With over $500 billion flowing into U.S. charities annually, the potential for transformative impact is immense. Yet, writing a check often merely scratches the surface of what communities really need. That’s why partnerships between businesses and nonprofits can be so powerful — they merge financial resources, expert knowledge, and community connections to create more far-reaching benefits.
Enter Emerald Built Environments, a sustainability consulting firm dedicated to guiding organizations toward greener, healthier, and more cost-effective operations. One of the ways we channel our mission is through Emerald Gives, our annual program that provides nonprofit organizations with pro bono sustainability consulting services. The program has helped nonprofits reduce their environmental footprint, and enhance operational efficiencies and occupant well-being, all while receiving well-deserved recognition for their sustainability leadership.
What’s New for Emerald Gives 2025
Emerald Built Environments is thrilled to announce that Emerald Gives 2025 is now open for applications, with application submissions due by May 1st, 2025, and an official winner announcement on June 2nd. This program offers one nonprofit (must be U.S. based) pro-bono LEED Operations & Maintenance (O+M) consulting for its primary building. To qualify, the organization must own and exclusively occupy its building, which should have operated for at least one year and be regularly accessible to visitors or clients. All LEED tasks must be completed within nine months, ensuring a measurable and timely impact.
As part of the award, Emerald’s team will assess the nonprofit’s building performance, examining everything from energy consumption to waste management, and guide them through each step of the LEED O+M process. In doing so, the selected nonprofit stands to benefit from lowered operational costs, greater credibility with donors, and a stronger ability to serve its community.
Program Evolution – Emerald Gives Through the Years
2022 Winner: Hathaway Brown
Emerald started its current Emerald Gives framework, leveraging LEED O+M, in 2022. The first organization to partner with Emerald for this initiative was Hathaway Brown School, a K-12 girls’ school. By upgrading lighting systems and embedding eco-focused lessons into its curriculum, Hathaway Brown underscored how sustainability can enhance both educational engagement and operational savings. Students benefited from hands-on experiences with real-world climate solutions, while the school reduced its energy footprint over the long term. Hathaway Brown achieved LEED Gold certification and was named the 2024 Green Building USGBC Ohio Leadership Award for Operations + Maintenance, "For an existing building that demonstrates market leadership towards a net zero carbon reality that is equitable, resilient, and promotes the wise, safe use of all resources."
2023 Winner: The Centers
Continuing that momentum, The Centers secured the 2023 award and applied sustainability to enrich its core mission of community well-being in Cleveland. Its central urban location and public transit links helped it score well in the transportation category, and building improvements boosted environmental performance and fostered a healthier, more accessible environment for its clients and stakeholders.
2024 Winner: Severance Music Center
Last year, Severance Hall (home of the Cleveland Orchestra) showcased how the arts can serve as a platform for sustainability leadership. By conducting waste audits and introducing energy-efficient upgrades, the institution notched a perfect 8 out of 8 points in waste management and reached an estimated EUI (Energy Use Intensity) of 131 kBt/sf. This success demonstrates that historic cultural venues can lead by example, influencing patrons and the broader community alike.
The Broader Context – Nonprofit Impact and Sustainability
For Emerald and our parent company, Crete United, teaming up with nonprofits is central to the shared mission of “making communities where we live, work, and play healthier.” Nonprofits themselves play a vital role in both local and global contexts, and the sector employs more than 12 million people and receives donations from 23% of U.S. adults. When these organizations integrate sustainability, their social impact expands even further. They model responsible resource use for donors, volunteers, and the public, exemplifying how environmental stewardship can amplify a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its core mission.
These local efforts also align with broader global goals, reflecting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), which emphasize the importance of fusing social progress with environmental awareness. By embedding green practices in daily operations, nonprofits can save money and encourage their stakeholders to follow suit, strengthening community wellbeing and planetary health.
Balancing Philanthropy and Practical Action
For nonprofits collaborating with Emerald, going green does more than enhance credibility, it transforms their buildings into beacons of sustainable innovation. By reducing energy consumption, improving waste management, and focusing on occupant well-being, an organization extends its philanthropic goals to the way it functions each day.
Though many nonprofits begin adopting green measures to lower overhead costs, these steps can quickly evolve into a broader commitment. Energy-efficient systems and responsible material sourcing free up resources for the organization’s core programs, while even modest initiatives like water-saving fixtures or enhanced recycling foster a culture of environmental responsibility among staff, volunteers, and the wider community.
Ultimately, the interplay between philanthropy and ecological stewardship magnifies a nonprofit’s mission, showcasing how cutting expenses and promoting sustainability can go hand in hand.
Empowering Communities, One Project at a Time
Over the years, Emerald Gives has proven that well-structured, sustainability-focused collaborations between businesses and nonprofits yield significant, long-lasting advantages. By connecting nonprofits with proven, data-driven strategies, Emerald Built Environments, A Crete United Company, helps organizations operate more efficiently, shrink their carbon footprint, and create healthier, more vibrant spaces for everyone involved.
With the 2025 application window set to close on May 1st, Emerald encourages nonprofits of all scales and focuses to explore this unique opportunity. So long as the non-profit is based in the U.S., it is eligible to apply. By taking part, you can build on previous winners’ success stories, set new benchmarks for eco-friendly practices, and strengthen your nonprofit’s mission in the process.
If you or a nonprofit you know could benefit from sustainability consulting, or if you want to learn more about applying, reach out to Emerald Built Environments today. Let’s turn collective passion into tangible results because when vision meets action, real impact follows, and Emerald Gives stands ready to empower that change, one project at a time.
