The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) is a Form 990 public charity based in Schaumburg, Illinois. It supports research and educational activities related to foot and ankle medical care, and its stated mission is to promote quality, ethical, and cost-effective patient care through education, research, and training for orthopaedic surgeons and other health care providers.
Key facts about American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc
In short: American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc gave $805K across 35 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), top state North Carolina. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 23-7087029
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $804,860
- Grants made (2024)
- 35
- Average grant
- $22,996
- Median grant
- $21,467
- Total assets
- $4,496,364
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (16% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- For the Research Grants Program, applicants prepare and submit the required materials through the application form. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
+11.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$805K
-13.6% YoY
Grant Count
35
-25.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+16.0% YoY
How American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
AOFAS’s website states its mission as “Improving lives through exceptional orthopaedic foot and ankle care.” Its strategic priorities include member development, education, patient care, advocacy, research, international outreach, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Its research and policy work includes funding and promoting research, supporting scientific journals and research collaborations, and engaging in health policy activities.
AOFAS’s 2024 filing describes research grant applications solicited from its membership, with grants of up to $50,000. It also describes the Ronald and Wendy Smith Clinical Research Grants, which fund prospective studies of high clinical importance, with up to $25,000 per grant cycle. The filing says recipients submit interim and final reports and that past recipients are surveyed about presentations, publications, and awards related to funded research.
Among the 2024 recipients, Mercy Health Foundation describes its mission as coordinating and strengthening fundraising for Mercy Medical Center and Stella Maris. The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania says it aims to provide education, advance research, and provide patient care through its health system. OrthoCarolina Research Institute describes its mission as facilitating orthopaedic research to advance treatments, improve patients’ quality of life, and educate the medical community. Twin Cities Orthopedics Foundation says it advances musculoskeletal health through community service, research, education, and training.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, AOFAS reported 35 grants totaling $804,860. Awards ranged from $10,733 to $83,828, with a median of $21,467. Listed grant purposes included research and fellowship support.
The largest reported awards included $83,828 to Duke University in Charlotte, North Carolina, for fellowship and research grants; $77,213 to Mercy Health Foundation in Baltimore, Maryland, for fellowship and research grants; $46,376 to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania for a research grant; and $42,933 to OrthoCarolina Research Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a fellowship grant. Other listed recipients included the University of Colorado Denver ($35,467), Massachusetts General Hospital ($32,200), and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Foot & Ankle Fellowship Program ($21,467).
AOFAS’s website says its Research Grants Program has awarded more than $2.5 million since 1997. It describes one-year research grants running from May 1 through April 30, including pilot project grants of up to $5,000 and small project research grants of up to $20,000. New primary investigators who have not previously received AOFAS research grant funding receive an additional 10% on their grant scores. The application instructions require at least one principal investigator or co-investigator to be an AOFAS member in good standing in an eligible membership category. Applicants must provide a research strategy, bibliography, budget, investigator biographical sketches, signed attestation, and investigator disclosure forms; applicable IRB, IACUC, or NIH OLAW documentation is also required. Grant funds may not be used for principal investigator or co-investigator salaries.
AOFAS also describes the Ronald and Wendy Smith Clinical Research Grants and an Arthritis Foundation/AOFAS Foot & Ankle Arthritis Development Program. The latter selects medical students and residents for training and mentoring opportunities; it is a participant program rather than an outside grant application for organizations.
How to Apply
For the Research Grants Program, applicants prepare and submit the required materials through the application form. The application instructions specify the membership requirement and documentation described above.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc
AF/AOFAS Foot & Ankle Arthritis Development Program
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
AOFAS Fellowship Scholarship
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
AOFAS Research Grants Program
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (16%), Pennsylvania (13%), Maryland (12%), Massachusetts (8%), and Texas (7%). The listed awards also included recipients in other states, including Colorado, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $363K (2019) to $932K (2023). In 2024 it made 35 grants totaling $805K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Duke University ($84K). Together the top 10 received $447K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,733), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
204 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 199 grants of 204 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University Charlotte, NC | 2024 Fellowship Grant, 2024 Research Grant | $83,828 |
| Mercy Health Foundation Baltimore, MD | 2024 Fellowship Grant, 2024 Research Grant | $77,213 |
| The Trustees of the Univ of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | 2024 Research Grant | $46,376 |
| Orthocarolina Research Institute Inc Charlotte, NC | 2024 Fellowship Grant | $42,933 |
| University of Colorado Denver Denver, CO | 2024 Fellowship Grant, 2024 Research Grant | $35,467 |
| New York Society for the Relief of Ruptured &Crippled Maintaining the Hospi New York, NY | 2024 Fellowship Grant | $32,200 |
| Baylor University Medical Center Foot and Ankle Fellowship Plano, TX | 2024 Fellowship Grant | $32,200 |
| University of Washington Chicago, IL | 2024 Fellowship Grant | $32,200 |
| University of Pittsburgh Division of Philanthropic & Alumni Engagement Pittsburgh, PA | 2024 Fellowship Grant | $32,200 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | 2024 Fellowship Grant | $32,200 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,496,364 | $6,618,476 | $6,644,108 | $804,860 (35 grants) |
| 2023 | $4,050,769 | $6,406,596 | $6,310,616 | $931,544 (47 grants) |
| 2022 | $3,979,780 | $5,912,169 | $5,723,835 | $892,091 (46 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,496,364 | $4,050,769 | $3,979,780 |
| Revenue | $6,618,476 | $6,406,596 | $5,912,169 |
| Expenses | $6,644,108 | $6,310,616 | $5,723,835 |
| Net Investment Income | $71,053 | $87,071 | $80,094 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 2, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Thordarson, MD, as president; Sheldon S. Lin, MD, as president-elect; Scott Ellis, MD, as vice president; Casey Humbyrd, MD, as treasurer; and Christopher Chiodo, MD, as secretary. Michael Aronow, MD, was listed as immediate past president, and Bryan Den Hartog, MD, as immediate past president through September 2024. The listed members-at-large were Erroll Bailey, MD; Jeannie Huh, MD; and Daniel Guss, MD.
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc is led by Elaine Larkin-Leighton, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 4 of 19 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elaine Larkin-Leighton
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$412K (2023) → $429K (2024)
David B. Thordarson MD
President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alena Frey
Director of Education & Member
Director of Education & Meetings → Director of Education & Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$121K (2020) → $141K (2024)
Jessica Dornfeld
Director of Marketing & Member
Director of Marketing & Membership → Director of Marketing & Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$111K (2022) → $129K (2024)
Catherine Powers
Development Senior Manager
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$128K (2021) → $135K (2024)
Casey J. Humbyrd MD
Treasurer
Member-At-Large → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael S. Aronow MD
Immediate Past President
Vice President → President-Elect, 2022
President-Elect → Immediate Past President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan D. Den Hartog MD
Immediate Past President
President-Elect → President, 2022
President → Immediate Past President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheldon S. Lin MD
President-Elect
Secretary → President-Elect, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Guss MD
Member-At-Large
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Turner Vosseller MD
Member at Large
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Luk MD
Member-At-Large
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Ellis MD
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anish Kadkia MD
Member at Large
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Chiodo MD
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erroll Bailey MD
Member-At-Large
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Bariteau MD
Member at Large
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannie Huh MD
Member-At-Large
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Hynes MD
Member at Large
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Christopher W. Digiovanni MD (2020–2023) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Jonathon Backus MD (2021–2023) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Rebecca Cerrato MD (2021–2023) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Bruce E Cohen MD (2019–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Elaine Leighton (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Hazel Oreluk (2020–2022) — Director of Research
- Former: James R. Holmes MD (2020–2022) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Justin K. Greisberg MD (2020–2022) — Member-At-Large
- Former: William C. McGarvey MD (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: J. Chris Coetzee MD (2019–2021) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Kenneth J. Hunt MD (2019–2021) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Shelly Encher (2019–2021) — Director of Membership & Outreach
- Former: A Holly Johnson MD (2019–2020) — Member-At-Large
- Former: John T Campbell MD (2019–2020) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Cathy Powers (2020) — Dvlpmt Senior Manager
- Former: Bryan D Den Hartog M (2019) — Treasurer
- Former: Christopher W DiGiova (2019) — Vice President
- Former: Jeffrey E Johnson MD (2019) — Past President
- Former: Samuel B Adams Jr M (2019) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Sandra E Klein MD (2019) — Member-At-Large
- Former: Thomas H Lee MD (2019) — Past President
- Former: William C McGarvey M (2019) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $429K, to Elaine Larkin-Leighton (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1515 E Woodfield Road Suite 850, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (847) 698-4654
Website: https://aofas.org
Frequently asked questions about American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc
How much does American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc give each year?
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc gave $805K across 35 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $932K across 47 grants.
What is American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's typical grant size?
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's median grant in 2024 was $21,467, and its average grant was $22,996, across 35 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc give grants?
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's top state is North Carolina, with 16% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (13%) and Maryland (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants), Charlotte, NC (2 grants), Baltimore, MD (2 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 35 grants with a stated purpose on American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2024 Fellowship Grant" (29 grants), "2024 Research Grant" (3 grants) and "2024 Fellowship Grant, 2024 Research Grant" (3 grants).
Who are American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's largest grantees?
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Duke University ($83,828), Mercy Health Foundation ($77,213) and The Trustees of the Univ of Pennsylvania ($46,376), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,733), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc?
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.6M.
What does American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc fund?
AOFAS’s website states its mission as “Improving lives through exceptional orthopaedic foot and ankle care.” Its strategic priorities include member development, education, patient care, advocacy, research, international outreach, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc?
For the Research Grants Program, applicants prepare and submit the required materials through the application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's EIN?
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7087029. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Inc by hand.
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