AEC Trust
AEC Trust is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing reports 142 grants totaling $24,111,119, including two large expenditure responsibility grants and awards to organizations working in areas such as the arts, civil and human rights, nature conservation, and human services.
Key facts about AEC Trust
In short: AEC Trust gave $24.1M across 142 grants in 2024 (avg $170K), mostly in Georgia. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 36-6725987
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $24,111,119
- Grants made (2024)
- 142
- Average grant
- $169,797
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (47 of 138, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$24.1M
+553.1% YoY
Grant Count
142
-6.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$170K
+594.5% YoY
Is AEC Trust open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 47 of 138 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $452K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing’s stated purpose is the nonprofit-services description above. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Dance Alive says it seeks to sustain a professional ballet company and advance artistic creativity, performance, education, and community leadership. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights says it provides educational experiences on the civil rights movement and contemporary human rights issues. Fernbank says it promotes learning about natural history, science, the environment, and human culture.
Other 2024 grantees describe missions that include protecting birds and wildlife (Audubon Society of Rhode Island), connecting residents to food and other support (Survival Centers), empowering youth in crisis (Raising Expectations), and providing community-oriented human services (Center for Human Development). These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated focus areas of AEC Trust.
Grantmaking
In 2024, AEC Trust made 142 grants totaling $24,111,119. Grants ranged from $4,650 to $16,039,759, with a median of $15,000. The 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 awards included $250,000 each to Dance Alive Inc. for a capital campaign and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Inc. for its expansion, and $150,000 to Mass General Brigham Incorporated for a hospital emergency department campaign.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia and 17% to recipients in Oregon. Colorado, Massachusetts, and Florida each accounted for 2–3% of grant dollars. Listed recipients also included organizations in other states, such as Rhode Island and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 142 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $24,111,119 | 142 |
| 2023 | $3,692,000 | 151 |
| 2022 | $2,823,300 | 137 |
The Foundation reported that its 2024 distributions from sources other than current income totaled $24,111,119. It stated that this amount was at least 25% of its net assets of $62,135,860 at the beginning of the 2024 taxable year and resulted in a substantial contraction of assets.
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists CIBC National Trust Company as trustee. It lists Edith Dee Cofrin as Advisory Board Chair and David H Cofrin, Mary Ann P Cofrin, and Paige Cofrin 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).
Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
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 filing. 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 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from AEC Trust that year got $452K 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 filing 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 filing.
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 filing. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does AEC Trust fund?
The filing’s stated purpose is the nonprofit-services description above. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. 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. Check mapquest.com for any change to that policy.
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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