We recently took a deep dive into our 2024 performance, and I wanted to share some of the most compelling insights with our community. These data points tell a story—not just about our growth, but about how we've refined our approach to accelerating renewable energy adoption in the Global South. Over the next few months, I’ll be publishing a series of articles based on these findings.
One of the biggest surprises of 2024 was how broad-based support drove our momentum. While we saw an increase in large-dollar contributions, smaller and mid-sized investments remained a vital part of our growth. The ‘Cash in by Cohort’ chart below shows how different account sizes contributed throughout the year.
How different cohorts helped us scale
At the start of the year, most of our funding came from $25–$2,500 accounts, with a strong showing from small-dollar supporters. This grassroots engagement continued throughout the year, and it played a key role in Renewables.org’s success.
At the same time, we saw a new trend emerge: by December, the $10,000+ cohort made up nearly half of total funds invested. This shift was fueled by two major developments:
- Employer Matching Programs: Many supporters in the $100–$2,500 range doubled their impact through corporate donation matching. Employees at Microsoft, GitHub, and other firms joined in, leveraging company programs to maximize their contributions.
- Expanded Giving Options: In March, we launched Donor Edition, a tax-deductible version of Renewables.org that attracted more high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic giving. More on that below.
Small and medium contributions remain the backbone of Renewables.org. The majority of participants still fall into this range, and these contributions—especially when paired with employer matching—continue to be one of the most powerful drivers of impact.
The Rise of Donor Edition
Beyond shifts in account sizes, 2024 also marked a major evolution in how people invested in Renewables.org.
The ‘Investment Volume by Edition’ chart below shows how, over time, Donor Edition investments grew to make up nearly half of total funds.
This offering resonated with philanthropists, particularly those using Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). Many found us through word-of-mouth and the tech entrepreneurship network of our cofounder, Premal Shah.
Additionally, Donor Edition enabled us to implement employer matching—a game-changer. Many companies match donations to nonprofits, and thanks to Donor Edition, employees could invest through Renewables.org while having their contributions doubled.
By October, Donor Edition was matching our classic investment volume, a testament to how both models work together to scale impact. You’ll also notice some Donor Edition contributions logged in January and February—this is because we allowed users to retroactively convert their existing balances into Donor Edition.
Why This Model Works
A key reason Renewables.org can accommodate both investors and donors is that our structure is fundamentally different from most nonprofits.
Since our operations are funded through interest earned on investments (while principal is repaid to users), we don’t have to choose between raising money to run Renewables.org and raising funds to build solar projects.
That means we’re agnostic about whether someone invests or donates—either way, the funds go toward building renewable energy projects in the Global South.
Unlike donation supported nonprofits, we’ll never remember your birthday or host ritzy dinners to celebrate your virtue (while pressuring you to re-up your donation another year). Instead, we use design and data to prove your impact—showing exactly where your funds went and paying back your principal so you know your money was deployed effectively.
Whether you choose to invest or donate, we’re here to make sure your contributions drive real impact.