American Bureau of Shipping
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a public charity based in Spring, Texas. Founded in 1862, it is a classification society whose core work is setting safety standards for the marine and offshore industries; its charitable contributions in 2024 included scholarship support for maritime and engineering education and charitable support to United Way.
American Bureau of Shipping at a glance
In short: American Bureau of Shipping gave $1.0M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), top state Texas. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,031,273
- -70.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $51,564
- -71.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $2,250,382,108
- +6.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (21% 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 Bureau of Shipping
- Contact
Mailing address: 1701 City Plaza Drive, Spring, TX 77389
Phone: (281) 877-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who American Bureau of Shipping funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Texas A&M University ($100K). Together the top 10 received $676K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($65,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 53 grants of 92 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares went to Texas (21%), Virginia (12%), Massachusetts (12%), New York (12%), and Michigan (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is American Bureau of Shipping open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 19 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. How we count
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 $702K (2021) to $3.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University College Station, TX | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $100,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $100,000 |
| United Way Alexandria, VA | ABS 2024 Charitable Support. | $66,273 |
| Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $60,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $60,000 |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $60,000 |
| SUNY Maritime College Bronx, NY | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $60,000 |
| Virginia Tech Foundation Inc Blacksburg, VA | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $60,000 |
| Webb Institute Glen Cove, NY | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $60,000 |
| Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO | ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books. | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with American Bureau of Shipping?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing reported 20 grants; the 2023 and 2022 filings each reported 19.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,250,382,108 | $536,588,479 | $514,933,830 | $1,031,273 | 20 | $54,374,423 |
| 2023 | $2,119,439,453 | $541,482,602 | $479,466,138 | $3,468,971 | 19 | $63,405,983 |
| 2022 | $1,917,786,915 | $487,783,327 | $427,437,389 | $956,131 | 19 | $58,668,398 |
| 2021 | $2,068,648,082 | $455,186,369 | $409,102,237 | $701,856 | 18 | $66,025,334 |
| 2020 | $1,955,775,194 | $481,856,461 | $416,819,653 | $851,040 | 16 | $76,827,811 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ABS’s mission is to serve the public interest and the needs of its members and clients by promoting the safety of life and property and preserving the natural environment through developing and verifying standards for ships and marine-related facilities.
Its 2024 grants included scholarships for tuition and books at universities and maritime academies, as well as charitable support. Among the recipients, Webb Institute describes its mission as educating future leaders in marine engineering and design; MIT says its mission is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other fields; and Massachusetts Maritime Academy describes its mission as providing scholarships and contributions in support of the academy. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not ABS’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, ABS reported 20 grants totaling $1,031,273. Grants ranged from $15,000 to $100,000, with a median of $50,000. Most of the listed large grants supported scholarships for tuition and books.
The largest awards included $100,000 each to Texas A&M University and the University of Michigan for ABS scholarships, and $66,273 to United Way for charitable support. ABS also awarded $60,000 each to Maine Maritime Academy, MIT, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, SUNY Maritime College, Virginia Tech Foundation, and Webb Institute for scholarships.
The filing states that contributions are approved by the Board of Directors once the year’s total exceeds $250,000; the CEO approves other charitable contributions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher J. Wiernicki as Chairman and CEO and John P. McDonald as President and Chief Operating Officer. Directors listed include David W. Grzebinski, Craig H. Stevenson Jr., Elizabeth D. Whitaker, Louis A. Raspino Jr., Michael L. Carthew, Phillip J. Shapiro, William E. Jenkins, and Susan K. Neely.
American Bureau of Shipping is led by Christopher J Wiernicki, Chairman & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); all 36 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher J Wiernicki
Chairman & CEO
Chairman, President & CEO → Chairman & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$23M (2020) → $2.8M (2024)
John P McDonald
President & Chief Operating Officer
Senior Vice President & Global Business Development → Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, 2021
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer → President & Chief Operating Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$453K (2020) → $1.1M (2024)
Andrew Lipman
Director, Projects & Offshore Gc Regional Operations
Director-Projects, Offshore & Gc Region → Director, Projects, Offshore & Gc Regional Operations, 2021
Director, Projects, Offshore & Gc Regional Operations → Director, Projects & Offshore Gc Regional Operations, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$568K (2020) → $626K (2024)
Craig H Stevenson Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$210K (2020) → $210K (2024)
Darryl K Willis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$233K (2021) → $200K (2024)
David W Grzebinski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$200K (2020) → $210K (2024)
Elizabeth D Whitaker
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$200K (2020) → $210K (2024)
Louis A Raspino Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$200K (2020) → $200K (2024)
Michael L Carthew
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$230K (2020) → $230K (2024)
Phillip J Shapiro
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$210K (2020) → $210K (2024)
William E Jenkins
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$215K (2020) → $215K (2024)
Susan K Neely
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$225K (2022) → $200K (2024)
Mark H Ross
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$100K (2024)
Tommy Nguyen
Director & Business Development Global Offshore - S
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$608K (2024)
Adam W Moilanen
Vice President & Chief Surveyor
Vice President & Hsqe → Vice President & Chief Surveyor, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$451K (2020) → $532K (2024)
Derek S Novak
Vice President & Chief Engineer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$516K (2020) → $495K (2024)
Eric C Kleess
Former Senior Vice President - Eastern Hemisphere
Senior Vice President - Eastern Hemisphere → Former Senior Vice President - Eastern Hemisphere, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$1.1M (2020) → $182K (2024)
Matthew D Tremblay
Former Senior Vice President & Global Offshore Markets
Senior Vice President & Global Offshore Markets → Former Senior Vice President & Global Offshore Markets, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$338K (2020) → $404K (2024)
Patrick J Ryan
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
Senior Vice President, Engineering & Technology → Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$333K (2020) → $577K (2024)
Paul Karam
Vice President & Operations - Greater China Region
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$561K (2020) → $735K (2024)
Richard D Pride
Former Senior Vice President - Western Hemisphere
Senior Vice President - Western Hemisphere → Former Senior Vice President - Western Hemisphere, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$457K (2020) → $322K (2024)
Robert G Clyne
Executive Vice President General Counsel & Secretary
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary → Executive Vice President General Counsel & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$1.6M (2020) → $1.1M (2024)
Jessica Mahaffey
Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer → Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$268K (2021) → $524K (2024)
Joshua Lavire
Vice President, Health, Safety, Quality & Environment
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$384K (2021) → $307K (2024)
Laura C Fulton
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$596K (2021) → $1M (2024)
Arinjit Roy
Senior Vice President - Pacific & Mea Operations
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$430K (2022) → $730K (2024)
Ben Ford
Surveyor III & Senior * Cn Shanghai Port
Director & Business Development Global Offshore - → Surveyor III & Senior * Cn Shanghai Port, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$586K (2022) → $592K (2024)
Bruce Baffer
Senior Vice President & Global Government Services
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$411K (2022) → $446K (2024)
Chuck Raymond Kemper
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$394K (2022) → $644K (2024)
Johnny M Garrett Jr.
Vice President & Regional Operations * Southern Pac
Director & Regional Operations Southern Pacific R → Vice President & Regional Operations * Southern Pac, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$463K (2022) → $595K (2024)
Joshua Divin
Senior Vice President - Western Operations
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$231K (2022) → $324K (2024)
Miguel Hernandez
Senior Vice President & Global Offshore Market
Senior Vice President & Global Offshore Markets → Senior Vice President & Global Offshore Market, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$224K (2022) → $534K (2024)
Annisa Lyvers
Vice President - Data & Analytics
Vice President - Data Analytics → Vice President - Data & Analytics, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$365K (2023) → $336K (2024)
Kara Pelecky
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$730K (2023) → $712K (2024)
Bhattacharya Sandipan
Vice President & Application Development No Longer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$416K (2024)
Gareth C Burton
Senior Vice President & Global Engineering
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$320K (2024)
Former officers (27)
- Former: Dhaval Mehta (2023) — Vice President & Regional Operations - Europe Northern Area
- Former: James Clutterbuck (2023) — Vice President Finance & Corporate Treasury
- Former: Maria F O'Neill Former Officer (2023) — Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer
- Former: Matthew D Tremblay Former Key Emp (2023) — Senior Vice President & Global Offshore Markets
- Former: Nathan Allen (2023) — Principle Surveyor - Accra Port
- Former: Richard D Pride Former Key Emp (2023) — Senior Vice President - Western Hemisphere
- Former: Varun Raghunathan (2023) — Principle Surveyor in Charge - Ghana & Cameroon
- Former: William Harlan (2023) — Vice President Finance & Chief Accounting Officer
- Former: Antoine Nassif (2020–2022) — Former Officer
- Former: Jeffrey J Weiner (2020–2022) — Former Officer
- Former: John A Ryder (2020–2022) — Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Administrator
- Former: Joseph A Riva (2020–2022) — Former Officer
- Former: Maria F O'Neill (2020–2022) — Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer
- Former: Todd W Grove (2020–2022) — Former Officer
- Former: Matthew Mueller (2022) — Director & Commercial Operations Commercial Opera
- Former: Cathy G Mann (2020–2021) — Former Officer
- Former: Howard Fireman (2020–2021) — Former Officer
- Former: James A Watson (2020–2021) — Senior Vice President & Government Houston
- Former: Lewis Rogers (2020–2021) — Hr Director & Eastern Hemisphere
- Former: Peter H Cressy (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Stephen Auger (2020–2021) — Vice President of Engineering
- Former: Stephen Leskoski (2020–2021) — Vice President & Regional Business Development
- Former: Peter Fitzpatrick (2021) — Senior Vice President & Global Offshore
- Former: Bret C Montaruli (2020) — Vice President & Chief Engineer 'former' Officer
- Former: Kenneth Richardson (2020) — Executive Vice President of Energy Project Development 'former' Officer
- Former: Kirsi Tikka (2020) — Vice President & Div. President - Europe 'former' Officer
- Former: Richard D DeSimone (2020) — Director
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 $2.8M, to Christopher J Wiernicki (Chairman and CEO). 36 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Bureau of Shipping
How much does American Bureau of Shipping give each year?
American Bureau of Shipping gave $1.0M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 19 grants.
What is American Bureau of Shipping's typical grant size?
American Bureau of Shipping's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $51,564, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does American Bureau of Shipping give grants?
American Bureau of Shipping's top state is Texas, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (12%) and Massachusetts (12%).
Does American Bureau of Shipping give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on American Bureau of Shipping's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "ABS 2024 Scholarships for tuition and books." (19 grants).
Who are American Bureau of Shipping's largest grantees?
American Bureau of Shipping's largest 2024 grantees include Texas A&M University ($100,000), University of Michigan ($100,000) and United Way ($66,273), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($65,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is American Bureau of Shipping?
American Bureau of Shipping reported $2.3B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $536.6M.
What does American Bureau of Shipping fund?
ABS’s mission is to serve the public interest and the needs of its members and clients by promoting the safety of life and property and preserving the natural environment through developing and verifying standards for ships and marine-related facilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Bureau of Shipping?
American Bureau of Shipping has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is American Bureau of Shipping's EIN?
American Bureau of Shipping's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4921556. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Bureau of Shipping's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Texas
KPMG US Foundation Inc
Montvale, NJ
KPMG US Foundation supports education, mental health, community vitality, and community relief and resilience, with grants distributed across the United States. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts ranged from about $5,000 to $2.2 million. The available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$12.4M
Grants
387
Total Given
$33.5M
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University funds a broad range of education, research, health, and community-related work, with 2025 grants ranging from $5,500 to nearly $95 million and a median of $100,000; many of the largest awards were sub-awards. Its grants went to organizations across the U.S., with the largest shares in California and Maryland, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$25.3B
Grants
813
Total Given
$594.1M
Charles Koch Foundation
Arlington, VA
The Charles Koch Foundation funds research, education, and social entrepreneurs working on issues including criminal justice, economic progress, higher education, health care, immigration, and free speech. Its 2024 grants had a median of $250,000, with awards ranging from $1,540 to $23.7 million; it is based in Virginia, where recipients received 53% of grant dollars, but also funds organizations in other states. It accepts unsolicited proposals online on a rolling basis, with no stated deadlines.
Assets
$758.9M
Grants
93
Total Given
$64.1M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). American Bureau of Shipping funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/american-bureau-of-shipping-morg_ee27841521dd4f94b92f2771a4e0f6f1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_134921556_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{American Bureau of Shipping funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/american-bureau-of-shipping-morg_ee27841521dd4f94b92f2771a4e0f6f1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Bureau of Shipping'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 Bureau of Shipping down — hundreds of funders to go?