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Alternative Energy Resources Organization

EIN 81-0350698 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GRASSROOTS AND STATEWIDE AERO PROMOTES A MORE SUSTAINABLE MONTANA FOR ALL, WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, STEWARDSHIP AGRICULTURE, AND COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS. OUR NICHE IS PROVIDING PRACTICAL, SOLUTION-BASED EDUCATION THAT FILLS INFORMATION GAPS SO AS TO PRODUCE A LASTING FOUNDATIONAL CHANGE IN MONTANA COMMUNITIES AND ENTERPRISES.

Income
$650,376
Spending
$676,676
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
13
Highest pay
$69,985, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    6 of 15

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

  • 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, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $368,691 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: AERO SERVES AS A STATEWIDE INFORMATION RESOURCE HUB ON SUSTAINABILITY TOPICS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND AGRICULTURE PRACTICES, RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS. AERO SHARES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, NEWSLETTER, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND EVENTS. ABUNDANT MONTANA AND ITS LOCAL FOOD GUIDE ARE BUILDING THE DEMAND FOR LOCAL FOOD AND PROVIDING MARKETING SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO FOOD AND FARMING ENTERPRISES SO THEY CAN BUILD SUCCESSFUL, WELL-CONNECTED, AND THOUGHTFUL BUSINESSES. JANE KIL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ENTERPRISES THAT FEED THE MONTANA COMMUNITY AND TH 33X33 FOR MONTANA INITIATIVE IS COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS TO IMPROVE MONTANA'S FOOD SELF-RELIANCE.
  2. $99,999 spent. FOOD SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING: WITH A PRODUCER-CENTRIC FOCUS, WE HELP MONTANA COMMUNITIES BUILD PLACE-BASED, ROBUST, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS WITH CLIMATE-HEALTHY SOLUTIONS. THE MONTANA FOOD ECONOMY INITIATIVE(MFEI): AERO IS COORDINATING COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN CONDUCTING THEIR OWN 18-MONTH FOOD SYSTEM ASSESSMENTS IN HELENA, BILLINGS AND THE FORT BELKNAP RESERVATION. AERO IS AN ACTIVE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE GROW MT FOOD POLICY COALITION, ADVOCATING FRO GROWING A RESILIENT AND RELAIBLE MONTANA FOOD SYSTEM THAT FEEDS ALL MONTANANS.
  3. $42,050 spent. NETWORK WEAVING & EDUCATION: KEY TO AERO'S SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITY LEADERS AND INSPIRING COMMUNITY MODELS FOR SUSTAINABLE, CLIMATE-HEALTHY AGRICULTURE, FOOD SYSTEMS, AND ENERGY ACROSS THE STATE IS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER THROUGH WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, WEBINARS AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE-BUILDING, CONNECTION, NETWORKS, RESOURCE-SHARING, PROBLEM-SOLVING AND FINDING COMMON GROUND. AERO'S ANNUAL EXPO BRINGS TOGETHER MONTANANS COMMITTED TO THE CULTURE OF STEWARDSHIP TO SHARE IDEAS, MAKE ENDURING CONNECTIONS, AND FIND SENSIBLE, LASTING, PEOPLE-ORIENTED SOLUTIONS TO FOOD AND ENERGY ISSUES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1975.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.