AJA Foundation
AJA Foundation is a private foundation based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It funds organizations working on clean water, quality education, and essential healthcare, with a stated commitment to investing globally in these areas as fundamental human rights.
AJA Foundation at a glance
In short: AJA Foundation gave $1.5M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $49K), top state Nevada. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,461,100
- +11.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $48,703
- +3.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $21,180,644
- +8.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (16 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nevada (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to AJA Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
The website describes a two-stage process that begins with a short message or Letter of Inquiry demonstrating alignment with a philanthropic pillar. If invited, an organization receives instructions for an online full proposal and has 60 days to submit it. The website says full proposals may take up to six months to review and are generally considered in order received. It also says it can consider only one request per organization annually and that an organization whose request is declined may apply again 12 months after the declination notice. The application page says invitations for new grants are currently paused and advises checking back later in 2026; another program description says LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis, with responses expected in approximately six weeks. These pages give conflicting information about whether applications are currently open.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Application contact: Applications Submitted Through Http
Mailing address: 3605 Town Center Drive No A, Las Vegas, NV 89135
Phone: (702) 880-0005
Website: https://www.ajafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from AJA Foundation
Who AJA Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Engera ($224K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 64 grants of 113 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds projects globally. Its website identifies work and partners in countries including Guinea, Zambia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Uganda, Afghanistan, and Guatemala, as well as in the United States. In 2025, 44% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nevada, 14% to California, 11% to Virginia, 9% to Connecticut, and 8% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is AJA Foundation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 30 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $79K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $57K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $927K (2021) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Engera Las Vegas, NV | For healthcare in ethiopia: clinics, maternal care, disease treatment, and training. For clinic expansion and renovation | $224,000 |
| Makolekole Las Vegas, NV | To provide clean, safe water for the communities of the luangwa valley by drilling boreholes and installing pumps in villages, schools, clinics and community centers | $192,500 |
| Dean's Future Scholars Reno, NV | To support the program's mission to help students graduate high school and college by providing educational opportunities, employment, and access to resources like free printing and a college student lounge | $125,000 |
| Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV | To empower npea members to demonstrate their outcomes and roi through data storytelling, targeting funders, stakeholders, partners, and communities, with tools developed emphasizing an equity-focused approach. | $100,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $100,000 |
| Steppingstone Foundation Inc Boston, MA | To support college access through the steppingstone scholars program and its annual activities. This funding support would impact all components of the scholars program including the admissions process, the academy, scholar support services, and the career success initiative. | $100,000 |
| Aseel Foundation Arlington, VA | The program will fund 10 afghan women in tech fellows for a year-long fellowship, including onboarding, stipends, equipment (computers, solar systems, internet), and administrative costs. | $75,000 |
| Mr Holland's Opus Foundation Burbank, CA | To fund the general operating expense to supprt mhof's mission of donating new, quality instruments to under-resourced schools nationwide | $60,000 |
| Three Angels Children's Relief Inc Stevenson Ranch, CA | This grant will fund the education and needs of 64 secondary students in the 2025-26 school year, covering tuition, books, uniforms, supplies, medical care, and lunch programs. It also supports a new ministry of education-mandated training series starting in 2024-25, ensuring the sustainability of three angels academy and its partners. | $54,000 |
| Bringing Hope to the Family USA Santa Monica, CA | To provide educational services, including tuition, room and board, mentorship, and career guidance, to 52 students (25 females, 27 males) for university and trade school, empowering them with skills for self-reliance and community thriving. | $53,000 |
Ready to take the next step with AJA Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s website reports cumulative giving of $16,824,376 across 475 grants to 160 organizations in 20 countries. It reports giving by pillar of $5,441,792 for education, $4,043,109 for water, $2,453,674 for healthcare, $2,441,361 for medical research, $1,506,140 for other purposes, and $938,300 for human rights.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,180,644 | $3,250,678 | $1,989,920 | $1,461,100 | 30 | $1,881,095 | $2,026,158 | $1,588,155 |
| 2024 | $19,599,151 | $764,595 | $1,678,515 | $1,313,000 | 28 | $1,633,462 | $1,899,097 | $1,397,020 |
| 2023 | $18,825,671 | $9,835 | $1,349,772 | $1,125,000 | 25 | $1,337,045 | $897,820 | $1,241,972 |
| 2022 | $17,869,438 | $697,279 | $1,472,749 | $1,198,021 | 11 | $1,387,931 | $405,535 | $1,219,835 |
| 2021 | $17,952,523 | $-833,297 | $1,126,870 | $927,000 | 19 | — | $2,308,716 | $1,080,688 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, AJA Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
AJA Foundation says it seeks to help people for whom access to essential resources and opportunities for advancement remain elusive or structurally out of reach. Its stated focus is equal access to clean water, quality education, and essential healthcare. The website highlights sustainable water initiatives, particularly in rural Africa; support for disadvantaged students facing financial or academic barriers; and fundamental healthcare for underserved populations, particularly in developing countries.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate these areas. Engera says it works with communities in Ethiopia to improve the health of women and children and to prevent and treat disease. Steppingstone Foundation says it provides academic, social-emotional, and college-readiness programming in Boston and works nationally to address barriers to college and career success. Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation says it supports school districts and underfunded music programs with services and musical instruments.
Grantmaking
In 2025, AJA Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $1,461,100. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $224,000, with a median of $22,500. Notable awards included $224,000 to Engera for healthcare in Ethiopia; $192,500 to Makolekole for clean-water infrastructure in Zambia; $125,000 to an individual recipient for student support; and $100,000 each to Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas, Hopkins Grammar School Pathfinder Program, and Steppingstone Foundation.
Other 2025 awards included $75,000 to Aseel Foundation for an Afghan women-in-technology fellowship; $60,000 to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation for general operating expenses; $54,000 to Three Angels Children’s Relief; $53,000 to Bringing Hope to the Family USA; and $52,100 to International Esperanza Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Andy Astrachan as chairman and president, Cathy Daniels as corporate secretary, CFO, and director, and Bob Ezrin, Sandra Kanengiser, Amy Wood, Ana de Diego, Blanca de Diego, Hannes Streeck, and Valentina Vinante as directors.
AJA Foundation is led by Andy Astrachan, Chairman & President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andy Astrachan
Chairman & President
Chairman, President & CFO → Chairman & President, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Wood
Director
Trustee → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Ezrin
Director
Trustee → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Daniels
Corp. Secretary, CFO & Director
Secretary → Secretary & Trustee, 2023
Secretary & Trustee → Corp. Secretary, CFO & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Kanengiser
Director
Trustee → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ana De Diego
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blanca De Diego
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hannes Streeck
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valentina Vinante
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Colleen McKenna (2021–2023) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about AJA Foundation
How much does AJA Foundation give each year?
AJA Foundation gave $1.5M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 28 grants.
What is AJA Foundation's typical grant size?
AJA Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $48,703, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from AJA Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does AJA Foundation give grants?
AJA Foundation's top state is Nevada, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (14%) and Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Las Vegas, NV (3 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does AJA Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 20% of AJA Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are AJA Foundation's largest grantees?
AJA Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Engera ($224,000), Makolekole ($192,500) and Dean's Future Scholars ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is AJA Foundation?
AJA Foundation reported $21.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does AJA Foundation fund?
AJA Foundation says it seeks to help people for whom access to essential resources and opportunities for advancement remain elusive or structurally out of reach. Its stated focus is equal access to clean water, quality education, and essential healthcare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from AJA Foundation?
The website describes a two-stage process that begins with a short message or Letter of Inquiry demonstrating alignment with a philanthropic pillar. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is AJA Foundation's EIN?
AJA Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2054545. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in AJA Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). AJA Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/aja-foundation-morg_3f43bdaba6a44c00a6b8fb7a7097f7c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202054545_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{AJA Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/aja-foundation-morg_3f43bdaba6a44c00a6b8fb7a7097f7c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 AJA 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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