The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is a national research society headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1916, AERA represents education researchers across the United States and internationally, drawing from disciplines including education, psychology, statistics, sociology, history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, and political science. The organization maintains a membership of approximately 25,000 education researchers, including scientists, teachers, students, administrators, and policy professionals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.6M
-8.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$804K
+5.8% YoY
Grant Count
39
+8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-2.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
AERA's 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.
The organization structures its work through 12 Divisions focusing on substantive professional areas:
- Administration, Organization, and Leadership
- Curriculum Studies
- Learning and Instruction
- Measurement and Research Methodology
- Counseling and Human Development
- History and Historiography
- Social Context of Education
- Research, Evaluation, and Assessment in Schools
- Education in the Professions
- Postsecondary Education
- Teaching and Teacher Education
- Educational Policy and Politics
AERA also hosts Special Interest Groups addressing more than 160 topics, ranging from literacy to technology in the classroom.
Grantmaking
AERA administers several grant and fellowship programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AERA's grant-making activities have primary focus in California, Florida, and Illinois, though the organization serves a national and international membership.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $28,599,211
- Total Revenue: $12.5 million
- Total Expenses: $12.6 million
- Total Liabilities: $2.8 million
- Total Giving: $1,049,652
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $31,249,937
- Total Revenue: $12,771,589
- Total Expenses: $13,822,351
The organization maintains a 96% overall score reflecting strong accountability and financial stability, with a fully independent board.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,599,211 | $31,249,937 | $32,818,678 |
| Revenue | $12,546,717 | $12,771,589 | $12,148,592 |
| Expenses | $12,566,420 | $13,822,351 | $12,878,142 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,244,361 | $2,157,460 | $1,967,918 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
209 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from American Educational Research
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Vanderbilt University ($90,500), Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania ($45,000), University of Minnesota ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLUE SWALLOW FARM FOUNDATION LEESBURG, VA | RESEARCH | $30,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | RESEARCH | $12,527 |
| FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY TALLAHASSEE, FL | RESEARCH | $17,500 |
| CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY CLAREMONT, CA | RESEARCH | $30,000 |
| JOHNS HOPKINS BALTIMORE, MD | RESEARCH | $10,962 |
| THE CURATORS OF THE UNIV OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA, MO | RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| RUTGERS UNIVERSITY NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | RESEARCH | $7,390 |
| FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RES FOUNDATION TALLAHASSEE, FL | RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, MA | RESEARCH | $23,328 |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EAST LANSING, MI | RESEARCH | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- 2025-2026 President: Maisha T. Winn
- Executive Director: Tabbye M. Chavous
- Staff: The organization employs approximately 24-25 dedicated individuals
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TYRONE HOWARD PRESIDENT | THEN PAST PRES. (TRANS. 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| JANELLE SCOTT PRES ELECT | THEN PRESIDENT (TRANS. 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| MAISHA WINN | PRESIDENT ELECT (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| RICH MILNER | PAST PRESIDENT (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| ADRIENNE DIXSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNE-MARIE NUNEZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CLEVELAND HAYES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANIEL SOLORZANO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DORINDA CARTER ANDREWS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JENNY LEE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JON HALE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LISA DE LA RUE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARIANA SOUTO-MANNING | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHENEKA WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THEODOREA BERRY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| VIRGINIA SNODGRASS RANGEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRYAN BRAYBOY | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| CECILIA RIOS-AGUILAR | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| DETRA JOHNSON | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| HELENROSE FIVES | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| HONEY WALROND | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| JESSICA LESTER | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| LINETTE ROSS | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| NORMA GUZMAN | DIRECTOR (BEGAN 05/01/24) | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE EDMONDSON | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| KIMBERLY LAWLESS | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| LINDA SMITH | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| MARIELA RODRIGUEZ | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| MARY PITONIAK | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| NICOLE JOHNSON | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| THANDEKA CHAPMAN | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| VERONICA VALDEZ | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/30/24) | 1 | — |
| FELICE J LEVINE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 37.5 | $376,485 |
| NORMAN TENORIO | DIR. OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION | 37.5 | $159,951 |
| PHOEBE STEVENSON | SENIOR ADVISOR | 37.5 | $181,811 |
| GEORGE WIMBERLY | DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 37.5 | $178,862 |
| TONY PALS | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH | 37.5 | $178,622 |
| LORI D HILL | ASSOC. EXEC. DIR., PROGRAMS & POLICY | 37.5 | $177,963 |
| ROBERT SMITH | DIRECTOR OF MEETINGS | 37.5 | $167,390 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
AERA–NSF Grants Program announced new award recipients (March 2026)
AERA\u2013NSF Grants Program Announces New Award RecipientsNSF renewed funding of the AERA Grants Program for three years (September 2024)
AERA\u2013NSF Grants Program Announces New Award RecipientsAERA awarded 10 new Education Research Service Projects Grants
AERA Awards 10 New Education Research Service Projects GrantsThe organization continues to host its annual meeting where researchers, scientists, scholars, and students present and discuss findings, fostering intellectual exchange on the latest educational research
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does American Educational Research fund?
AERA's 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. The organization structures its work through 12 Divisions focusing on substantive professional areas: • Administration, Organization, and Leadership • Curriculum Studies • Learning and Instruction • Measurement and Research Methodology • Counseling and Human Development • History and Historiography • Social Cont…
How do I apply for a grant from American Educational Research?
AERA administers several grant and fellowship programs: **AERA/AIR Fellows Program**: Selects up to three fellows annually for two-year rotational positions at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C. Fellows receive mentoring from recognized researchers and practitioners across substantive areas in education. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. **Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program in Education Research**: An active grant opportunity offered by…
Where does American Educational Research make grants?
AERA's grant-making activities have primary focus in California, Florida, and Illinois, though the organization serves a national and international membership.
What size grants does American Educational Research award?
In 2024, American Educational Research awarded 39 grants totaling $804K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is American Educational Research's EIN?
American Educational Research's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7003537. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in American Educational Research's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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