Seeds For The Sol, Inc

Home Energy Efficiency Servicesseedsforthesol.org

Seeds for the Sol is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free home energy assessments, coordinates energy efficiency and solar upgrades with vetted contractors, and supplies zero-interest financing for low- and moderate-income households across seven Oregon counties.

Company typePrivate
Founded2013
HeadquartersCorvallis, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Seeds For The Sol, Inc does

Seeds for the Sol is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 and headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon. The organization delivers free home energy assessments and coordinates energy efficiency upgrades (heat pumps, insulation, weatherization, water heating) and solar installations for residential homeowners, with a primary focus on low- and moderate-income households across seven Oregon counties: Linn, Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, and Polk. The organization does not perform installations itself; instead, it acts as a trusted intermediary that screens households for income-based incentive eligibility, connects them to a vetted network of contractors, and provides zero-interest financing through its PAYS (Pay As You Save) Fund for households that cannot secure traditional financing.

Revenue mechanics are a hybrid of tax-deductible donations and a managed revolving loan program. The PAYS Fund (formerly the Slow Revolving Fund) is capitalized by community impact loans and structured around projected energy savings, while the Bridge Fund — launched in 2023 — is a closed-loop facility that provides rapid capital to contractors to offset delays in Energy Trust of Oregon incentive reimbursements. The go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer: outreach occurs through local utility partnerships (Pacific Power, PGE, NW Natural, Avista Gas, Cascade Gas), city and state government relationships (City of Corvallis, Oregon Department of Energy), community organizations (Habitat for Humanity, Community Partners Solar, Corvallis Sustainability Coalition), and word-of-mouth referrals. Marketing channels emphasize an informational website, social media, community events, and email newsletters rather than paid acquisition.

Operationally, the organization runs with a small team of approximately 8–9 staff including the Executive Director, Director of Program Operations, a Multicultural Program Specialist, and three home energy assessors. Strategic positioning leans on the founder's statewide profile in electrification policy (Electrify Oregon Leadership Team, Energy Trust of Oregon Renewable Energy Advisory Council) and the Executive Director's background in energy and environmental law and policy. The organization's growth metrics — 168 no-cost upgrades in 2025 (up from 85 in 2023), 505 cumulative projects, and over 1,000 households supported — reflect a scaling nonprofit model that relies on partner-driven capital and incentive pass-through rather than retained revenue.

Seeds For The Sol, Inc firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Seeds For The Sol, Inc
Legal name: Seeds for the Sol
Website: https://seedsforthesol.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2013
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: Seeds for the Sol is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free home energy assessments, coordinates energy efficiency and solar upgrades with vetted contractors, and supplies zero-interest financing for low- and moderate-income households across seven Oregon counties.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Seeds For The Sol, Inc industry classification

Industry

Product category: Home Energy Efficiency Services
SIC: Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
akta.pro primary industry: Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization & Home Repair Grant/Loan Programs (FSALAKAJ)
akta.pro secondary industries: Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds (FSANAJAK)

Keywords

Home energy assessments
Energy efficiency upgrades
Residential solar access
Community clean energy
Nonprofit energy services

Where Seeds For The Sol, Inc is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Corvallis
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Seeds For The Sol, Inc business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting clean energy access and climate justice. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Impact Loans: Community members provide loans through a revolving loan program (formerly Slow Revolving Fund, now PAYS Fund) to capitalize financing for homeowners unable to secure traditional financing. This creates a sustainable cycle where repayments fund future projects.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Freemium	—	Free Home Energy Assessment
Other	Pay-as-you-go	Income-Qualified No-Cost Upgrades
Other	Pay-as-you-go	Zero-Interest Loans for Remaining Costs

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Seeds For The Sol, Inc product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Seeds for the Sol provides free home energy assessments to identify upgrade opportunities, then guides homeowners through eligibility for utility and government incentives, connects them with vetted contractors, and offers zero-interest financing through the PAYS Fund for any remaining costs. The organization also operates the Bridge Fund, a closed-loop financing mechanism that pays contractors upfront to offset delays in incentive reimbursements. Services target income-qualified households in seven Oregon counties.

Product overview

Seeds for the Sol is a nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive suite of home energy services centered around free home energy assessments and energy efficiency upgrades. The core offerings include the Free Home Energy Assessment service, the PAYS (Pay As You Save) Fund providing 0% interest loans for solar installations, the BRIDGE Fund financing for contractors to address incentive payment delays, and Energy Efficiency Upgrades covering insulation, heating/cooling, and water heating. The organization connects households to rebates, no-cost programs, and low-interest financing while coordinating with a network of trusted contractors. Services target Linn, Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, and Polk counties in Oregon, with eligibility based on income and utility provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Pay As You Save (PAYS) Fund: A community-supported financing mechanism providing 0% interest loans to homeowners unable to secure traditional financing.
Bridge Fund

Products and services

Free Home Energy Assessment A comprehensive free evaluation of homes to identify and prioritize upgrade opportunities for comfort, efficiency, and cost savings, including insulation assessment, heating and cooling evaluation, and water heating analysis. Provided to homeowners in Linn, Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, and Polk counties in Oregon.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades Comprehensive home upgrades including insulation, heating and cooling (heat pump systems), and water heating (heat pump water heaters) to reduce energy costs and improve home comfort. Coverage ranges from full no-cost upgrades for income-qualified households to partial incentives with zero-interest loan financing for moderate-income households.
Solar Power Program Service connecting households to vetted solar contractors who evaluate needs and opportunities for residential solar installations, navigating incentives and financing options.
PAYS (Pay As You Save) Fund A community-supported financing mechanism providing 0% interest loans to homeowners unable to secure traditional financing, with repayments structured based on projected energy savings. Previously known as the Slow Revolving Fund.
Bridge Fund A closed-loop fund designed to provide rapid financing to contractors to offset delays in incentive payments from Energy Trust of Oregon, addressing cash-flow constraints and enabling contractors to serve lower-income clients.

Quantifiable outcome

10-15% energy cost reduction from basic upgrades like insulation and air sealing
+4 more outcomes

Companies that use Seeds For The Sol, Inc

Customer profile

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Seeds For The Sol, Inc technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Seeds For The Sol, Inc partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

Energy Trust of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partnership established in 2018 for pilot programs including solar installations for Habitat for Humanity homes, community partner funding models, and no-cost heat pump initiatives. Energy Trust of Oregon provides incentives and reimbursement for energy efficiency upgrades. Seeds for the Sol became a trusted intermediary helping overcome contractor cash-flow constraints from reimbursement timelines.
Oregon Department of EnergysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy programs accessible to Oregon homeowners.
Pacific PowersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner providing income-based incentives for customers in their service territory for energy efficiency upgrades.
Portland General Electric (PGE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner providing income-based incentives for customers in their service territory for energy efficiency upgrades.
NW NaturalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas utility partner providing incentives for qualifying customers for energy efficiency upgrades.
Avista GassupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas utility partner providing incentives for qualifying customers for energy efficiency upgrades.
Cascade GassupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural gas utility partner providing incentives for qualifying customers for energy efficiency upgrades.
Corvallis School DistrictsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school district partner supporting community energy programs and initiatives.
Community Partners SolarsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner supporting solar access programs for underserved households.
Corvallis Sustainability CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal sustainability coalition with Energy Action Team that Seeds for the Sol staff participate in, coordinating community sustainability initiatives.
Habitat for HumanitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2018 pilot programs for solar installations on Habitat for Humanity homes.
Electrify OregonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide initiative where founder Julie Williams serves on the Leadership Team, supporting electrification efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Seeds For The Sol, Inc competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Energy Trust of Oregon: Oregon's statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program administrator and key Seeds for the Sol funding partner. Provides incentives for the same upgrade categories.
CLEAResult: Large-scale energy efficiency program administrator working with utilities to deliver residential energy programs. Operates at much greater scale across many states.
TRC Companies: Large consulting and engineering firm that administers utility energy efficiency programs including weatherization. Operates at much greater scale.
Franklin Energy: National energy efficiency program implementer partnering with utilities to deliver weatherization, HVAC, and energy upgrade programs. Comparable service delivery model.

Emerging players

Rewiring America: National nonprofit focused on electrifying homes and equitable access to electrification. Shares the climate justice and residential electrification mission.

Direct peers

Community Energy Project: Portland-based nonprofit that provides home weatherization, energy education, and energy efficiency services to income-qualified households in Oregon. Most directly comparable nonprofit operating model in the same state.
Habitat for Humanity (Willamette Valley): Affordable housing nonprofit that Seeds for the Sol partnered with in 2018 for solar pilot programs. Both serve low-income Oregon homeowners with housing-related upgrades.
Build It Green: California-based nonprofit focused on residential energy efficiency, green building workforce training, and home performance services. Comparable nonprofit mission.

Regional players

NeighborWorks of Linn County: Regional affordable housing and community development nonprofit serving Linn County, Oregon. Comparable community-based nonprofit approach in overlapping geography.
Energy Outreach Colorado: Nonprofit that helps income-qualified households access energy bill assistance, weatherization, and energy efficiency upgrades. Comparable mission and program structure in a different state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Seeds For The Sol, Inc financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Seeds For The Sol, Inc leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Seeds For The Sol, Inc funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Seeds For The Sol, Inc M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Seeds For The Sol, Inc

What does Seeds For The Sol, Inc do?

Is Seeds For The Sol, Inc a public or private company?

Seeds For The Sol, Inc is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Seeds For The Sol, Inc founded?

Seeds For The Sol, Inc was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is Seeds For The Sol, Inc based?

Seeds For The Sol, Inc is headquartered in Corvallis, United States, in the North America region.

How does Seeds For The Sol, Inc make money?

Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are impact Loans.

Who are Seeds For The Sol, Inc's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Energy Trust of Oregon, CLEAResult, TRC Companies and Franklin Energy. Rewiring America is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Community Energy Project, Habitat for Humanity (Willamette Valley) and Build It Green. Regional players are NeighborWorks of Linn County and Energy Outreach Colorado.

Does Seeds For The Sol, Inc have an API?

No public API is recorded for Seeds For The Sol, Inc.

What industry is Seeds For The Sol, Inc in?

Seeds For The Sol, Inc's product category is Home Energy Efficiency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSALAKAJ, Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization & Home Repair Grant/Loan Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its SIC code is 7340.