Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

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Aces' mission is to inspire a life-long commitment to the earth by providing innovative and immersive programming for all ages.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 20 volunteers and 80 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.0M a year · 45% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$541K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $8.8M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
63
named funders · $3.1M
Looks good: 63 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$790K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.3M
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$5.0M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$38.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$6.3M
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$10.6M
FY2021$6.7M
FY2022$4.5M
FY2023$5.6M
FY2024$5.9M
FY2025$6.3M
Expenses
$5.0M
FY2025▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$4.2M
FY2025$5.0M
Net assets
$38.9M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$28.0M
FY2021$31.8M
FY2022$33.0M
FY2023$35.1M
FY2024$37.3M
FY2025$38.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending October 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 1969.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $3.7M Management & general 13% · $643K Fundraising 14% · $688K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

22 people listed on the 990; $541K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$286,971Pt VII · Sec A
$128,926Pt VII · Sec A
$125,026Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Chris Lane’s $287K as CEO is at the 96th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Chris Lane$286,971$265,215$242,726$253,767$240,780$233,982
Christina Mahon$128,926$115,025$107,647———
Clayton B Kettelkamp$125,026$110,242————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Aspen Center for Environmental Studies executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides environmental science education and promotes ecological literacy through immersive programs and land restoration.

Questions for Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

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1 program · $3.7M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Aspen center for environmental studies (aces) is a nonprofit environmental science education ORGANIZATION.ACES inspires a life-long commitment to the earth by providing innovative and immersive educational programming for all ages. We have three locations: hallam lake, rock bottom ranch, and catto center at toklat.

$3.7Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 63 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$136K
Money outPt IX
$5.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.7M
Managementcol C$643K
Fundraisingcol D$688K
Owns and owesPt X
$38.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$848K
Total assetsLn 16$39.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$790K
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$182K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$716K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$136K
Other incomeLn 4–11$44K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$8K
Total revenueLn 12$6.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1K
SavingsLn 2$847K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$848K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$8.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$28.7M
Other assetsLn 15$20K
Total assetsLn 16$39.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$790K
Net assetsLn 32$38.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 580
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderOctober
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$11.8M$11.3M$10.8M$10.8M$9.8M
Given inLn 1b$150K$150K$150K$150K
SpentLn 1d–1f$500K$547K$585K$480K$480K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$848K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.4M$8.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$24.2M$28.7M
Total assetsLn 16$38.7M$39.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M$790K
Net assetsLn 32$37.3M$38.9M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.4M$1.8M$213K$431K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$49K$28K$11K$10K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$288K$198K$43K$46K
Payroll taxesLn 10$192K$125K$33K$35K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$116K$116K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$86K$35K$40K$10K
Office expensesLn 13$42K$29K$7K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$42K$25K$7K$11K
OccupancyLn 16$476K$293K$148K$35K
TravelLn 17$22K$22K
InterestLn 20$5K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$551K$501K$6K$44K
InsuranceLn 23$139K$103K$18K$18K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$608K$566K$2K$40K
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.0M$3.7M$643K$688K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Aug 19, 2026 $6.3M$5.0M$1.2M$38.9M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Sep 2, 2025 $5.9M$4.2M$1.7M$37.3M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Sep 16, 2024 $5.6M$4.0M$1.7M$35.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Sep 25, 2023 $4.5M$3.2M$1.3M$33.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Aug 28, 2022 $6.7M$2.9M$3.8M$31.8M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Aug 30, 2021 $10.6M$2.5M$8.1M$28.0M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,250,553 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,532,319$4,848,390
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,080,952$1,222,485
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $191,843$135,539
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $75,380$44,139
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,880,494$6,250,553
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,651,836$2,930,959
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,559,978$2,087,815
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,211,814$5,018,774
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,668,680$1,231,779
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $6,250,553 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$287,013
VIII-1c Fundraising events$716,361
VIII-1e Government grants$181,598
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,663,418
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,848,390
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,222,485$1,222,485
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $143,701$143,701
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$8,162−$8,162
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $44,139$44,139
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,214,323 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $187,840$6,250,553
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,018,774 across 14 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,758,662 · Management $212,640 · Fundraising $431,048$2,402,350
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $27,920 · Management $10,776 · Fundraising $10,286$48,982
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $198,362 · Management $43,040 · Fundraising $46,462$287,864
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $124,646 · Management $32,600 · Fundraising $34,517$191,763
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $116,261$116,261
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $35,238 · Management $40,395 · Fundraising $10,314$85,947
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $28,625 · Management $6,952 · Fundraising $6,650$42,227
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $24,502 · Management $6,759 · Fundraising $10,984$42,245
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $292,784 · Management $148,113 · Fundraising $35,426$476,323
IX-17 TravelPrograms $22,041$22,041
IX-20 InterestPrograms $4,681$4,681
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $501,197 · Management $5,508 · Fundraising $44,061$550,766
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $103,011 · Management $18,097 · Fundraising $18,097$139,205
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $566,041 · Management $1,650 · Fundraising $40,428$608,119
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,687,710 · Management $642,791 · Fundraising $688,273$5,018,774
Part X · Balance sheet $39,643,797 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $983$1,083
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,810,524$846,883
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,209,003$1,235,080
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $46,374$36,943
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $24,221,865$28,742,383
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $11,405,951$8,761,858
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $26,036$19,567
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $38,720,736$39,643,797
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,192,041$612,302
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $204,459$177,318
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $28,095$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,424,595$789,620
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $34,709,532$37,072,507
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,586,609$1,781,670
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $37,296,141$38,854,177
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $38,720,736$39,643,797
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $38,854,177 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,250,553
XI-2 Total expenses$5,018,774
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,231,779
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$37,296,141
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$326,257
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$38,854,177

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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