Solar United Neighbors
Go Solar. Join Together. Fight for Your Energy Rights.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The United States is in the midst of an historic transition from centralized, fossil fuel powered energy generation to clean, renewable energy generation. In 2015 alone, renewables accounted for 69% of all new energy capacity added in the country. Transitioning to renewables is possible: the cost of solar has dropped precipitously in the last five years and is quickly approaching grid parity (cost equivalence with fossil fuel sources), even in states like West Virginia. Solar has the potential to dramatically decrease carbon emissions, save families a significant portion of their monthly expenses, and keep more money in local communities. Additionally, distributed solar energy production supports significantly more jobs than traditional energy sources, and can be a potent driver of local economic growth.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Solar United Neighbors of Virginia
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of Maryland
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of West Virginia
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of D.C.
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights. We are helping to implement DC's Solar for All program, providing free solar installations to low-income families.
Solar United Neighbors of Ohio
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of Florida
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of Minnesota
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help Minnesotans go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of New Jersey
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania
We’re a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Solar United Neighbors of Arizona
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a nonprofit helping people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights. Join the movement to make rooftop solar the cornerstone of a modern, clean energy system.
Where we work
Awards
Champion of Change in Solar Energy 2014
White House
One of the best community-based nonprofits 2017
Catalgoue for Philanthropy
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This number reflects the number of participants in solar education, co-ops, community-building, and advocacy work in a given year.
Number of jobs created and maintained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Calculated using the Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model from the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Number of households/businesses that have gone solar through SUN
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
kW of distributed solar installed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Solar capacity installed through our solar co-op program and consulting projects for farms, small businesses, and municipalities.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Solar United Neighbors envisions a clean, equitable energy system that directs control and benefits back to local communities, with solar on every roof and money in every pocket. We aim to transform the US energy system from a centralized monopoly-based system to a grassroots, democracy-based system that allows everyone to participate and fairly compensates people for their contributions. Our goals are to: 1) Transform the public understanding of solar from a niche "green" technology to a mainstream practical investment, 2) Help people go solar and protect their solar investment, 3) Build and broaden the solar movement by enabling people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to benefit from solar energy.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In order to transform the public understanding of solar from a niche "green" technology to a mainstream practical investment, we educate the public about solar energy through online platforms and free public information sessions, work with diverse local partners (churches, local governments, civic associations, advocacy groups. etc.), and engage local press in solar education and positive stories about solar in their communities.
In order to help people go solar and protect their solar investment, we organize solar bulk purchasing programs called solar co-ops, which make solar more affordable and accessible to community members. By going solar as a group, participants save on the cost of their system and get the best products, warranties, etc. for the best price. Solar co-op participants get one-on-one support from our technical experts throughout the co-op process. As a result, significantly more homeowners go solar than would otherwise. We also offer a membership program with a solar Help Desk that provides support and services to help people go solar outside of a co-op, make the most of their solar investment, and keep up to date on solar policy, incentives, and technology. We educate our network about legislative and regulatory threats to their solar investments, and help people participate in public comment processes and other ways of making their voices heard. When appropriate, we also intervene in Public Service Commission proceedings to protect the rights and interests of distributed solar owners.
In order to broaden the solar movement by enabling people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to benefit from solar energy, we work with diverse community partners to engage new constituencies in the clean energy movement. We also engage solar supporters in clean energy and solar policy initiatives to make solar energy more affordable and accessible to low-income residents, renters, and others whose access is usually limited. We also run a robust engagement program which engages Solar United Neighbors members in educational opportunities, community outreach, and social events to connect with other solar supporters and build a supportive community that has the capacity to take on significant policy and regulatory challenges.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Solar United Neighbors started as a small group of neighbors working together to get solar at a discount. Over the past nine years, we have developed a unique grassroots model that helps people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Our team is exceptionally skilled in solar technology, policy, and community organizing. We have over 25 staff working to implement the best programs and provide the best service possible. We have a NABCEP-certified Solar PV Installation Professional on staff, and have many other staff who are experts in current solar panels, inverters, and related product offerings. We are also very knowledgeable about electric vehicles, batteries for home energy storage, and how to integrate other technologies with solar PV. Other staff are subject matter experts in solar policy, especially community solar, low-income solar programs, net metering, and utility regulation. All of our staff are extremely passionate about their work, creative and not afraid to try new things to make our programs (and our world) better.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our program model is effective, practical, proven, and scalable. We have been tremendously successful in sparking excitement about solar in communities from urban Baltimore to rural West Virginia, and everywhere in between. We have deployed a significant capacity of residential solar power, boosting local economies and creating jobs as we did so. Our programs have strengthened local solar markets and created new solar companies while bringing prices down and quality up for customers. And most importantly, we have created an engaged grassroots base that we have deployed for a number of important policy wins.
As of October 2017, we have directly engaged 15,000 residents in solar education, helped 2,325 homeowners go solar, and installed 16,800 kW of solar capacity. This work has invested $272 million in local communities, reduced carbon emissions by 580 million pounds, and created 505 solar jobs.
In 2017, we launched programs in three new states (Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) and launched our Solar for All program to provide free solar installations to low-income homeowners in DC. In 2018, we will launch programs in several additional states, roll out a membership program to all states where we have an on-the-ground presence, and continue to add meaningful goods and services for members. We will continue to organize solar co-ops and engage people in solar advocacy in order to make solar more affordable and accessible for everyone.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- 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.
Solar United Neighbors
Board of directorsas of 05/16/2022
Courtney Cuff
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? 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
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data