People behind the mission

Zack Kearnan is Co-Founder and Chairman of Balance Fund, Inc. He brings experience in renewable energy development, finance, ownership, and operations to the Fund’s work expanding access to affordable clean energy in low-income and environmental justice communities.

His work spans evaluating opportunities, building financial models, structuring financing, negotiating agreements, acquiring projects, coordinating construction, monetizing incentives, and overseeing operating assets. He has worked with power purchase agreements, leases, renewable energy credits, federal clean energy incentives, direct pay, tax credit transferability, and Illinois Solar for All.

At Balance Fund, Zack focuses on financially sustainable structures that help community institutions benefit from renewable energy without diverting scarce capital from their core missions. To him, lower energy costs can free resources for education, care, outreach, staffing, and other essential services.

As Chairman, he emphasizes disciplined capital allocation, responsible risk management, scalable financial structures, and value that lasts beyond construction.

Daniel Dowd is Co-Founder and President of Balance Fund, Inc. A renewable energy entrepreneur, developer, financier, and asset manager, he works across development, finance, ownership, and operations to create lasting economic value for the communities and organizations projects serve.

His experience covers opportunity assessment, financial modeling, financing structures, agreements, construction coordination, utility and incentive requirements, and oversight after projects enter operation. Daniel has worked with power purchase agreements, leases, renewable energy credits, federal clean energy incentives, direct pay, tax credit transferability, and Illinois Solar for All.

Daniel co-founded Balance Fund out of a belief that renewable energy can improve people’s lives while caring for the environment. He sees a project’s value in the resources it can preserve for education, healthcare, community services, and other important missions, as well as the energy it produces.

As President, he brings a hands-on development and operating perspective, emphasizing strong community partnerships, clear agreements, responsible execution, and accountability throughout each asset’s life.