American Educational Research Association
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is a Washington, DC-based national research society that advances education research and supports opportunities for researchers and students. Its activities include research grants and fellowships, professional development, and an annual meeting where scholars and students present and discuss research. Its filing type is a public charity.
American Educational Research Association at a glance
In short: American Educational Research Association gave $804K across 39 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), top state California. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $804,072
- +5.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 39
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,617
- -2.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,000
- Total assets
- $28,599,211
- -8.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (14 of 39, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (18% 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 Educational Research Association
- Review Cycle
- The Research Grants and Dissertation Grants pages state that the proposal deadline passed on May 20; no year is specified on those pages.
- Deadline
- The Research Grants and Dissertation Grants pages state that the proposal deadline passed on May 20; no year is…
- Contact
Mailing address: 1430 K Street Nw 1200, Washington, DC 20005-2528
Phone: (202) 238-3200
Website: https://aera.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from American Educational Research Association
Who American Educational Research Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Vanderbilt University ($91K). Together the top 10 received $384K.
Grant Size Distribution
209 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 203 grants of 209 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AERA’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients across multiple states. The largest reported shares were California (18%), Tennessee (11%), Florida (8%), Pennsylvania (8%), and New York (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is American Educational Research Association open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 39 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 51% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−19%). 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 $609K (2020) to $1.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 39 grants totaling $804K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | Research | $90,500 |
| Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Research | $45,000 |
| University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN | Research | $35,000 |
| The Regents of the University of California Los Angeles, CA | Research | $32,500 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Research | $30,738 |
| Blue Swallow Farm Foundation Leesburg, VA | Research | $30,000 |
| Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CA | Research | $30,000 |
| Molloy University Rockville Centre, NY | Research | $30,000 |
| Prairie View A&M University Prairie View, NY | Research | $30,000 |
| University of Oklahoma Norman, OK | Research | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with American Educational Research Association?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $28,599,211 | $12,546,717 | $12,566,420 | $804,072 | 39 | $1,244,361 |
| 2023 | $31,249,937 | $12,771,589 | $13,822,351 | $759,822 | 36 | $2,157,460 |
| 2022 | $32,818,678 | $12,148,592 | $12,878,142 | $1,148,510 | 50 | $1,967,918 |
| 2021 | $39,874,745 | $11,487,379 | $8,991,688 | $989,349 | 47 | $3,507,866 |
| 2020 | $37,235,882 | $8,211,875 | $8,125,124 | $609,138 | 37 | $750,144 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
AERA’s stated mission is to advance knowledge about education, encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.
Its AERA Grants Program supports research using quantitative methods and large-scale education data, including federal datasets, state longitudinal data systems, and eligible international data systems. The program invites field-initiated research on STEM learning and learning environments, data linkages, machine learning and artificial intelligence in STEM research, and replication. The organization also offers dissertation support and a fellowship intended to enhance diversity in education research. Separately, its Education Research Service Projects initiative invites researchers to provide pro bono expertise to educational organizations and community groups that have identified a need for assistance; the program is currently on hold.
The 2024 grant list includes universities and a foundation. For example, the University of Pennsylvania describes its mission as including research that advances human knowledge and a public-service role. Claremont Graduate University says it is dedicated to creating, disseminating, and applying knowledge and diverse perspectives. These are grantee-stated missions, not AERA’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, AERA reported 39 grants totaling $804,072. Awards ranged from $6,000 to $90,500, with a median of $17,000. The stated purpose for each of the largest listed grants was research. Recipients included Vanderbilt University ($90,500), the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania ($45,000), the University of Minnesota ($35,000), the Regents of the University of California at Los Angeles ($32,500), and the University of Michigan ($30,738). Other listed recipients included Blue Swallow Farm Foundation, Claremont Graduate University, Molloy University, Prairie View A&M University, and the University of Oklahoma, each receiving $30,000.
AERA’s Research Grants program invites proposals from faculty at higher education institutions, postdoctoral researchers, and other doctoral-level scholars. Its Dissertation Grants program serves advanced graduate students. Both program pages state that the proposal deadline passed on May 20; they emphasize rigorous quantitative research using large-scale education-related data. A separate active Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research offers up to $25,000 to advanced graduate students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups for dissertation research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Tyrone Howard as president until the transition on May 1, 2024, and then past president; Janelle Scott as president-elect before that transition and president afterward; Maisha Winn as president-elect beginning May 1, 2024; and Rich Milner as past president until April 30, 2024. Directors listed include Adrienne Dixson, Anne-Marie Nunez, Cleveland Hayes, Daniel Solorzano, Dorinda Carter Andrews, and Jenny Lee.
American Educational Research Association is led by Felice J. Levine, Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 39 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Felice J. Levine
Executive Director
Executive Director, Secretary & Treasurer → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$316K (2020) → $376K (2024)
Janelle Scott Pres Elect
Then President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Wimberly
Director of Professional Development
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$162K (2020) → $179K (2024)
Norman Tenorio
Director of Finance & Administration
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$144K (2020) → $160K (2024)
Robert Smith
Director of Meetings
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$165K (2020) → $167K (2024)
Tony Pals
Director of Communications & Outreach
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$166K (2020) → $179K (2024)
Katherine M. Edmondson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly A. Lawless
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda T. Smith
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mariela Aime Rodriguez
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Pitoniak
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thandeka K. Chapman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adrienne D. Dixson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel G. Solorzano
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenny J. Lee
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa De La Rue
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mariana Souto-Manning
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheneka M. Williams
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Veronica E. Valdez
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne-Marie Nunez
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cleveland Hayes
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dorinda Carter Andrews
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Hale
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theodorea Berry
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Snodgrass Rangel
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Brayboy
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cecilia Rios-Aguilar
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Detra Johnson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helenrose Fives
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Honey Walrond
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Lester
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linette Ross
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norma Guzman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori D. Hill
Associate Executive Director, Programs & Policy
Associate Executive Director for Prgms & Policy → Associate Executive Director for Program & Policy, 2021
Associate Executive Director for Program & Policy → Associate Executive Director, Programs & Policy, 2023
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$163K (2020) → $178K (2024)
Phoebe Stevenson
Senior Advisor
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$185K (2023) → $182K (2024)
Maisha T. Winn
President Elect
Director → President Elect, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rich Milner
Past President
President Elect → President Elect Then President, 2022
President Elect Then President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tyrone Howard President
Then Past President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (38)
- Former: Bradley J. McMillen (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Diana E. Hess (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Isabel Nunez (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Janelle T. Scott (2020–2023) — President Elect
- Former: Jerome E. Morris (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Katrina M. Sanders (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Na'ilah Suad Nasir (2020–2023) — Past President
- Former: Teresa L. McCarty (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Andrea Layton (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Nathan Bell (2023) — Director of Governance
- Former: Rich Milner President (2023) — Then Past President
- Former: Tyrone C. Howard Pres Elect (2023) — Then President
- Former: Dorothea M. Anagnostopoulos (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John Neikirk (2020–2022) — Director of Publications
- Former: Kakali Bhattacharya (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Okhee Lee (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Sarah M. Kiefer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Shaun R. Harper (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Sylvia Hurtado (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Vasti Torres (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Andrea Abeita (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Tyrone C. Howard (2022) — President Elect
- Former: Amanda L. Datnow (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Cindy M. Walker (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sandra Graham (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Susan C. Faircloth (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Tessa Johnson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Vanessa Siddle Walker (2020–2021) — Past President
- Former: Yoon Soo Park (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Amy Stuart Wells (2020) — Past President
- Former: Christopher M. Span (2020) — Director
- Former: Denise M. Taliaferro Baszile (2020) — Director
- Former: Desa Karye Daniel (2020) — Director
- Former: Ernest D. Morrell II (2020) — Director
- Former: Margaret J. Maaka (2020) — Director
- Former: Stella M. Flores (2020) — Director
- Former: Vickie L. Cartwright (2020) — Director
- Former: Zeus Leonardo (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 $376K, to Felice J Levine (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Educational Research Association
How much does American Educational Research Association give each year?
American Educational Research Association gave $804K across 39 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $760K across 36 grants.
What is American Educational Research Association's typical grant size?
American Educational Research Association's median grant in 2024 was $17,000, and its average grant was $20,617, across 39 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from American Educational Research Association that year got $22K on average.
Where does American Educational Research Association give grants?
American Educational Research Association's top state is California, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Tennessee (11%) and Florida (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Tallahassee, FL (2 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does American Educational Research Association give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on American Educational Research Association's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (39 grants).
Who are American Educational Research Association's largest grantees?
American Educational Research Association's largest 2024 grantees include Vanderbilt University ($90,500), Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania ($45,000) and University of Minnesota ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is American Educational Research Association?
American Educational Research Association reported $28.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.5M.
What does American Educational Research Association fund?
AERA’s stated mission is to advance knowledge about education, encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Educational Research Association?
American Educational Research Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check aera.net for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is American Educational Research Association's EIN?
American Educational Research Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7003537. 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 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work American Educational Research Association funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Educational Research Association's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Chevy Chase, MD
HHMI funds basic biomedical research, science education, fellowships, and public engagement, primarily through programs for researchers and support to universities and other organizations. Its 2025 itemized grants ranged from $10,000 to $3,062,953, with a median of $20,000; its research programs serve U.S. institutions, and listed grants were concentrated in California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, and North Carolina. HHMI does not accept unsolicited requests; most competitions use formal invitation and review processes.
Assets
$29.5B
Grants
31
Total Given
$8.8M
American Council of Learned Societies
New York, NY
The American Council of Learned Societies funds humanities and interpretive social science research through fellowships and grants for scholars and scholarly teams, including support for research, education, cultural exchange, and public-facing work. In 2025, its 153 grants ranged from $5,668 to $1,232,000, with a median of $80,000; it supports scholars worldwide, though recent grant dollars were concentrated in several U.S. states and Washington, DC. Applications are made through individual program competitions; the profile does not say whether ACLS accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$217.0M
Grants
153
Total Given
$17.4M
Trustees of Boston University
Boston, MA
The Trustees of Boston University funds university research and related academic, health, and campus programs, including work in neuroscience, clean energy, sustainability, health care delivery, and global health. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,092 to $5.34 million, with a median of $125,223; funding was concentrated in Massachusetts and California. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
268
Total Given
$109.8M
American Chemical Society
Washington, DC
The American Chemical Society funds chemistry research, education, scholarships, fellowships, student activities, and related projects through programs for researchers, institutions, educators, students, and ACS groups. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,200 to $504,691, with a median of $31,252; funding supports U.S. and international research, though some programs are limited to U.S.-based applicants. The profile does not state whether ACS accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
341
Total Given
$22.4M
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University’s grants primarily support research, alongside priorities tied to education, healthcare, and improving the human condition. In 2025 it awarded 208 grants ranging from $250 to $54.3 million, with a median of about $50,800; 65% of grant dollars went to Tennessee recipients. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$14.8B
Grants
208
Total Given
$91.2M
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Mellon University funds education and research, with grants largely supporting universities and other research organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,077 to $6.1 million, with a median of $68,400, and recipients were concentrated in Pennsylvania, though funding also went to organizations across the U.S. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.6B
Grants
203
Total Given
$49.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in District of Columbia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). American Educational Research Association funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/american-educational-research-association-morg_4cad8164abf941059ac7a585a8e57eb6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237003537_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{American Educational Research Association funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/american-educational-research-association-morg_4cad8164abf941059ac7a585a8e57eb6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Educational Research Association'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 Educational Research Association down — hundreds of funders to go?