Alternative Energy Resources Organization

Tax-deductible

Helena, MT501(c)(3)Since 1974EnvironmentEIN 81-0350698Revenue $692K in FY2025

On file with the IRSabundantmontana.comPo Box 1558, 59624-1558 · Helena, MTTax-exempt since Apr 1975Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

Aero DBA abundant montana promotes a more sustainable montana for all, working at the intersection of renewable Energy, stewardship agriculture, and community food systems. Our current focus is re-building the bridge between montana food and farm businesses and montana eaters. We connect food and farm businesses to in-state markets and help consumers value and find local food, building demand for montana food statewide. We also lead system level food value chain coordination, bringing partners, supply chain actors, and state and community stakeholders together to solve supply chain challenges. Our goal is simple: make choosing montana food the norm across the state. This strengthens montana's ability to feed itself and reduces its vulnerability to global food supply disruptions. We're dedicated to filling every plate with local food for an abundant montana future.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 28 volunteers and 11 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
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $46K a year · 10% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Looks good: 75% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$269K
to officers and key staff · 31% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 64% of similar orgs
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 31% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $16K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$154K
144% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 144% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$692K
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$880K
To programs
75%
Net assets
−$47K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$692K
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$187K
FY2021$338K
FY2022$422K
FY2023$508K
FY2024$650K
FY2025$692K
Expenses
$880K
FY2025▲ +30%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$212K
FY2021$280K
FY2022$448K
FY2023$576K
FY2024$677K
FY2025$880K
Net assets
−$47K
FY2025▼ -135%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$200K
FY2021$255K
FY2022$229K
FY2023$161K
FY2024$136K
FY2025−$47K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1975.

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

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $664K Management & general 7% · $63K Fundraising 17% · $153K

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

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

9 people listed on the 990; $269K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$81,941Pt VII · Sec A
Dir of Community Partners/Sales
$64,910Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Marketing/Communication
$63,592Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Philanthropy
$58,692Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice-Chair/Secr
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Robin Kelson’s $82K as Executive Director is at the 64th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1989 $100K–1M 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 · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Robin Kelson$81,941$69,985$59,074$55,347$50,425
Erin Austin$64,910$60,869$51,866$18,920$8,224
Samantha McGowan$63,592$58,726$49,796$44,455—
Mary Baumstark$58,692$34,615———
Andrew Shanafelt———$45,056$17,537
Andrew Shanefelt——$31,450——
Lindsay Ganong————$28,738

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 Alternative Energy Resources Organization executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Connects people statewide to build sustainable agriculture and local food systems.

Questions for Alternative Energy Resources Organization

Tap to ask. Alternative Energy Resources Organization sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Alternative Energy Resources Organization answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

2 programs · $664K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Rebuilding the bridge between montana food businesses and montana eaters: abundant montana is rebuilding the bridge between montana food businesses and montana eaters for a more resilient local food system by: (1) building consumer demand for montana food through strategic, multi-media campaigns, story-telling and events that connect…

$600Kprogram expense
02

Value chain coordination & network weaving [jane kile, 33x33, summit, grow MT, mfei]: with strong leadership in market matchmaking and network weaving, abundant montana acts as a statewide orchestrator of efforts to build coordinated montana market infrastructure for a resilient, self-sustaining montana food system that works across the…

$64Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$16K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$692K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$484K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$166K
Investment incomeLn 3$42K
Money outPt IX
$880K
Ln 25
Programscol B$664K
Managementcol C$63K
Fundraisingcol D$153K
Owns and owesPt X
−$47K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$107K
Total assetsLn 16$107K
LiabilitiesLn 26$154K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$484K
Government grantsLn 1e$216K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$166K
Investment incomeLn 3$42K
Gains on assetsLn 7$42K
Total revenueLn 12$692K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$107K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$107K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$107K
LiabilitiesLn 26$154K
Net assetsLn 32−$47K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 511
VolunteersI 628
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$260K$107K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$267K$107K
LiabilitiesLn 26$131K$154K
Net assetsLn 32$136K−$47K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$269K$169K$101K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$274K$257K$6K$11K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$59K$51K$1K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$49K$41K$6K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$10K$10K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$47K$47K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$7K$7K$55
Office expensesLn 13$10K$3K$5K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$2K$1K$1K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$4K$4K
TravelLn 17$34K$17K$15K$2K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$5K$5K
InterestLn 20$6K$6K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$99K$58K$13K$29K
All other expensesLn 24e$4K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$880K$664K$63K$153K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $692K$880K−$188K−$47K 990 PDF
FY2024 $650K$677K−$26K$136K 990 PDF
FY2023 $508K$576K−$69K$161K 990 PDF
FY2022 $422K$448K−$26K$229K 990 PDF
FY2021 $338K$280K$58K$255K 990 PDF
FY2020 $187K$212K−$25K$200K 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $692,132 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $423,838$484,279
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $143,806$165,889
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $82,732$41,964
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $650,376$692,132
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $469,192$651,294
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $207,484$228,922
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $676,676$880,216
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$26,300−$188,084
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $692,132 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$33,652
VIII-1e Government grants$216,242
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$234,385
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$484,279
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $165,889$165,889
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $41,964$41,964
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $207,853$692,132
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $880,216 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $168,502 · Fundraising $100,633$269,135
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $257,061 · Management $5,842 · Fundraising $11,351$274,254
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $51,451 · Management $1,050 · Fundraising $6,209$58,710
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $40,764 · Management $6,134 · Fundraising $2,297$49,195
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $10,150$10,150
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $46,512$46,512
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $7,027 · Management $55$7,082
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,725 · Management $4,716 · Fundraising $2,189$9,630
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,109 · Management $1,100$2,209
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,744$3,744
IX-17 TravelPrograms $17,183 · Management $14,794 · Fundraising $1,864$33,841
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $4,888$4,888
IX-20 InterestManagement $6,276$6,276
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,719$1,719
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $57,939 · Management $12,783 · Fundraising $28,649$99,371
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $3,500$3,500
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $664,124 · Management $62,900 · Fundraising $153,192$880,216
Part X · Balance sheet $106,638 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $260,009$106,638
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,021$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $267,030$106,638
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $18,119$7,087
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $15,000$50,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $97,500$96,901
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $130,619$153,988
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $136,411−$47,350
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $136,411−$47,350
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $267,030$106,638
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$47,350 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$692,132
XI-2 Total expenses$880,216
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$188,084
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$136,411
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$4,323
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$47,350

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.