Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation

MELBOURNE, FL EIN: 68-0441559

The Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation is a private foundation based in Melbourne, Florida. The organization supports communities where Aerojet Rocketdyne maintains a business presence, with a strategic emphasis on advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$219K

-58.5% YoY

Grant Count

13

-94.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

+669.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation reported a distributable amount of $245K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary mission centers on supporting communities in areas where Aerojet Rocketdyne operates. Key funding focus areas include:

  • STEM Education
  • Science and Technology Education
  • Education (general)
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Human Services

Grantmaking

The foundation prioritizes grants supporting education nonprofits and science teachers, with particular emphasis on STEM education initiatives.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation directs its grantmaking primarily to Virginia, Illinois, and Washington.

Grant Distribution by State

36states
+28 more states

Cities

AcworthAlexandriaAmesAnn ArborAnnapolisArcataArkadeiphiaArkadelphiaArlingtonAtascaderoAtlantaAuburnBaltimoreBaton RougeBeardenBeaver FallsBellevueBellinghamBentonvilleBerkeley

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Most Recent Filing (2024):

  • Total assets: $0
  • Total giving: $218,558
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$455K$910K$1M$2M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$11,727,066$12,292,416
Revenue$475,069$162,004$896,190
Expenses$309,118$728,354$1,654,374
Qualifying Distributions$245,416$616,738$1,533,484
Net Investment Income$410,562$233,501$780,462
Distributable Amount$244,637$630,868$655,321

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$377K$753K$1M$2M273 grants2020276 grants2021232 grants2022241 grants202313 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSH…$182KTHE BLACKBAUD GIVING FUND$30KBOARD OF THE UNIVERSITY …$1KMISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVER…$1KSAINT JOHN PAUL THE GREA…$1KBISHOP OCONNELL HIGH SCH…$500CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERS…$500NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY$500ROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE OF…$500SCHOOL OF THE ARTS FOUND…$500

Grant Size Distribution

213 grants across all recorded years

212<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Merit Scholarship Corporation ($182,220), The Blackbaud Giving Fund ($29,668), Board of the University of Alabama ($1,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ASSUMPTION ST BRIDGET SCHOOL PART OF CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE SEATTLE, WATO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$470
BISHOP OCONNELL HIGH SCHOOL ARLINGTON, VATO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$500
BOARD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA TUSCALOOSA, ALTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$1,000
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY MOUNT PLEASANT, MITO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$500
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC MISSISSIPPI STATE, MSTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$1,000
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION EVANSTON, ILSCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS FOR ALL REMAINING SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH 2025 PROGRAM$182,220
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EVANSTON, ILTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$500
ROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TERRE HAUTE, INTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$500
SAINT JOHN PAUL THE GREAT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL DUMFRIES, VATO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$1,000
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS FOUNDATION INC WEST PALM BEACH, FLTO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION$500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CARMEN ROBERTSONPRESIDENT1
KEN BEDINGFIELDTREASURER1
SCOTT MIKUENSECRETARY1
MEL RAKITADIRECTOR1

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation has made notable contributions to educational and cultural institutions, including a $1 million gift to the National Air and Space Museum and a $1 million endowment to the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The foundation celebrated its 20-year anniversary, marking two decades of philanthropic support.

Upcoming Events - Aerojet Rocketdyne Awarded $215.6M to Supplement Ongoing

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary mission centers on supporting communities in areas where Aerojet Rocketdyne operates. Key funding focus areas include: • STEM Education • Science and Technology Education • Education (general) • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services

How do I apply for a grant from Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $218,558 • Typical award range: $30–$1,000,000 • The foundation filed a final return as of 2024 **Grant Focus:** The foundation prioritizes grants supporting education nonprofits and science teachers, with particular emphasis on STEM education initiatives.

Where does Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation make grants?

The foundation directs its grantmaking primarily to Virginia, Illinois, and Washington.

What size grants does Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation award?

In 2024, Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $219K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation reported a distributable amount of $245K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation's EIN?

Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0441559. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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