American Association of University Professors
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is a Washington, DC-based public charity and membership association of faculty and other academic professionals. It supports academic freedom, shared governance, higher-education professionals’ economic security, and organizing through programs that include chapter and state-conference support, policy and legal advocacy, research, and communications.
American Association of University Professors at a glance
In short: American Association of University Professors gave $192K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), top state New York. 65% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $191,751
- -27.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,588
- -34.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,992
- Total assets
- $16,936,784
- -2.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 65% first-time grantees (13 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to American Association of University Professors
- How to Apply
-
The website provides an application process for state conferences seeking conference development grants.
- Review Cycle
- The guidelines list August 28 for consideration at the September Council meeting and October 16 for consideration at the November meeting. The dates are listed without a year; August 28, 2026, has passed.
- Deadline
- The guidelines list August 28 for consideration at the September Council meeting and October 16 for consideration at…
- Contact
Mailing address: 555 New Jersey Ave Nw 600, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 737-5900
Website: https://aaup.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who American Association of University Professors funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New York State Conference - Aaup ($32K). Together the top 10 received $127K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 76 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AAUP says its members and chapters are based at colleges and universities across the country. In 2024, its grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares were in New York (22%), Oregon (14%), Michigan (10%), Nevada (10%), and Ohio (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is American Association of University Professors open to new grantees?
65%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 20 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 20% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2020) to $263K (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $192K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Conference - Aaup Hyde Park, NY | State Conference Development Grant | $32,192 |
| Nevada Faculty Alliance Las Vegas, NV | Chapter Mobilization Grant | $18,707 |
| Aaup - University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Chapter Mobilization Grant | $10,000 |
| Aaup-Portland State University Chapter Portland, OR | Chapter Mobilization Grant | $10,000 |
| Oregon State Conference-Aaup Corvallis, OR | State Conference Development Grant | $10,000 |
| St Johns University - Aaup Jamiaca, NY | Chapter Mobilization Grant | $10,000 |
| Wayne State Aaup-Aft Local 6075 Detroit, MI | Chapter Mobilization Grant | $10,000 |
| Western Michigan University Aaup Kalamazoo, MI | CB Litigation Fund | $9,109 |
| Tennessee State Conference Smithville, TN | State Conference Development Grant | $8,630 |
| Ohio State Conference - Aaup Columbus, OH | State Conference Development Grant | $8,483 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The grant totals were distributed through 20 grants in 2024, 18 in 2023, and 16 in 2022.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,936,784 | $12,180,905 | $12,897,175 | $191,751 | 20 | $74,058 |
| 2023 | $17,336,308 | $10,614,591 | $11,707,342 | $262,729 | 18 | $-276,295 |
| 2022 | $17,120,668 | $10,325,959 | $9,791,475 | $223,050 | 16 | $274,132 |
| 2021 | $14,833,820 | $9,205,860 | $7,643,208 | $208,677 | 15 | $183,304 |
| 2020 | $13,693,239 | $8,524,854 | $6,505,645 | $91,173 | 7 | $135,890 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
AAUP’s stated mission is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; define professional values and standards for higher education; promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and others engaged in higher-education teaching and research; help the higher-education community organize; and support higher education’s contribution to the common good.
The organization’s filing describes programs in member services, communications, policy and legal advocacy, and research. Its grantmaking includes support for chapter organizing and mobilization, state-conference development, and crisis response. The website says state-conference development grants are for one-time or significant campaigns and projects aligned with AAUP’s mission and strategic priorities. Stated goals include building conference capacity, increasing active chapters, growing membership or organizing capacity, and supporting new collective-bargaining campaigns.
Among the 2024 grantees, Nevada Faculty Alliance received $18,707. The grantee describes its mission as working for the welfare and advancement of public postsecondary education in Nevada and improving instructional opportunities for students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, AAUP reported 20 grants totaling $191,751. Grants ranged from $5,259 to $32,192, with a median of $7,992. The largest listed award was $32,192 to the New York State Conference–AAUP for a state conference development grant. Other notable awards included $18,707 to Nevada Faculty Alliance for a chapter mobilization grant; $10,000 each to AAUP–University of Cincinnati, AAUP–Portland State University Chapter, Oregon State Conference–AAUP, St. John’s University–AAUP, and Wayne State AAUP-AFT Local 6075 for chapter mobilization or state conference development; and $9,109 to Western Michigan University AAUP for a CB litigation fund.
For state-conference development grants, AAUP says applications are reviewed by its Council at quarterly meetings and accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit at least a month before a meeting. The application should describe how the project supports an ongoing effort or AAUP’s strategic goals, include a project synopsis and timeline, identify participating members and their contact information, and provide an itemized budget. State conferences may receive no more than one such grant per calendar year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Todd Wolfson as president and Rotua Lumbantobing as vice president. It also lists Davarian Baldwin, Antonio Gallo, and Rudy Fitchembau as regional council members; Ernesto Longa, Nivedita Majumdar, and Chenjerai Kumanyika as at-large council members; Veena Dubal as general council; and Paul Davis as former vice president.
American Association of University Professors is led by Aaron Nisenson, Interim Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Aaron Nisenson
Interim Executive Director
Senior Counsel → Interim Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$182K (2020) → $220K (2024)
Nancy Long
Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director → Interim Executive Director, 2023
Interim Executive Director → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
37.5 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $282K (2024)
Todd Wolfson
President
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Scholtz
Director of Daftg
Director → Director of Daftg, 2021
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$140K (2020) → $164K (2024)
Gwendolyn Bradley
Director of External Relat
Director → Director of External Relations, 2021
Director of External Relations → Director of External Relat, 2022
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $175K (2024)
Mark Bostic
Director of Organizing
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$220K (2023) → $236K (2024)
Decesare Michael
Senior Program Officer
New on the 2024 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$131K (2024)
Ferguson Michael
Ferguson & Michael
New on the 2024 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$133K (2024)
Antonio Gallo
Council Member
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Sinclair
Board Member
Secretary-Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Glinda Rawls
Council Member
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irene Mulvey
Former President
President → Former President, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nivedita Majumdar
Council Member
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Davis
Former Vice President
Vice President → Former Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Davarian Baldwin
Council Member
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna Murch
Council Member
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ernesto Longa
Council Member
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karin Rosemblatt
Council Member
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chenjerai Kumanyika
Council Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Aubert
Secretary-Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gretchen McNamara
Council Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rotua Lumbantobing
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rudy Fitchenbaum
Council Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Veena Dubal
General Council
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (45)
- Former: Julie Schmid (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Joerg Tiede (2022–2023) — Director of Research & P
- Former: John McNay (2023) — Council Member
- Former: Alex Zukas (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Carlton Davids (2020–2022) — CFO & COO
- Former: Carolyn Betensky (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Charles Parrish (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: David Sanders (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Diana Rios (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: James Davis (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Jonathan Rees (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Linda Carroll (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Loren Glass (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Monica Black (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Patricia Navarra (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Risa Lieberwitz (2020–2022) — General Counsel
- Former: Rudy Fichtenbaum (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Zoran Gajic (2020–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Huey-Li Li (2021–2022) — Council Member · Filing note: Ended June 22
- Former: Christopher Simeone (2020–2021) — Director of Dos
- Former: John Castella (2020–2021) — Council Member at Large
- Former: Rebecca Wang (2020–2021) — Associate Director Membership
- Former: Brian Gallagher (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Brian Turner (2020) — Asc Chair
- Former: Caprice Lawless (2020) — First Vice President
- Former: Chris Nagel (2020) — Council Member
- Former: David Hughes (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Deborah Cooperstein (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Dennis Mazzocco (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Friedrich Schuler (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Greg Loving (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Hank Reichman (2020) — Second Vice President
- Former: Howard Bunsis (2020) — Past Chair & Aaup-Cbc
- Former: Julie McLaughlin (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Kathryn Kuhn (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Leslie Bary (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Li Huey-Li (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Lisa Minnick (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Mary Ann Mahony (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Michael Decesare (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Michelle Ganon (2020) — Secretary Treasurer
- Former: Nathan Avani (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Noeleen McIlvenna (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Sally Dear-Healey (2020) — Council Member
- Former: Sonya Hester (2020) — Council Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $282K, to Nancy Long (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Association of University Professors
How much does American Association of University Professors give each year?
American Association of University Professors gave $192K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $263K across 18 grants.
What is American Association of University Professors's typical grant size?
American Association of University Professors's median grant in 2024 was $7,992, and its average grant was $9,588, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from American Association of University Professors that year got $7K on average.
Where does American Association of University Professors give grants?
American Association of University Professors's top state is New York, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Oregon (14%) and Michigan (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (2 grants).
Does American Association of University Professors give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on American Association of University Professors's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Chapter Mobilization Grant" (12 grants) and "State Conference Development Grant" (7 grants).
Who are American Association of University Professors's largest grantees?
American Association of University Professors's largest 2024 grantees include New York State Conference - Aaup ($32,192), Nevada Faculty Alliance ($18,707) and Aaup - University of Cincinnati ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is American Association of University Professors?
American Association of University Professors reported $16.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.2M.
What does American Association of University Professors fund?
AAUP’s stated mission is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; define professional values and standards for higher education; promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and others engaged in higher-education teaching and research; help the higher-education community organize; and support higher education’s contribution to the common good. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Association of University Professors?
The website provides an application process for state conferences seeking conference development grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Association of University Professors's EIN?
American Association of University Professors's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0320904. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). American Association of University Professors funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/american-association-of-university-professors-morg_3e8200acbd5e445f90b903738576f6cd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_800320904_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{American Association of University Professors funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/american-association-of-university-professors-morg_3e8200acbd5e445f90b903738576f6cd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 American Association of University Professors'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.
American Association of University Professors down — hundreds of funders to go?