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Aopa Foundation

EIN 20-8817225 · Frederick, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OTO PROMOTE, ADVANCE AND ENCOURAGE AVIATION AND AIRPORT SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THE RESEARCH AND TESTING IN THE SUPPORT THEREOF; TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND USERS OF THE NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF GENERAL AVIATION TO THE NATIONAL AIRTRANSPORTATION SYSTEM; TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE FLIGHT TRAINING OF PILOTS TO ASSURE THE FUTURE OF GENERAL AVIATION AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL AIR SYSTEM; TO LESSEN THE BURDENS OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAINTENANCE ANDADVANCEMENT OF GENERAL AVIATION, AND AVIATION AND AIRPORT SAFETY AND SECURITY; AND TO ASSIST OTHER CHARITABLE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CONDUCT OF SIMILAR ACTIVITIES TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH ACTIVITIES ARE IN THE FURTHERANCE OF CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND/OR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES.

Income
$17.5 million
Spending
$11.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
22.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
33
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$2.0 million, ceo/president

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $10.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OTHE AOPA FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) IS A TAX-EXEMPT CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION THAT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUE OF GENERAL AVIATION. THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF GENERAL AVIATION BY IMPROVING SAFETY THROUGH THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION'S (AOPA) AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE, PRESERVING COMMUNITY AIRPORTS, AND ENCOURAGING LEARNING TO FLY FOR CAREER AND PERSONAL BENEFIT.YOU CAN FLYTHE AOPA FOUNDATION'S YOU CAN FLY PROGRAM IS A SET OF INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE FLYING AND KEEP THEM FLYING. WITH INITIATIVES TO INTRODUCE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN AVIATION AND AEROSPACE, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FLIGHT SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS, DELIVER TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP PILOTS CREATE AND GROW FLYING CLUBS, AND HELP LAPSED PILOTS GET BACK IN THE AIR, YOU CAN FLY IS SUPPORTING AVIATORS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR JOURNEY.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FREE FOUR YEAR AVIATION STEM CURRICULUM TO THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NATIONWIDE. AN ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM FOR EDUCATORS HELPS SCHOOLS CREATE AND GROW AVIATION STEM PROGRAMS TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS, WHILE $1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO HELP THEM EARN A PILOT CERTIFICATE.FOR FLIGHT SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTORS, AND STUDENTS, THE FOUNDATION IS DELIVERING TRAINING AND TOOLS DESIGNED TO HELP REDUCE THE DROPOUT RATE BY MAKING TRAINING MORE EFFICIENT, TRANSPARENT, AND CUSTOMER FOCUSED. THE ANNUAL FLIGHT TRAINING EXPERIENCE AWARDS SUPPORT BEST PRACTICES AND RECOGNIZE SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL TRAINING EXPERIENCES TO THEIR CLIENTS WHILE THE AOPA FLIGHT TRAINING ADVANTAGE PLATFORM BRINGS ADAPTIVE LEARNING INTO THE FLIGHT DECK.TO HELP INCREASE AIRCRAFT UTILIZATION AND BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY OF AVIATORS, THE FOUNDATION IS HELPING PILOTS LAUNCH AND GROW FLYING CLUBS. THE FOUNDATION DELIVERS EXTENSIVE RESOURCES, INCLUDING IN PERSON ASSISTANCE AND ONLINE GUIDANCE, TO HELP PILOTS CREATE NEW CLUBS. THE FOUNDATION'S FLYING CLUB FINDER ALSO LISTS HUNDREDS OF FLYING CLUBS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PILOTS EVERYWHERE TO CONNECT WITH A CLUB CLOSE TO HOME.FOR LAPSED PILOTS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO FLYING, THE FOUNDATION'S RUSTY PILOTS INITIATIVE PROVIDES IN PERSON SEMINARS AND LIVE WEBINARS THAT GIVE PILOTS THREE HOURS OF GROUND TRAINING THAT FULFILLS THE FAA'S FLIGHT REVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUND INSTRUCTION. AN ONLINE COURSE OPTION MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PILOTS TO REFRESH THEIR CRITICAL GROUND SCHOOL KNOWLEDGE ANYTIME. BOTH THE IN PERSON AND THE ONLINE PROGRAMS PROVIDE FAA WINGS CREDIT.FOUNDATION GRANTSDURING 2024, THE AOPA FOUNDATION GRANTED $1,500,000 TO VARIOUS PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED A $600,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT AOPA'S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE (ASI). ASI SERVES ALL PILOTS BY PROVIDING FREE OR LOW-COST EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO PILOTS AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS NATIONWIDE, ANALYZING SAFETY DATA, AND CONDUCTING SAFETY RESEARCH. AS A RESULT OF THE GRANT, ASI'S MATERIAL WAS ACCESSED OVER 10 MILLION TIMES. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE RELEASE OF VARIOUS NEW PRODUCTS INCLUDING VIDEOS, PODCASTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND WEBINARS TO PILOTS AND AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED A $375,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT THE AOPA AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK. THE AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK IS A GROUP OF OVER 2,300 VOLUNTEERS TASKED WITH PROMOTING, PROTECTING, AND DEFENDING AMERICA'S COMMUNITY AIRPORTS FROM PRESSURES MOUNTING AGAINST SUCH AIRPORTS.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED A $525,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT MEMBER OUTREACH. EVENTS ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING AOPA MEMBERS EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, ACCESS TO AVIATION INDUSTRY PARTNERS FOR TRANSACTIONS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE AVIATION COMMUNITY. EACH EVENT IS INTENDED TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT BY AOPA MEMBERS WHICH WILL LEAD TO SAFER PILOTS AND A MORE ROBUST AVIATION INDUSTRY.

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 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 2024.

    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 2007.

    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.

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