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Air Institute

EIN 84-5010885 · Frederick, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceFair51 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AIR PROVIDES RURAL AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES WITH PROGRAMMING THAT INSPIRES NEW CONNECTIONS AND IGNITES THE CREATIVE ECONOMY. CREATIVE PEOPLE EXPAND BUSINESS SKILLS, BUSINESSPEOPLE GET MORE CREATIVE; THEY LEARN TO COLLABORATE, ADAPT, AND THRIVE TOGETHER.

Income
$117,765
Spending
$148,357
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
1
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$100,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $123,366 spent. AIR COLLABORATIVE IS AN EMPOWERING ECOSYSTEM THAT PROVIDES CREATIVES, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES THE TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL. DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, SUPPORT EACH OTHER, AND PUT BOTH CREATIVE VISION AND BUSINESS KNOW-HOW TO WORK.THE WORK OF AIR COLLABORATIVE IS A FIELD-TESTED AND ITERATIVE, THREE-STEP PATHWAY DESIGNED TO BUILD INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY. AIR METHODS AND PROCESSES AMPLIFY UNIQUE CULTURES AND PEOPLE TO GROW DIVERSE, LOCALLY-LED BUSINESSES AND ENTERPRISES.OUR PROGRAMS ARE NOW BEING USED BY MANY SECTORS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, AND EDUCATION.STEP 1. ENGAGE WORKSHOPASSESS LOCAL INTEREST AND BUILD ENTHUSIASM.WORK WITH AIR, YOUR REGIONAL AIR AFFILIATE, AND YOUR COMMUNITY TO DISCOVER YOUR WAY FORWARD WITH A SIMPLE FIRST STEP. A TWO-HOUR ENGAGE WORKSHOP WILL INSPIRE HOPE, BUILD EMPATHY AND SELF-RELIANCE, DEVELOP NEW LEADERS, INCREASE LOCAL INVESTMENT, AND DIVERSIFY YOUR ECONOMY. WE'VE IDENTIFIED DIFFERENT TOPICS AND SECTORS TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY BEGIN TO USE CREATIVITY TO GROW AND THRIVE. PICK THE BEST FOCUS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND THESE TWO-HOUR WORKSHOPS CAN GET YOU STARTED. WHEN PEOPLE MOVE TO ACTION TOGETHER, RELATIONSHIPS, OWNERSHIP, AND LEARNING BECOME DEEPER, AND REAL CHANGE IS POSSIBLE.WE WANT EVERY COMMUNITY TO RAISE THE VALUE OF ART AND CREATIVITY. WE PUT TOGETHER A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN FOR CONVENING PARTNERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY SO THAT YOU CAN GROW YOUR CREATIVE SECTOR AND THRIVE. OUR WORKSHOP CONTENT AND EXERCISES GIVE YOUR COMMUNITY AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY MORE VIBRANT. CONTACT YOUR REGIONAL AIR AFFILIATE AND THEY WILL SHARE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GATHER NEW PARTNERS AND HOST A WORKSHOP: LOGISTICS, AGENDA, POWERPOINT SLIDES, MARKETING MATERIALS, AND A SURVEY TO HELP ASSESS YOUR COMMUNITY READINESS FOR THIS WORK AND THE OTHER AIR PROGRAMS.STEP 2: SHIFTDESIGNING BENEFICIAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS.IN A MULTI-DAY, HANDS-ON WORKSHOP, AIR CERTIFIED FACILITATORS HELP SMALL TEAMS LEARN TO USE COLLABORATION SKILLS, DESIGN THINKING, AND BUSINESS PLANNING TO CREATE SMALL, LOCALLY IMPLEMENTABLE PROJECTS.DISCOVER NEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT THE POWER OF CREATIVITY AND CHALLENGE YOUR MENTAL MODELS ABOUT ART, BUSINESS, COMMUNITY AND MONEY. TAKE THE MYSTERY OUT OF BUSINESS PLANNING. STRENGTHEN YOUR CREATIVE MUSCLES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET. PRACTICE DESIGN THINKING AND PROTOTYPING.THE SHIFT WORKSHOP USES HANDS-ON COLLABORATION, DESIGN THINKING, AND BUSINESS PLANNING TO HELP GROW CREATIVE COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES.STEP 3: EVOLVELAUNCHING NEW VENTURES AND BUSINESS EXPANSIONS.PARTICIPANTS TAKE A FLEXIBLE, MULTI-MONTH, COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TRANSFORM THEIR PASSIONS, INTERESTS, AND SKILLS INTO A VIABLE VENTURE, PROJECT, OR NEW LIFE PATH.EVOLVE IS A FLEXIBLE, MULTI-MONTH, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TRANSFORM PASSIONS, INTERESTS, AND SKILLS INTO A VIABLE VENTURE, PROJECT, OR NEW LIFE PATH. COHORTS OF CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS LEARN PRACTICAL BUSINESS SKILLS USING DESIGN THINKING, THE AIR VENTURE CANVAS, AND LEAN STARTUP PRINCIPLES.EVOLVE'S APPROACH IS NONTRADITIONAL AND INDIVIDUALIZED. IF YOU DO THE WORK AND ATTEND THE CLASSES, YOU WILL HAVE THE KNOW-HOW AND TOOLS TO SUCCESSFULLY PLAN, BUILD, AND LAUNCH YOUR CREATIVE VENTURE. PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE THEIR PERSONAL NEEDS AND VALUES BEFORE FULLY INVESTING IN THEIR VENTURE. EACH PARTICIPANT PROTOTYPES THEIR NEW PRODUCT, PROGRAM OR SERVICE SO THEY CAN LEARN TO LISTEN TO REAL WORLD FEEDBACK. THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS BUILD AND REFINE THEIR BUSINESS PLAN IN PREPARATION FOR A FINAL PRESENTATION THAT HELPS THEM GAIN SUPPORT FOR THEIR VENTURE. PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO DYNAMIC FINANCIAL TOOLS, A MASTERMIND TEAM, AND EVEN INDIVIDUAL COACHING, IF DESIRED.FACILITATORS KEEP THINGS LOCALAIR CERTIFIED FACILITATORS ARE THE HEART OF THE OUR PROGRAMS. THEY PROVIDE A PERSONAL CONNECTION AND GIVE PARTICIPANTS CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN LEARN, CONNECT, CHANGE AND SUCCEED. WE INVEST IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING MORE THAN TWENTY HOURS OF IN-PERSON TRAINING FOR EVERY FACILITATOR IN-DEPTH FACILITATION, PRESENTATION, AND COACHING SKILLS DESIGNED FOR YOUR SUCCESS.AIR FACILITATORS KNOW YOU HAVE THE ANSWERSIT IS AN ACQUIRED SKILL TO LEARN TO FACILITATE WITHOUT TEACHING OR LEADING OR PROVIDING AN "ANSWER." ALL OF OUR FACILITATORS WORK HARD TO MASTER THIS SKILL AND TO SHARE TOOLS WITH PARTICIPANTS SO THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE MORE PEOPLE READY TO BE OPEN FOR A TRULY LOCAL, COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AND CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 July 2020.

    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 October 21, 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.