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Asphalt Institute Foundation Inc

EIN 47-1154832 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$661,373
Spending
$499,077
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
48.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
0
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$538,643, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 48.7 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 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 88% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 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 (2)
  1. $52,994 spent. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM IS AN ANNUAL TWO-DAY EVENT HELD FOR INTERNS FROM ASPHALT INSTITUTE MEMBER COMPANIES TO ATTEND AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIQUID ASPHALT INDUSTRY. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HELPING STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE VARIED INDUSTRY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. THE STUDENTS TAKE PART IN LABORATORY TOURS, "ASPHALT 101" PRESENTATIONS AND LEARN PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR THEIR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE. STUDENT PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ASPHALT INSTITUTE'S SUMMER MEETING TO NETWORK WITH MEMBER COMPANIES AND FURTHER LEARN ABOUT JOB AVENUES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.BILL AND SHIREEN KIRK SCHOLARSHIP FUND - THIS FUND ANNUALLY AWARDS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS PURSUING BACHELORS, MASTERS OR DOCTORAL DEGREES IN AREAS DESIGNATED BY THE SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING DEGREES IN CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF ASPHALT MATERIALS AND THEIR USE. SCHOLARSHIP MONIES ARE PAID DIRECTLY TO A RECIPIENT'S INSTITUTION AND MAY BE APPLIED TO QUALIFIED EDUCATION EXPENSES SUCH AS TUITION, BOOKS AND RELATED COURSE FEES. ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY MODULE & TEXTBOOK PROGRAM - LAUNCHED IN 2020, THE ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY MODULE CONSISTS OF LECTURES DESIGNED TO ASSIST PROFESSORS IN INTEGRATING ASPHALT CURRICULUM INTO A BASIC ENGINEERING OR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS COURSE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THE MODULE PACKAGE INCLUDES SYLLABUS, POWERPOINT SLIDES, LECTURE NOTES, TEACHING TIPS, PRACTICE PROBLEMS AND ELECTRONIC BOOK PUBLICATIONS FOR STUDENTS TO UTILIZE DURING THE COURSE. THE MODULE IS COMPLIMENTARY TO UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA FOR CLASSROOM USE. ADDITIONALLY, INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE DONORS HAVE SPONSORED HARDCOPY PUBLICATIONS FOR THESE CLASSROOMS THROUGH THE AI FOUNDATION'S TEXTBOOK PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOW STUDENTS TO BUILD THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE LIBRARIES WITH RELEVANT INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS.
  2. $360,166 spent. STRATEGIC ASPHALT RESEARCH (STAR) SYMPOSIUM - THE STRATEGIC ASPHALT RESEARCH (STAR) SYMPOSIUM AIMS TO IDENTIFY LONG-TERM STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO ENSURE A ROBUST ASPHALT INDUSTRY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. EVENTS HELD IN 2017 AND 2022 ASSEMBLED A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SYMPOSIUM THAT ALLOWED DISCUSSION AND IDEA SHARING AROUND TOPICS SUCH AS: HUMAN NEEDS/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, PERFORMANCE/DURABILITY, AND ECONOMICS/INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY AND FUNDING. IDEAS GENERATED WERE PRIORITIZED INTO GOALS AND STRATEGIES LEADING TO THE CREATION OF SYMPOSIUM REPORTS THAT SEEK TO IDENTIFY AND BUILD SOLUTIONS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ASPHALT BINDER INDUSTRY'S FUTURE. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THESE REPORTS SERVES AS A CATALYST TO IDENTIFY FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS AND PROJECTS.FRED M. FEHSENFELD, SR. CATALYST FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE FUND - THIS FUND PROMOTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF INITIATIVE COMPATIBLE RESEARCH NEEDS STATEMENTS. THE FUND SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES INNOVATION IN THE ASPHALT INDUSTRY INCLUDING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT METHODOLOGY, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DESIGNS FEATURING ASPHALT PAVEMENTS, TESTING METHODOLOGY ENABLING PERFORMANCE PREDICTION OF ASPHALT BINDERS AND MIXTURES AND RESEARCH ON THE HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURE TO ASPHALT PRODUCTS AND MIXTURES.ERGON FOUNDATION, INC. FUND - THIS FUND SUPPORTS RESEARCH AGENDAS, TOPICS AND NEEDS STATEMENTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE ERGON FOUNDATION'S INTEREST AND VISION TO ADVANCE THE LIQUID ASPHALT BINDER INDUSTRY. SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH FUND - THIS FUND SUPPORTS RESEARCH FOCUSED ON A PRAGMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF MARKETS, VELOCITY OF CHANGE AND THE REALITIES OF AN ASPHALT BINDER TRANSITION TO A NET-ZERO CARBON FUTURE AS THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SEEKS AN ECONOMY WIDE NET-ZERO TRANSITION BY THE YEAR 2050. THE FUND SUPPORTS RESEARCH TO HELP UNDERSTAND THESE IMPORTANT DYNAMICS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THE FUTURE USE OF ASPHALT AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL. IT WILL ALSO HELP ENSURE FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE BENEFITS OF A FULLY RECYCLABLE PAVING SYSTEM WHEN USING ASPHALT BINDERS. THE RESEARCH IS INTENDED TO BE A MAJOR AID IN THE SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION OF POLICY MAKERS, AGENCIES, AND CUSTOMERS AT ALL LEVELS. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM, GUIDED BY THE AIF RESEARCH COMMITTEE, FOCUSES ON FULFILLING RESEARCH NEEDS STATEMENTS AND PROPOSALS THAT FOCUS ON PERTINENT ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY TECHNICAL INDUSTRY EXPERTS. OUTSIDE DONORS MAY FUND RESEARCH PROJECTS MANAGED BY THE AI FOUNDATION. RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED BY QUALIFIED RESEARCH FACILITIES WITH WORK AND PROJECT MILESTONES MONITORED BY THE AIF RESEARCH COMMITTEE. FINAL REPORTS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE PUBLISHED UNDER THE AI FOUNDATION'S NAME AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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