Publish Date: October 13th, 2025
If you run or work at a non-profit, solar can bring you many benefits. From lowered operating expenses to supporting environmental stewardship goals, many non-profits are going solar to further their mission and purpose. But the question often remains – how will you fund it?
Solar for non-profits is now more accessible than ever before thanks to several financing options which can bring the investment cost for the non-profit way down.
Key Financing Options for Solar for Non-Profits
- Brightwell – Brightwell was built specifically to help nonprofits go solar. By connecting organizations with a network of mission-driven impact investors, Brightwell unlocks long-term energy savings that directly support nonprofit missions. These investors leverage tax incentives typically inaccessible to nonprofits, enabling projects that minimize — or even eliminate — upfront costs. Through a flexible Energy Management Services Agreement (EMSA), nonprofits pay a predictable fee—often offset by their energy savings—for a defined term, typically around 7–12 years. At the end of the agreement, nonprofits are well positioned for full system ownership with little to no impact on their budget.
- Power Purchase Agreements – A third party buys and owns the solar system and the non-profit pays the owner a negotiated rate for the energy generated, with typical terms of 20 – 25 years and an option to “buy” the system at the end of the term.
- Grants – There are a multitude of grants available for solar for non-profits and they can help bridge any funding gaps. Contact Namaste Solar’s commercial team to get the latest information on available grants.
- Utility Incentives – These are financial incentives provided by some utility companies, most commonly paid based on the electricity produced by the system for a defined period of time (duration of the term can vary by utility).
How is Brightwell Helping Non-Profits Go Solar?
Namaste Solar has a new partnership with Brightwell to provide a funding option that’s a win-win for everyone. Comprised of a network of mission-driven investors, Brightwell matches these impact investors with non-profits looking to go solar. Through this mechanism, solar for non-profits has become more accessible than ever before.
So, how does the Brightwell model work? When a non-profit engages with Namaste Solar, we provide an initial system design that contemplates important factors like energy usage, roof size, and the goals of your organization. Once we have a design and proposal developed for your system, we connect with our partners at Brightwell.
Brightwell then makes your proposed system available to their investor pool to find the best match to fund the project. For these investors, providing solar for non-profits is not only financially advantageous, but is also an opportunity for them to have a measurable impact in the community.
Once an investor is matched to the nonprofit, Namaste Solar will move forward with the final engineering, procurement and construction of the project. Once an impact investor is paired with a nonprofit, the project moves into final design and construction. The investor provides the upfront funding and captures the tax benefits, making it possible for the nonprofit to access solar without a heavy capital outlay. In return, the nonprofit pays a stable monthly fee through an Energy Management Services Agreement (EMSA), structured to be equal to or less than what it would otherwise pay the utility for electricity. Over the course of the agreement—typically 7 to 12 years—the nonprofit benefits from reliable cost savings and budget certainty. At the end of the term, the nonprofit is positioned for full ownership of the system under terms that protect its financial health and mission for the long run.
Using Brightwell to fund solar for your non-profit is a great way to unlock the generosity of these investors while harnessing the benefits of solar. Solar can reduce your monthly operating costs, for upwards of 30 years, so you can put savings back into your organization to further fund your mission. And it’s how you can ensure your non-profit is a part of the cleaner, greener future that renewable energy is building.
What Other Funding Options are There for Non-Profits Who Go Solar?
In addition to Brightwell, there are other options that help make solar for non-profits accessible. They are Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), various grants, and utility incentives. PPAs have been around for a while, and they’re a way for non-profits to get solar with little to no investment upfront. In a PPA, a third party buys and owns the solar system. The non-profit then pays for the energy generated at a rate that’s generally lower than standard electricity rates. In this way, non-profits can get access to solar with minimal investment and capitalize on the utility rate savings that come with solar energy.
Grants are another great option to fund solar for non-profits. Grant money is financial aid from a funding source, usually a governmental agency, foundation, or corporation. One great local option is the City of Denver Grant program. Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency (CASR)’s Renewables and Resilience Program has an annual pool of money they allocate to non-profits located in the city of Denver for solar, storage, and EV charging stations. With 20 years of solar experience, our non-commissioned advisors are experts in helping you find and apply for any grants you could qualify for.
A final supplemental funding source to help non-profits go solar is utility incentives. You can enroll in the Xcel Commercial & Industrial Solar Rewards Program when you go solar. Should you choose to sell your Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to Xcel Energy, they will pay for the production of your system for a 20-year term at competitive rates. Contact our commercial team to get insight into the latest rate structure.
One non-profit who went solar with Namaste Solar is the Women’s Bean Project. Their solar project was fully funded by the City of Denver’s Renewables and Resiliency Grant which is a grant that demonstrates the city’s commitment to supporting renewable energy initiatives among non-profits.
Over the 25-year+ lifespan of the system, Women’s Bean Project is projected to save $300,775 in operating expenses. Additionally, participation in Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards program is expected to generate $99,228 in income over the next 20 years, further enhancing the financial benefits of the installation.
These combined savings will directly support Women’s Bean Project’s programs, which provide job training and employment to women facing significant barriers to work. The organization offers comprehensive programs that equip women with job and life skills, helping break the cycle of poverty to build brighter futures. It is estimated that these savings will fund over 15,000 hours of program services. This is how solar for non-profits can have an exponentially positive impact on their mission, pouring funds back into the projects they support.
Getting Solar for Your Non-Profit is Best Done with the Right Partner
Since most non-profits are mission-driven organizations, it makes sense to partner with a solar installer who is also driven by strong values. At Namaste Solar, we prioritize purpose alongside profit. In addition to being a 20-year old local solar installer, we’ve been a Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation for 12 years, meaning that we meet rigorous standards for positive social and environmental impact.
For us, it’s not just about installing solar – though we’re experts at that – but it’s also about creating a cleaner, greener future that’s better for our planet and the people. To see how working with a high-integrity, purpose-driven installer can amplify the impact of solar for your non-profit, give us a call at 303-536-8920 or click the button below.
