Emerald Gives 2024
Building A Better World
Pro-Bono Sustainable Consulting for Nonprofits
EmeraLD Gives 2024
Become a Steward of Sustainability
Attention Nonprofits! 🌱🏢 Struggling with limited resources to achieve sustainability goals? We understand and are here to help! Emerald is thrilled to announce a one-of-a-kind initiative, pro-bono consulting services valued at $30,000. The result: LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) certification strategy for one lucky U.S.-based nonprofit and its primary building!
By partnering with us, you can transform your organization into a shining beacon of environmental responsibility while simultaneously cutting down operational costs and enhancing your reputation as a steward of sustainability.
Don't miss this chance to gain the coveted LEED O+M certification in 2024 and make a lasting positive impact on our planet. Together we can drive sustainable change and create a brighter, greener future. Apply now and be the catalyst for meaningful progress!
What Is Emerald Gives: Building a Better World?
Through Emerald Gives, we bring forward our core values by engaging with the community and its non-profit organizations in achieving sustainable results. One component of Emerald Gives is complimentary certification services - the Emerald team selects one organization to support in seeking a sustainable building certification annually.
What Does My Nonprofit Receive If We Are Selected?
Pursuing certification under LEED for Operations and Maintenance can result in financial benefits for the organization, such as increased donor interest and resource consumption savings.
The 2024 recipient of this initiative will receive pro-bono consulting services for the pursuit of LEED certification under the LEED Operations and Maintenance for Existing Buildings rating system. This certification focuses on concepts such as:
- Indoor air quality
- Sustainable purchasing
- Green cleaning
- Human experience
- Ongoing recycling and waste management
- Energy and water efficiency
- Sustainable building and grounds maintenance
LEED O+M is a performance-based certification that awards points when reported data and documentation comply with requirements. Certification documentation includes occupant surveys, building and site design elements, written policies, and annual performance data for utilities, waste, and transportation, among others.
Don't fret! - Emerald will be aiding you in preparing documentation for certification and will give you tools to track performance.
What Will It Cost Us?
The organization must be willing to pay related LEED registration and certification fees - which are $1,350 for registration and a minimum of $2,150 for certification fees (for buildings below 50,000sf and ~$.042 /SF for larger buildings). These fees will be paid directly to the Green Building Certification Institute.What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
- The selected organization must be a US Based 501 (c)(3) organization.
- The organization must own, and be the sole occupant of the building it seeks to certify.
- The building it seeks to certify must have been in service for at least 12 consecutive months.
- The building must be open to visitors/clients/students on a regular basis.
- The organization must be willing to pay related LEED registration and certification fees - $1,350 for registration and a minimum of $2,150 for certification fees (up to 50,000sf and ~$.042 /SF). These will be paid directly to the Green Building Council.
- The organization must be able to complete the work required for certification by September 30, 2024 (to provide time for the review body to complete its review in 2024).
How Do I Apply?
This application process consists of two parts. Part one involves general information about your organization and why you want to be considered and is due October 6, 2023. Part two involves additional questions about your facility, and uploading a minimum of 12 months of electric, heating fuels, and water utility data (via PDF, or spreadsheet) by the application deadline of November 3, 2023. Upon receipt of the part-one application, you will receive information on how to submit the part-two required documents.
- Part-one application must be received by October 6, 2023.
- Part-two application including utility data must be received by November 3, 2023.
Applications are open to be our 2023 recipient! Deadline for Part 1 Application is October 6, 2023.
2023 Emerald Gives Recipient
Hathaway Brown

- What led them to apply
- What changes they are making now that they are operating more sustainably
- How Emerald helped the process