NC Clean Energy Fund

What NC Clean Energy Fund does

Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas (CEFC, dba; legal name Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas) is a nonprofit financial institution dedicated to supporting the clean energy economy across North and South Carolina. It provides affordable financing for energy-efficient upgrades, weatherization, renewable installations, and community-scale clean energy projects, targeting homeowners, small businesses, community organizations, and local governments. CEFC generates revenue through interest on loans and program-related fees across its financing portfolio.

The organization's product portfolio centers on Carolina SURE Residential Financing (its flagship homeowner loan product), a Commercial Lending program offering bridge loans and project financing to municipalities, nonprofits, and small businesses, a Residential Programs suite, and a Contractor Programs channel for installer-originated deals. CEFC also participates in two named partner programs: Electrify the Triad (a regional residential electrification initiative) and EBERP, an Energy Burden & Emissions Reduction Program with Durham County for neighborhood-level retrofits in energy-burdened communities.

CEFC's go-to-market is community-led: it coordinates a network of contractors, funders, local governments, community organizations, and like-minded financial institutions to originate deals and deploy capital. Distribution combines a self-serve website, a contractor channel, direct partnerships with municipalities and community organizations, and content marketing (Stories of Impact, newsletters, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; loan terms are quote-based and vary by program, applicant, and project scope. The organization was founded in an undisclosed year and currently operates as an active, privately held nonprofit.

Name

NC Clean Energy Fund

Legal name

Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas

Website

https://nccleanenergyfund.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas (CEFC) is a nonprofit financial institution providing affordable residential, commercial, and municipal clean energy financing across North and South Carolina, serving homeowners, small businesses, community organizations, and local governments through a network of contractors and mission-aligned partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Not disclosed

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Clean Energy Financing Programs: As a nonprofit financial institution, CEFC generates revenue through providing affordable financing for clean energy projects including residential loans for energy-efficient upgrades, bridge loans for municipalities, and targeted support for nonprofits and small businesses. Revenue is derived from interest on loans and program-related fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CEFC is a nonprofit financial institution that provides affordable financing for clean energy projects across North and South Carolina. Its core offerings include residential loans for energy-efficient upgrades, commercial lending for small businesses, and bridge loans for municipalities and community organizations. The organization fills financing gaps by working through a collaborative ecosystem of contractors, funders, and local partners to make clean energy investments accessible to homeowners, small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments.

Product overview

The Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas is a nonprofit financial institution offering a unified portfolio of financing products designed to make clean energy investments accessible across North and South Carolina. The core offerings include Carolina SURE Residential Financing for homeowner energy upgrades, Commercial Lending for small businesses and municipalities, and targeted Residential Programs. The organization also operates through a network of Contractor Programs and partners with external initiatives like Electrify the Triad and the EBERP (Energy Burden & Emissions Reduction Program) to extend affordable financing solutions to communities that need them most. Together, these products form a collaborative ecosystem that fills financing gaps and enables homeowners, small businesses, and community organizations to invest in energy improvements that lower costs and strengthen communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carolina SURE Residential Financing

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Electrify the TriadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner providing residential electrification solutions in the Triad region. CEFC collaborates with Electrify the Triad to bring trusted, affordable clean energy solutions to homeowners.
• Carolina SURE Residential FinancingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEFC's flagship residential financing program providing affordable loans for energy-efficient upgrades. A lead product in the CEFC portfolio designed for Carolina homeowners.
• EBERP (Energy Burden & Emissions Reduction Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Durham County government on the Energy Burden & Emissions Reduction Program. CEFC provides financing support for residential neighborhood energy retrofits and repairs.
• Local GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEFC works hand-in-hand with local governments across North and South Carolina to ensure financing solutions reflect local priorities and support municipal clean energy goals.
• Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnerships with community organizations to ensure clean energy financing solutions reach underserved communities and reflect local priorities.
• Contractor NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrowing network of contractors who work with CEFC to facilitate financing for customers undertaking energy-efficient upgrades and clean energy installations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network: National membership organization representing CDFIs. Not a direct competitor, but ecosystem participant and potential partner/funder network that CEFC could leverage for capital and best-practice support.

Direct peers

• Nuveen Green Capital: Specialized clean energy and PACE financing provider offering commercial and residential clean energy loans. Closest functional peer to CEFC's commercial lending and clean energy bridge loan products, but operates nationally and at larger scale.
• PACE Equity: Clean energy and PACE financing provider for commercial and multifamily projects. Comparable to CEFC's commercial/municipal bridge lending, though operating at a larger deal-size scale and broader geography.
• Inclusive Prosperity Capital: CDFI focused on clean energy financing for underserved communities, including residential and small commercial clean energy loans. Directly comparable mission, structure, and target borrower profile to CEFC.
• Self-Help Credit Union: North Carolina-based CDFI focused on responsible, affordable lending to underserved borrowers. Operates a similar nonprofit/mission-aligned lending model in the same geography as CEFC, making it a directly comparable regional peer.
• Ygrene Energy Fund: Clean energy financing company offering PACE-based loans for energy efficiency, renewable, and resilience upgrades on residential and commercial properties. Directly comparable in product offering and target customer segments to CEFC.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Major national CDFI supporting community development lending, including clean energy and resilience financing. Similar nonprofit lender model but with significantly broader scope and scale than CEFC.
• Reinvestment Fund: National CDFI that finances affordable housing, healthy food, and clean energy projects. Comparable nonprofit financial intermediary structure with broader mandate and national footprint.

Regional players

• Coastal Enterprises Inc: Maine-based CDFI providing financing for small businesses, natural resource-based industries, and community facilities. Comparable mission-aligned nonprofit lender structure but operating in a different geography (New England vs. Carolinas).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nc-clean-energy-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/cefcarolinas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 NC Clean Energy Fund