Building A Better World

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?

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 within 9 months of agreeing to move forward with certification.

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 March 15, 2024. 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 March 31, 2024. 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 March 15, 2024. 
• Part-two application including utility data must be received by March 31st, 2024.
• The winner will be announced on Earth Day 2024 (4/22).

Applications are open to be our 2024 recipient! Deadline for Part 1 Application is March 15, 2024!