Aiaa Foundation logo

Aiaa Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Reston, VA EIN: 54-1827596 Website

Aiaa Foundation is a public charity based in Reston, Virginia, formed in 1996. It is an educational organization that supports students and educators from K–12 through university, with programs including classroom grants, scholarships, design competitions, student conferences, and recognition awards.

Aiaa Foundation at a glance

In short: Aiaa Foundation gave $109K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), top state Georgia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$109,250
+5.6% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
10
+42.9% vs 2024
Average grant
$10,925
-26.1% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$23,017,664
+8.5% vs 2024
Primary geography
Georgia (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Aiaa Foundation

Contact

Mailing address: 12700 Sunrise Valley Dr 200, Reston, VA 20191-5807
Phone: (703) 264-7500
Website: https://aiaa.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Aiaa Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Purdue University: $15KPurdue University$15KGeorgia Institute of Technology: $13KGeorgia Institute ofTechnology$13KUniversity of Colorado: $11KUniversity of Colorado$11KWorcester Polytechnic Institute: $10KWorcester PolytechnicInstitute$10KGeorge Washington University: $10KGeorge Washington University$10KHoward University: $10KHoward University$10KSpelman College: $10KSpelman College$10KStanford University: $10KStanford University$10KUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison: $10KUniversity ofWisconsin-Madison$10KWheaton College: $10KWheaton College$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Purdue University ($15K). Together the top 10 received $109K.

Grant Size Distribution

44 grants across all recorded years

43<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 44 (98%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The sources do not state a geographic focus for the foundation’s grantmaking. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in Georgia, Washington, D.C., Indiana, Colorado, Massachusetts, California, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Georgia received 21% of grant dollars, Washington, D.C. 18%, Indiana 14%, Colorado 10%, and Massachusetts 9%.

Grant Distribution by State

22states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.

Cities

AtlantaCollege ParkLos AngelesWashingtonWest LafayetteCambridgePasadenaRedwood CityChampaignCharlottesvilleCincinnatiDaytona BeachDenverDothanFairfaxFayettevilleGainesvilleHoustonIthacaKent

How Aiaa Foundation gives

  • 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K5 grants2019 2 grants2020 7 grants2021 8 grants2022 12 grants2023 7 grants2024 10 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2020) to $207K (2023). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $109K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Purdue University West Lafayette, INGeneral Support$15,000
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GAGeneral Support$13,000
University of Colorado Denver, COGeneral Support$11,000
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MAGeneral Support$10,250
George Washington University Washington, DCGeneral Support$10,000
Howard University Washington, DCGeneral Support$10,000
Spelman College Atlanta, GAGeneral Support$10,000
Stanford University Redwood City, CAGeneral Support$10,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIGeneral Support$10,000
Wheaton College Wheaton, ILGeneral Support$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$23,017,664$1,479,316$1,090,021$109,25010$1,150,220
2024$21,207,769$1,241,653$1,166,280$103,5007$682,224
2023$17,616,655$1,398,786$1,761,214$207,10012$782,770
2022$16,253,647$2,009,354$2,464,492$94,2508$939,676
2021$22,220,181$4,762,365$811,168$77,7507$2,937,531
2020$17,483,784$1,372,939$703,319$25,0002$520,711
2019$15,860,173$3,944,683$816,494$47,1505$444,509

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is to promote education and recognize excellence in the aerospace community. Its 2024 filing says it supports undergraduate and graduate scholarships, student technical-paper conferences, aerospace design competitions, awards, K–12 and collegiate STEM activities, and grants and achievement awards for STEM educators. The filing also says scholarships, awards, and design-competition recipients are selected by independent panels of subject-matter experts.

Its 2025 grants went to colleges and universities. Among them, Worcester Polytechnic Institute describes its own mission as transforming lives, turning knowledge into action to confront global challenges, and advancing STEM through distinctive and inclusive education, projects, and research. Howard University describes the mission of its Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts as providing undergraduate and graduate education in art, music, and theatre arts.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $109,250. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $15,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest were $15,000 to Purdue University, $13,000 to Georgia Institute of Technology, and $11,000 to the University of Colorado. Each was reported for general support. Other grants included $10,250 to Worcester Polytechnic Institute and $10,000 each to George Washington University, Howard University, Spelman College, Stanford University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Wheaton College.

The foundation’s website describes several education programs. Its classroom-grant program awards $250 and $500 grants to teachers, with up to 40 teachers supported annually. Teachers must be current AIAA Educator Associate members, and grant funds are paid to the school. Proposed projects must have a clear STEM connection with an aerospace emphasis; each school may receive up to two grants per calendar year. The website lists eligible materials such as classroom STEM supplies, software, demonstration kits, and parts for flying-object or robotics projects, and excludes items such as computers, travel, competition registration, and teacher workshop fees.

The website’s listed classroom-grant application period, August 19 through September 30, 2026, has passed. Separately, its partnership criteria call for a Statement of Interest and assess alignment with the foundation, overall impact, and resources; partnership decisions may require AIAA leadership or Foundation Board approval, and an agreement must be signed by both parties.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation’s 2025 filing lists Daniel L. Dumbacher as outgoing executive director/secretary and Eugene Mowry as incoming CEO/secretary. It lists Karen Rosenblum as outgoing senior vice president of finance, administration, and CFO, and Linda Montgomery as incoming chief financial officer. Other listed officers and directors are Merrie Scott, senior vice president of membership engagement; Daniel Hastings, AIAA president; Laura McGill, immediate past president; R. Steven Justice, treasurer; Dana Keoki Jackson, incoming AIAA president-elect; and Carissa Christensen, trustee.

Aiaa Foundation is led by Eugene Mowry, CEO & Secretary on the 2025 filing; 4 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Eugene Mowry

    CEO & Secretary

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    $107K (2025)

  • Daniel L. Dumbacher

    Executive Director & Secretary

    President → President & Secretary, 2020

    President & Secretary → Executive Director & Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $488K (2025)

  • Daniel Hastings

    Aiaa President

    Aiaa President-Elect → Aiaa President, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Howard McKenzie

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristi Morgansen

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Snitch

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anthony Desimone

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carissa Christensen

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Rosenblum

    Senior Vice President, Finance, Administrator & CFO

    Chief Financial Officer → Senior Vice President, Finance, Administrator & CFO, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $340K (2025)

  • Merrie Scott

    Senior Vice President & Membership Engagement

    Vice President, Community & Partner En → Vice President, Community & Partner Engagement, 2024

    Vice President, Community & Partner Engagement → Senior Vice President & Membership Engagement, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $224K (2025)

  • Dana Keoki Jackson

    Aiaa President-Elect

    Trustee → Aiaa President-Elect, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura McGill

    Immediate Past President

    Aiaa President → Chairman, 2024

    Chairman → Immediate Past President, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • R. Steven Justice

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Linda Montgomery

    Chief Financial Officer

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (10)
  • Former: Carissa Christinsan (2023–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Annalisa Weigel (2019–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Eric Paterson (2019–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Greg Hyslop (2019–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Ray O. Johnson (2019–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Basil Hassan (2020–2023) — Chairman
  • Former: Steven Walker (2020–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: John S. Langford (2019–2022) — Chairman
  • Former: James Maser (2019–2020) — Chairman
  • Former: Sandra Magnus (2019) — President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Daniel L Dumbacher — Executive Director/Secretary (Outgoing FY25): $488KDaniel L DumbacherExecutive Director/Secretary…$488KKaren Rosenblum — SVP, Finance, Admin & CFO (Outgoing FY25): $340KKaren RosenblumSVP, Finance, Admin & CFO…$340KMerrie Scott — SVP, Membership Engagement: $224KMerrie ScottSVP, Membership Engagement$224KEugene Mowry — CEO/Secretary (Incoming FY25): $107KEugene MowryCEO/Secretary (Incoming FY25)$107K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $488K, to Daniel L Dumbacher (Executive Director/Secretary (Outgoing FY25)). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Aiaa Foundation

How much does Aiaa Foundation give each year?

Aiaa Foundation gave $109K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $104K across 7 grants.

What is Aiaa Foundation's typical grant size?

Aiaa Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,925, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Aiaa Foundation give grants?

Aiaa Foundation's top state is Georgia, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (18%) and Indiana (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does Aiaa Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Aiaa Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Aiaa Foundation's largest grantees?

Aiaa Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Purdue University ($15,000), Georgia Institute of Technology ($13,000) and University of Colorado ($11,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Aiaa Foundation?

Aiaa Foundation reported $23.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.

What does Aiaa Foundation fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to promote education and recognize excellence in the aerospace community. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Aiaa Foundation?

Aiaa Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check aiaa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Aiaa Foundation's EIN?

Aiaa Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1827596. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 4, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 31, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 24, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 2, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 11, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 10, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Aiaa Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/aiaa-foundation-morg_916f01cf51de453ba3ddd3ffc7db0df5

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541827596_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Aiaa Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/aiaa-foundation-morg_916f01cf51de453ba3ddd3ffc7db0df5},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Aiaa Foundation'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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