Aircraft Owners & Pilots Asso
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE OAIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATION (AOPA), A NOT-FOR-PROFIT INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION, EFFECTIVELY SERVES THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS AND ESTABLISHES, MAINTAINS, AND ARTICULATES POSITION OF LEADERSHIP TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMY, SAFETY, UTILITY AND POPULARITY OF FLIGHT IN GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT, AOPA PRESERVES THE FREEDOM TO FLY BY ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS; EDUCATING PILOTS, NONPILOTS, AND POLICY MAKERS ALIKE; SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES THAT ENSURE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF GENERAL AVIATION; FIGHTING TO KEEP GENERAL AVIATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL; AND SECURING SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO ENSURE OUR SUCCESS.
- Income
- $44.8 million
- Spending
- $43.0 million
- Employees
- 177
- Volunteers
- 2,372
- Highest pay
- $2.0 million, ceo/president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $38.9 million spent. SINCE 1939, THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION (AOPA) HAS WORKED TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO FLY FOR GENERAL AVIATION (GA) PILOTS IN THE UNITED STATES. NEARLY 300,000 MEMBERS RELY ON AOPA, AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST AVIATION MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION, TO ADVOCATE FOR GA INTERESTS AND KEEP FLYING SAFE, FUN, AND AFFORDABLE. AOPA WORKS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO ENHANCE SAFETY, PROVIDE TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR PILOTS, AND ENSURE THEY GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR FLYING. BEYOND JUST THE PILOT COMMUNITY, AOPA WORKS TO EDUCATE DECISION MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND VALUE OF GENERAL AVIATION FLYING. ONE OF THE ASSOCIATION'S MAIN PRIORITIES IS TO ENSURE GA REMAINS A VIABLE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AOPA PROVIDES ITS MEMBERS WITH AN EXTENSIVE PORTFOLIO OF BENEFITS THAT CAN BE GROUPED INTO FIVE AREAS: ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, EVENTS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, AND THE AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE. ADVOCACY AOPA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS ENCOMPASS A BROAD RANGE OF GENERAL AVIATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ARENAS. ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES IN THE FIVE-YEAR FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024, PL118-63, WHICH INCLUDED THE FIRST EVER GENERAL AVIATION TITLE. AOPA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDED, AMONG SEVERAL OTHER PROVISIONS, THE EXPANSION OF BASICMED FOR GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS, ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF 100 LOW LEAD FUEL AT AIRPORTS DURING A TRANSITION TO UNLEADED AVGAS, INCREASING FUNDING TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT OUR NATION'S GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS, ADVANCING THE ADOPTION OF STANDARDIZED GENERAL AVIATION PARKING LABELS TO BE USED ON AIRPORT DIAGRAMS WHILE WORKING TOWARD FBO PRICING AND FEE TRANSPARENCY, AND MODERNIZING FAA SYSTEMS SUCH AS NOTAMS. ON THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, AOPA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY OPPOSING INCREASES IN AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION FEES, STOPPING THE IMPOSITION OF AIRPORT LANDING FEES ON GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS, AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO KEEP GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS OPERATIONAL AND VIABLE. AOPA'S ADVOCACY TEAM ALSO INCLUDES SEVEN REGIONAL MANAGERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND OVER 2,300 ACTIVE AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP KEEP AOPA INFORMED ABOUT GENERAL AVIATION ISSUES IMPORTANT TO PILOTS AND AIRCRAFT OWNERS. AOPA PROMOTES, PROTECTS, AND PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY AIRPORTS ADVOCATING TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL FUNDING. AOPA ALSO WORKS ON BEHALF OF GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS TO ENSURE A SAFE AVIATION SYSTEM, THWART UNNECESSARY AND COSTLY REGULATIONS, PREVENT EXCESS TAXATION ON FLYING, AND PROTECT OUR NATION'S FREEDOM TO FLY. EDUCATION EDUCATING AOPA MEMBERS, AND THE GENERAL AVIATION COMMUNITY, ABOUT AOPA'S WORK TO PROTECT THEIR FREEDOM TO FLY IS CENTRAL TO AOPA'S MISSION. PILOTS, AIRCRAFT OWNERS, AND AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS COUNT ON AOPA TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT IS VITAL TO THEIR FLYING INTERESTS. AOPA OFFERS A VARIETY OF RESOURCES AND CONTENT THAT KEEP MEMBERS EDUCATED AND ENGAGED ABOUT ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS IN GENERAL AVIATION. AMONG THESE ARE TWO REGULARLY PUBLISHED MAGAZINES, DAILY NEWS CONTENT, SIX DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS, A REGULAR CADENCE OF VIDEOS POSTED ON YOUTUBE, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, FIVE PODCASTS, AOPA'S PILOT INFORMATION CENTER, AOPA'S WEBSITE, PRESS RELEASES AND EVENTS; ALL WITH THE GOAL OF EDUCATING AND INFORMING AOPA MEMBERS, THE LARGER AVIATION COMMUNITY, AND THE PUBLIC. AOPA ALSO ENSURES THAT ITS WIDE BREADTH OF CONTENT AND RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE AVIATION COMMUNITY IN THE MYRIAD WAYS THEY CONSUME NEWS AND INFORMATION IN PRINT, IN PERSON, ONLINE AND THROUGH VIDEO, SOCIAL MEDIA, APPS AND PODCASTS. AOPA'S WIDE RANGE OF CONTENT CATERS TO BOTH VETERAN AVIATORS AND THOSE NEW TO THE FLIGHT DECK. AOPA MEDIA OFFERS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR LEARNING TO FLY, AID IN FINDING A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINER, AN INDEPTH GUIDE TO CHOOSING A TRAINING AIRCRAFT, AND INFORMATION ABOUT AVIATION CAREERS. AOPA'S ANNUAL YOU CAN FLY PUBLICATION IS ALSO SHARED WITH FLIGHT SCHOOLS AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR STUDENT PILOTS. PILOTS WITH MORE EXPERIENCE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INFORMATION ABOUT EARNING ADVANCED RATINGS AND CERTIFICATES, TRANSITIONING TO HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT, AND BUYING AN AIRCRAFT. OVER THE PAST YEAR, AOPA EDUCATED PILOTS, AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT GENERAL AVIATION'S NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION DURING THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF GENERAL AVIATION D.C. FLYOVER, WHICH WAS STREAMED LIVE ON YOUTUBE; WARNED PILOTS ABOUT EGREGIOUS CUSTOMS FEES CHARGED BY THE BAHAMAS AND LANDING FEES INCREASINGLY CHARGED AT U.S. AIRPORTS; PROVIDED INSIGHTFUL DETAILS ABOUT THE PRO-GENERAL AVIATION FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024; GAVE UPDATES ON THE PENDING EXPANSION OF LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT THAT WILL INCREASE PILOT ACCESS TO A WIDER RANGE OF AIRCRAFT; PROVIDED VALUABLE INFORMATION AND CAUTIONS ABOUT THE COMING SWITCH FROM LEADED AVIATION FUEL TO UNLEADED AVIATION FUEL; AND DETAILED THE PROCESS OF RESTORING AND IMPROVING AN AIRPLANE BY WRITING ABOUT THE AOPA SWEEPSTAKES AIRCRAFT. EVENTS IN 2024, THE OUTREACH DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO BUILD ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR NEW EVENT STRATEGY INTRODUCED THE PREVIOUS YEAR BRINGING AN AOPA FLY-IN TO EXISTING AIR SHOWS. NOW IN ITS SECOND YEAR, THE AOPA FLY-IN AT THE BUCKEYE AIR FAIR IN BUCKEYE, AZ PROVED TO BE ANOTHER OUTSTANDING SUCCESS, REINFORCING THE VALUE OF THIS EVENT MODEL WITH ROBUST ATTENDANCE, STRONG AIRCRAFT TURNOUT, AND CONTINUED MEMBER ENTHUSIASM. OUR PRESENCE AT THE TWO MAJOR AIR SHOW EVENTS SUN 'N FUN AND EAA AIRVENTURE WAS AGAIN A HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR. BOTH SHOWS GENERATED STRONG TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR TENTS AND OFFERED EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH MEMBERS AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS ALIKE. NOTABLY, AT EAA AIRVENTURE, WE DEBUTED OUR MEMBERS-ONLY DECK, WHICH WAS MET WITH OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK. BEYOND AIR SHOWS, AOPA SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED THE IAOPA WORLD ASSEMBLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BR
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.