AEC Trust
AEC Trust is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing says it has no plans for dissolution and reports that it distributed $24,111,119 from assets other than current income during the year.
AEC Trust at a glance
In short: AEC Trust gave $24.1M across 142 grants in 2024 (avg $170K), mostly in Georgia. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $24,111,119
- +553.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 142
- -6.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $169,797
- +594.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $36,814,610
- -23.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (46 of 138, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to AEC Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who AEC Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Homestead Foundation Inc ($16.0M). Together the top 10 received $21.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
705 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 598 grants of 705 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Georgia accounted for 74% of grant dollars and Oregon for 17%. Colorado accounted for 3%, while Massachusetts and Florida each accounted for 2%. The listed grants also included recipients in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 142 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is AEC Trust open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 46 of 138 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $459K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 48% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 748% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 136% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2019) to $24.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 142 grants totaling $24.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Homestead Foundation Inc Atlanta, GA | expenditure responsibility grant | $16,039,759 |
| Wagmore Foundation Inc Portland, OR | expenditure responsibility grant | $4,131,710 |
| Dance Alive Inc Gainesville, FL | Capital Campaign | $250,000 |
| National Center for Civil and Human Rights Inc Atlanta, GA | Building the Vision: National Center for Civil and Human Rights Expansion for Capital and Program | $250,000 |
| Mass General Brigham Incorporated Somerville, MA | Transforming Emergency Care: Campaign for the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Emergency Department | $150,000 |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Harn Museum of Art General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Hurricane Helene Response | $100,000 |
| Audubon Society of Rhode Island Smithfield, RI | Nature for All | $100,000 |
| Fernbank Inc Atlanta, GA | THRIVE: The Nature of Change (Capital Campaign) | $100,000 |
| Kestrel Land Trust Inc Amherst, MA | Forest & Farm Conservation: Longley 181 acres in Williamsburg Hatfield, MA | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with AEC Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
For 2024, the foundation reported that distributions from assets other than current income totaled $24,111,119. It said this amount was at least 25% of its net assets of $62,135,860 at the beginning of that taxable year.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $36,814,610 | $12,901,971 | $24,460,841 | $24,111,119 | 142 | $4,050,019 | $12,022,513 | $2,967,622 |
| 2023 | $48,373,480 | $21,263,477 | $3,998,839 | $3,692,000 | 151 | $3,788,440 | $4,324,460 | $2,241,268 |
| 2022 | $31,108,842 | $5,348,547 | $3,080,703 | $2,823,300 | 137 | $2,921,618 | $5,229,424 | $2,271,976 |
| 2021 | $28,840,998 | $5,439,204 | $3,121,969 | $2,843,000 | 132 | $2,941,824 | $5,328,579 | $2,530,395 |
| 2020 | $26,523,763 | $3,831,452 | $3,050,466 | $2,829,365 | 143 | — | $3,727,560 | $2,050,394 |
| 2019 | $25,742,777 | $1,431,275 | $2,029,613 | $1,824,459 | 108 | — | $1,330,167 | $2,005,923 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, AEC Trust reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing describes the foundation’s purpose as helping nonprofit organizations raise revenue and streamline operations through a range of services. Its grant recipients’ missions illustrate the types of organizations it supported in 2024. Dance Alive describes its work as sustaining a professional ballet company and supporting artistic creativity, performance, education, and community leadership. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights describes its work as providing educational experiences about the civil rights movement and contemporary human rights issues.
Other 2024 recipients include Kestrel Land Trust, which says it conserves and cares for forests, farms, and riverways in western Massachusetts; Audubon Society of Rhode Island, which says it protects birds, wildlife, and habitats through conservation, education, and advocacy; and Fernbank, which describes its work as inspiring learning about natural history, science, the environment, and human culture. Amalgamated Charitable Foundation says it supports philanthropy through grants to tax-exempt organizations and promotes donor education and civic and community events. Raising Expectations describes its work as empowering youth in crisis, while Survival Centers says it connects residents with food, clothing, healthcare, wellness, and community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, AEC Trust made 142 grants totaling $24,111,119. Grant amounts ranged from $4,650 to $16,039,759, with a median of $15,000. The two largest grants were $16,039,759 to The Homestead Foundation Inc. and $4,131,710 to Wagmore Foundation Inc.; both were identified as expenditure responsibility grants. Other notable grants included $250,000 to Dance Alive Inc. for a capital campaign and $250,000 to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Inc. for its expansion. Grants of $100,000 included awards to Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Fernbank, and Kestrel Land Trust.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists CIBC National Trust Company as trustee. Edith Dee Cofrin is listed as advisory board chair; David H Cofrin, Mary Ann P Cofrin, and Paige Cofrin are listed as advisory board members.
AEC Trust is led by Edith Dee Cofrin, Advisory Board Chair on every filing since 2019; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edith Dee Cofrin
Advisory Board Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cibc National Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$178K (2019) → $285K (2024)
David H Cofrin
Advisory Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ann P Cofrin
Advisory Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paige Cofrin
Advisory Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $285K, to Cibc National Trust Company (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about AEC Trust
How much does AEC Trust give each year?
AEC Trust gave $24.1M across 142 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.7M across 151 grants.
What is AEC Trust's typical grant size?
AEC Trust's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $169,797, across 142 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from AEC Trust that year got $459K on average.
Where does AEC Trust give grants?
AEC Trust gives mostly in Georgia: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (60 grants), Boulder, CO (24 grants), Decatur, GA (11 grants) and Lafayette, CO (6 grants).
Does AEC Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of AEC Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 142) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are AEC Trust's largest grantees?
AEC Trust's largest 2024 grantees include The Homestead Foundation Inc ($16,039,759), Wagmore Foundation Inc ($4,131,710) and Dance Alive Inc ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is AEC Trust?
AEC Trust reported $36.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does AEC Trust fund?
The filing describes the foundation’s purpose as helping nonprofit organizations raise revenue and streamline operations through a range of services. Its grant recipients’ missions illustrate the types of organizations it supported in 2024. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from AEC Trust?
AEC Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is AEC Trust's EIN?
AEC Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6725987. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does AEC Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 31, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). AEC Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/aec-trust-morg_0fe41e08e09142dd802c95ec2ce6694c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366725987_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{AEC Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/aec-trust-morg_0fe41e08e09142dd802c95ec2ce6694c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from AEC Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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