Brightwell originated when three solar projects for nonprofit organizations faced obstacles due to insufficient capital and a reluctance to take on debt. This financial challenge consistently hindered nonprofits from adopting solar energy, a solution crucial for combatting escalating utility costs which strained other mission-focused resources. When one school’s solar project stalled, a passionate donor inquired, “Can I buy it and make an impact on the school?”

This question sparked a year-long exploration into intricate areas such as tax law, legal structures, capital expertise, incentive opportunities, and financial technologies—all essential components for enhancing accessibility to solar funding for nonprofits. In the process, our team tested this innovative solar funding model with two additional impact partners who swiftly agreed within just fifteen minutes of the proposal.

As we delved deeper into the issue, our team realized the complexity nonprofits faced. We witnessed the desire for solar in these organizations and the enthusiastic support from members of their communities, prompting us to question how we could unlock this generosity. Brightwell emerged as the answer—a business dedicated to unlocking generosity and simplifying the process for nonprofits to access cost-saving solar solutions—enabling generational impact. We achieve this by connecting impact investors with local organizations they care about, facilitating favorable terms that create a mutually beneficial scenario. This spirit of generosity is at the core of our name—creating a bright, deep well to draw from for decades to come.