What Couillard Solar Foundation does

Couillard Solar Foundation (CSF) is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit foundation founded in 2018 by Laurie and Cal Couillard in Deerfield, Wisconsin, with EIN 82-4111491. Its mission is to expand access to solar power for Wisconsin nonprofits, schools, and houses of worship, and (more recently) low-income rural homeowners. The foundation functions primarily as a grant-making intermediary rather than a manufacturer: it provides bifacial solar panels (procured from Philadelphia Solar in Jordan) at wholesale or no cost to qualifying projects, and offers cash grants for canopy installations. Its principal products are bifacial solar modules and the proprietary Couillard Solar Canopy — a modular, bifacial-panel-based structure sold via couillardcanopies.com in pergola, pavilion, and carport configurations. Underlying technology is hardware-only: bifacial photovoltaic modules certified to IEC/UL 61730 with published design guidance on mounting height (42.5 inches), portrait orientation, row spacing, and albedo optimization.

CSF operates two core grant programs. Solar for Good, administered in partnership with RENEW Wisconsin (since 2018), provides up to 50% of project panels (capped at 75 panels for systems under 75 kW and 150 panels for larger systems) to Wisconsin nonprofits and houses of worship. Solar on Schools, administered in partnership with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (since 2019), applies an analogous panel subsidy model to K-12 schools, universities, and community colleges. A 2024 pilot, the Wisconsin Solar Homes Project with Couleecap, extended this model to low/moderate-income rural homeowners in Vernon County. The foundation also operates the CSF Solar Canopy Grant ($6,000 base for the first 20 kW plus $3,000 per additional 10 kW) and conducts educational and fundraising programming, including the annual Solar Series (six events in 2025) and the Solstock storytelling festival.

The foundation's revenue model is mixed: tax-deductible individual and institutional donations; wholesale panel and canopy sales whose net proceeds subsidize grants; and tiered event sponsorships ranging from $100 (Lantern) to $1,000+ (Headliner). Distribution is geographically limited to Wisconsin, executed primarily through grant program administrators (RENEW Wisconsin, MREA, Couleecap) and a single Deerfield warehouse at 10 Liberty Street. The organization is lean: three paid staff members, two subcontractors, and a volunteer board. In mid-November 2024, the board voted to dissolve the foundation, citing eight years in which the rate of giving exceeded income; a 12-24 month wind-down is underway, with grant programs transitioning to partner organizations and canopy and panel sales continuing temporarily.

Name

Couillard Solar Foundation

Legal name

Couillard Solar Foundation

Website

https://couillardsolarfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Couillard Solar Foundation is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds solar panel grants for nonprofits, schools, and low-income homeowners through partnerships with RENEW Wisconsin and MREA, supplemented by bifacial panel and proprietary solar canopy sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Equipment and Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Solar panel grants
• Bifacial solar panels
• Solar canopy structures
• Nonprofit solar funding
• Renewable energy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Deerfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations that support the foundation's grant programs for Wisconsin nonprofits and schools to access solar power.
2. Solar Panel Sales: Sale of bifacial solar panels (Philadelphia Solar modules made in Jordan) at wholesale/cost prices. Proceeds fund Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs.
3. Solar Canopy Sales: Sale of Couillard Solar Canopy products. All net proceeds go to support the Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs.
4. Sponsorships: Sponsorships for the annual Solar Series educational events. Sponsorship levels range from $250 (Lantern) to $1,000+ (Headliner) with various promotional benefits. Sponsorships are not tax deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Couillard Solar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sells bifacial solar panels and the proprietary Couillard Solar Canopy, with all net proceeds funding grant programs (Solar for Good and Solar on Schools) that supply up to 50% of solar panels to Wisconsin nonprofits and public schools. The foundation also operates a residential pilot program for low-income rural homeowners and hosts educational events including the Solstock storytelling festival.

Product overview

Couillard Solar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a portfolio of solar energy products and grant programs. Its core products are bifacial solar panels (manufactured by Philadelphia Solar in Jordan) and the Couillard Solar Canopy — a modular bifacial canopy structure sold for residential, commercial, and public use. All canopy and panel sale proceeds fund two primary grant programs: Solar for Good (in partnership with RENEW Wisconsin, for nonprofits and houses of worship) and Solar on Schools (in partnership with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, for Wisconsin public schools). The foundation also operates a Wisconsin Solar for Homes pilot project for low-income homeowners in Vernon County, and hosts the annual Solstock Storytelling Festival as a fundraising vehicle. The organization is currently in a wind-down phase following a board dissolution vote in mid-November, with programs transitioning to partner organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Couillard Canopies: Solar canopy products sold by the foundation. Beautiful and functional structures that create relaxing outdoor spaces while generating energy, reducing emissions, and creating tax benefits. All net proceeds support Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs.

Products and services

• Couillard Solar Canopy Modular solar canopy/pavilion structure using bifacial panel technology that generates power while providing shade and shelter. Available as pergola, pavilion, or carport configurations for residential, commercial, or public spaces. Weatherproof construction with easy installation. All net proceeds support Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs.
• Bifacial Solar Panels Bifacial solar modules that capture light from both front and back sides, producing 5-25% more power than monofacial panels. Certified to IEC/UL 61730 standards and California Energy Commission (CEC) rated. Sold to installers and project developers with warehouse pickup or shipping from Wisconsin location.
• Solar for Good Grant Program Grant initiative in partnership with RENEW Wisconsin that awards up to 50% of the solar panels needed for nonprofit organizations and houses of worship in Wisconsin, along with small grants for engineering reviews and technical assistance. Systems under 75 kW receive up to 75 panels (~$12,500 value); systems 75 kW and larger receive up to 150 panels (~$25,000 value).
• Solar on Schools Grant Program Grant program in partnership with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association that helps Wisconsin public schools from elementary to university level reduce operating expenses through solar installations. Offers panel grants (up to 50% of project needs, up to 75 panels for systems under 75 kW and up to 150 panels for larger systems) and educational curriculum resources.
• Wisconsin Solar for Homes Project Pilot program in partnership with Couleecap focused on Vernon County, designed to help financially-strained, rural homeowners access solar power through reduced-cost installations.
• Solstock Storytelling Festival Annual fundraising festival featuring storytelling by Wisconsin solar project groups, with voting, silent auctions, and prize awards including solar panels for winners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 18 MW of solar power generated through grant programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CouleecapcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Couleecap, a community action agency in Vernon County, partners with CSF on the Wisconsin Solar Homes Project pilot program. The initiative helps financially-strained, rural homeowners in Vernon County access solar power.
• Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019MREA serves as program administrator for the Solar on Schools initiative, helping Wisconsin K-12 schools and universities access solar power through CSF grants. MREA also provides solar training courses and curriculum resources.
• RENEW WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018RENEW Wisconsin serves as the program administrator for the Solar for Good initiative, which awards up to 50% of solar panels needed to Wisconsin nonprofits and houses of worship. CSF provides the funding for panels while RENEW Wisconsin handles program administration, application review, and grant awards.
• Componex, Inc.minorOthersCal Couillard's former manufacturing company in Edgerton, WI. The sale of Componex in 2018 provided the capital that inspired Cal to create the Couillard Solar Foundation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Vote Solar: National solar advocacy nonprofit working on state-level policy to expand solar access. Comparable mission of broadening solar adoption, though primarily policy-driven rather than direct project deployment like CSF.
• The Ray: Georgia-based philanthropic project and nonprofit developing solar-powered transportation infrastructure. Comparable as a mission-driven foundation applying solar technology to public-benefit use cases, though at much larger scale.
• Groundswell: National nonprofit aggregator for community solar projects serving nonprofits, schools, and mission-based organizations. Comparable as a community-solar intermediary channeling capital to local solar projects on behalf of institutional beneficiaries.
• RE-volv: San Francisco-based nonprofit that crowdfunds solar deployments for nonprofits via a solar-seed fund model. Comparable mission (solar for nonprofits) and similar reliance on a small staff plus blended funding to deploy community-serving solar.
• Solar United Neighbors: National nonprofit expanding solar access through neighborhood co-op purchasing and advocacy. Comparable as a nonprofit deploying solar projects at the community level, though its model is group-buy rather than grants to institutions.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club Foundation: Large environmental grantmaking foundation supporting climate, conservation, and clean energy nonprofits. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) foundation funding solar and climate work, though much broader in mission and substantially larger in assets.

Regional players

• North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center: NC State University-affiliated center providing clean energy information, training, and policy support, including the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE). Comparable as a public-interest solar/clean energy education and technical assistance organization serving a single state/region.

Others

• EarthShare: Federation of environmental nonprofits facilitating workplace giving and donor choice for environmental causes. Comparable as a nonprofit fundraising/grantmaking infrastructure supporting environmental missions, including renewable energy adoption.

Direct peers

• Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA): Custer, WI-based nonprofit promoting renewable energy adoption and education across the Midwest, and CSF's partner since 2019 for the Solar on Schools program. Directly comparable as a regional solar grant/education nonprofit with installer-training infrastructure.
• RENEW Wisconsin: Wisconsin statewide clean energy advocacy nonprofit and CSF's core program administrator for Solar for Good since 2018. Operates a similar mission of expanding renewable energy access in Wisconsin and is the most directly comparable peer given its role in CSF's flagship program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CouillardSolarFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/couillard-solar-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/couillardsolar

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Couillard Solar Foundation