has since expanded to include cell phone chargers, and radio. In 2017, EE expanded their product line to include home systems, allowing a lighting solution for a whole home, rather than for just an individual room. EE has tested and since incorporated "pay-go" technology into their small-scale solar products, and ensured mobile money compatibility so that customers and staff can save precious time and money.

To date, Elephant Energy has reached more than 100,000 people in Namibia with solar energy. Looking forward, EE is planning on expansing their program to Zambia, where more than 9 million people lack access to safe, affordable energy.

Financials

ELEPHANT ENERGY INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

ELEPHANT ENERGY INC

Board of directors
as of 04/29/2019
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mike Dow

Doug Vilsack

Mike Dow

Tim Weiss

George Moore

Ilana Joupie

Justin Smith

Kelly Carlin

Joe Goorman

Blake McKinlay

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes