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Aed Foundation Inc

EIN 36-3784945 · Schaumburg, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The AED Foundation enhances the success of AED member companies by encouraging continuous learning, providing educational opportunities for today's employees and improving the quantity and quality of available employees for the future.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
47.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$477,791, president & ceo

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.5 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 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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, 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 (2)
  1. $583,675 spent. The AED Foundation provided management level educational seminars and webinars for industry employees to improve their professional skills and leadership abilities in areas including sales, rental, customer management, finance, parts, service, product support, human resources and branch management. Independent study program - the independent study program is a function of professional education and is a means of educating managers without requiring them to leave the office or home. Seventeen available course modules offer industry-specific management education in people management and skills, sales & customer management, and the functional areas of: parts, service, finance and rental.
  2. $631,220 spent. Image Building - Image building is a function of workforce development and includes the aedcareers.com student recruitment website, recruitment tools offered to dealers on aedworkforce.com, and inter-organizational coalitions geared toward increasing awareness and interest in construction related careers. Team formation & support - team formation & support is also a function of workforce development and includes AED accreditation of post-secondary college academic programs in equipment technology, recognition of other post-secondary technical programs via the AED recognized <state> education alliance program, AED recognition of high school technical programs, and promoting local dealer engagement in local workforce development initiatives. These programs are services and do not generate income to the foundation, except in the cases of school accreditation and the education alliance, where a nominal application fee is required to help defray administrative costs. The foundation continues to stress the importance of workforce development projects, increasing the visibility of industry related careers through two websites: aedworkforce.com and aedcareers.com. Technician job applicants and dealer workforce recruitment tools are made available for local dealer initiatives on aedworkforce.com. Aedcareers.com provides students with the opportunity to thoroughly explore the dealer equipment technician career opportunity.

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 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 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 January 1992.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: AARP Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 52-0794300. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.