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Air Force Academy Foundation

EIN 26-0537053 · Usaf Academy, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE AN ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION OF INFLUENCE AND IMPACT, SUPPORTING THE ACADEMY'S ENDURING MISSION OF DEVELOPING LEADERS OF CHARACTER FOR THE NATION, AND PROVIDING A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO THE LONG BLUE LINE. (CONT ON SCH O).STRATEGIC PRIORITIES OF: (1) ENGAGEMENT - CULTIVATE LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE VALUED SERVICE TO THE ACADEMY AND OUR GRADUATES.(2) PHILANTHROPY - ENHANCE FINANCIAL STRENGTH AND STABILITY TO ADVANCE THE ACADEMY AND SUSTAIN OUR MISSION.(3) STEWARDSHIP - RESPONSIBLY SEEK AND MANAGE GIFTED TIME, TALENT, TREASURE AND RELATIONSHIPS.(4) COMMUNICATION - TELL THE STORY OF OUR ACADEMY, OUR GRADUATES AND OUR MISSION WITH OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS.(5) ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE - ALIGN OUR VALUES, OUR CULTURE AND OUR COMMITMENT AS A TEAM TO DRIVE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR MISSION.

Income
$35.1 million
Spending
$17.3 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
115
Volunteers
62
Highest pay
$302,947, executive vice president of development

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    58 of 59 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $4.6 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT:THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION SECURES PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING SUPPORT TO THE U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY (USAFA) BEYOND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE. A LARGE PART OF THIS SUPPORT GOES TOWARD ACADEMIC PROGRAMS THAT AUGMENT THE CORE CURRICULUM. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR FUTURE CONFLICT AND MARTINSON HONORS PROGRAM AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CADET-ADVISED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO. PRIVATE SUPPORT ALSO ENABLES CADETS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCLUDE TRAVEL, SUCH AS CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCES AND NATIONAL ACADEMIC TEAM COMPETITIONS.
  2. $3.0 million spent. ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION PROGRAM SUPPORT:GRANTS ARE PROVIDED ANNUALLY TO THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES (AOG) IN SUPPORT OF ITS OPERATIONS TO SERVE ALUMNI OF USAFA, KNOWN AS THE LONG BLUE LINE. THE AOG PROVIDES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO CONNECT THE LONG BLUE LINE TO USAFA, EACH OTHER AND CURRENT CADETS WHO WILL SOON JOIN THE LONG BLUE LINE COMMUNITY. THESE FUNDS WERE LARGELY USED TO DECREASE THE COST OF CLASS REUNIONS AND SUPPORT GRADUATE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR WECKER HALL, THE NEW OFFICE BUILDING FOR THE AOG AND AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION STAFF. PAYING DOWN THE BONDS ON HOTEL POLARIS, WHICH WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION UPON PAYOFF OF THE BONDS, WAS ALSO A MAJOR USE OF FUNDS.
  3. $1.7 million spent. CAPITAL PROJECTS AND HERITAGE PROGRAMS:THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION SECURES PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO PRESERVE USAFA HERITAGE AND TO CONSTRUCT OR ENHANCE FACILITIES ON THE ACADEMY, INCLUDING MEMORIALS AND DISPLAYS. THE LARGEST EXPENSES IN THIS AREA FOR 2025 SUPPORTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL AT DAVIS FIELD AND THE INSTALLATION OF A GLIDER IN THE HIGHEST GALLERY OF THE HOSMER VISITOR CENTER.
  4. $1.3 million spent. CADET ATHLETICS, ACTIVITIES, AND CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP PROGRAMSTHE AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION SECURES PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR CADET ACTIVITIES. THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPLEMENT FUNDING FOR ATHLETICS THROUGH THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY ATHLETIC CORPORATION, TO SUPPORT CADET CLUBS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND TO FUND CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AT THE ACADEMY. IN 2025, OVER 100 CADET TEAMS AND CLUBS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ANNUAL SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 March 2008.

    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.

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.