Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Solar Energy Society Inc

EIN 59-1768923 · Boulder, CO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACCELERATE EQUITABLE SOLAR ADOPTION BY EDUCATING AND BUILDING COMMUNITY.

Income
$743,911
Spending
$675,945
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
4
Volunteers
1,019
Highest pay
$150,250, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $213,934 spent. EVENTS: ASES HOSTS AN ANNUAL NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE, BRINGING TOGETHER SCHOLARS, SCIENTISTS, ACTIVISTS, POLITICIANS, INDUSTRY MEMBERS, AND INTERESTED CITIZENS TO LEARN AND COLLABORATE OVER THREE DAYS OF DISCUSSIONS, WORKSHOPS AND SOCIAL EVENTS. EACH FALL WE PUT ON THE NATIONAL SOLAR TOUR WHICH IS THE LARGEST GRASSROOTS SUSTAINABLE LIVING EVENT IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH TOURS HELD IN ALL 50 STATES. WE ALSO HOST THE ASES WEBINAR SERIES FOR PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS.
  2. $145,499 spent. PUBLICATIONS: ASES WAS FOUNDED IN 1954, AND SINCE 1987 PUBLISHES QUARTERLY PRINT AND ONLINE MAGAZINE SOLAR TODAY WITH THE LATEST TRENDS AND CUTTING EDGE IDEAS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING. SOLAR TODAY IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE U.S. AND IN 18 COUNTRIES. WE ALSO WIDELY CIRCULATE OUR BI-WEEKLY ONLINE NEWSLETTER, SOLAR@WORK, WHICH IS TAILORED TO RENEWABLE ENERGY PROFESSIONALS AND GETS APPROXIMATELY 13,000 OPENS PER MAILING. WE REGULARLY COVER INFORMATION REGARDING TECHNOLOGY, POLICY, SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE, BUSINESS INNOVATORS, AND WORLD AFFAIRS REGARDING ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
  3. $138,133 spent. MEMBERSHIP: IN 2025 ASES HAD APPROXIMATELY 20,000 CURRENTLY ACTIVE MEMBERS IN THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AT ALL LEVELS FROM STUDENT DIGITAL TO PROFESSIONAL AND LIFETIME MEMBERS. WE HOST AN ALLIANCE OF 39 LOCAL CHAPTERS, INCLUDING 12 THAT PARTICIPATE IN JOINT MEMBERSHIP WITH ASES, AND 14 OF WHICH ARE STUDENT CHAPTERS BASED AT UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY. OUR BUSINESS MEMBERS ENJOY JOINT MEMBERSHIP WITH OUR GLOBAL AFFILIATE THE INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY BASED IN GERMANY. ASES HOSTS A FORUM OF SOLAR ENTHUSIASTS AND PROFESSIONALS WHERE MEMBERS CAN EXCHANGE IDEAS AND HELP ONE ANOTHER SOLVE CHALLENGES IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ARENAS INVOLVING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
  4. $78,692 spent. EQUITABLE SOLAR DEPLOYMENT: RESPONDING TO THE NEED TO GREATLY ACCELERATE THE PACE OF AN EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO 100% RE, ASES CREATED THE ZERO EMISSIONS NETWORK (ZEN) PROGRAM. ZEN'S MISSION IS PROJECT BASED AND STUDENT POWERED ACTIONS TOWARDS MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT LIVING. ZEN PROMOTES BOTH PERSONAL LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROJECTS TO ASSIST LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY IN HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED DEMOGRAPHICS. TOWARDS THESE ENDS ZEN WORKED WITH RED CLOUD RENEWABLE IN 2025 TO INSTALL TWO 3.5 KW SOLAR SYSTEMS AT THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP: ASES IS THE FISCAL AGENT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY CREDIT UNION (CECU), A GREEN BANK THAT FINANCES LOANS FOR CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS. ASES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING DONATED FUNDS DIRECTED TO CECU.
  5. EQUITABLE SOLAR DEPLOYMENT: RESPONDING TO THE NEED TO GREATLY ACCELERATE THE PACE OF AN EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO 100% RE, ASES CREATED THE ZERO EMISSIONS NETWORK (ZEN) PROGRAM. ZEN'S MISSION IS PROJECT BASED AND STUDENT POWERED ACTIONS TOWARDS MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT LIVING. ZEN PROMOTES BOTH PERSONAL LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROJECTS TO ASSIST LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY IN HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED DEMOGRAPHICS. TOWARDS THESE ENDS ZEN WORKED WITH RED CLOUD RENEWABLE IN 2025 TO INSTALL TWO 3.5 KW SOLAR SYSTEMS AT THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP: ASES IS THE FISCAL AGENT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY CREDIT UNION (CECU), A GREEN BANK THAT FINANCES LOANS FOR CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS. ASES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING DONATED FUNDS DIRECTED TO CECU.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.