American Institute of Architects College of Fellows Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADMINISTER AND PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF THE COF FUND;TO ADMINISTER THE LATROBE FELLOW GRANT TO FURTHER THE PURPOSES OF THE AIA COLLEGE OF FELLOWS;TO UNDERTAKE PROGRAMS IN SUPPORT OF THE AIA;TO FURTHER ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION;TO MENTOR THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS; ANDTO ESTABLISH A RAPPORT WITH ARCHITECTS OF OTHER NATIONS.
- Income
- $371,296
- Spending
- $196,248
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $157,355, executive director, cof fund
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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% 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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $92,147 spent. CONVENTION AND RECOGNITION: THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS HOLDS EVENTS AT THE AIA'S ANNUAL CONVENTION TO PROMOTE THE PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE AS WELL AS ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION. THE COLLEGE ALSO HOLDS INAUGURAL EVENTS, WHICH CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTS AND SELLS PINS EXCLUSIVELY TO MEMBERS IN ORDER TO ENHANCE RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- $30,000 spent. YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS SUPPORTS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO AIA COMPONENTS. THESE FUNDS AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS WHICH FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ARCHITECTS.
- RESEARCH: THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS AWARDS THE LATROBE PRIZE TO FUND RESEARCH LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES IN THE PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE. THE AWARD IS NAMED AFTER BENJAMIN LATROBE, DESIGNER OF THE U.S. CAPITOL AND ONE OF THE THE COUNTRY'S FIRST PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTS. NO LATROBE PRIZES WERE AWARDED IN 2024.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: American Institute of Architects (Beaverton, OR), EIN 53-0025930. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.