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American Planning Association

Public charity · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 52-1134021 Website

"Creating great communities for all." The American Planning Association (APA) provides leadership in the development of vital communities by advocating excellence in community planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment and providing the tools and support necessary to meet the challenges of growth and change.

American Planning Association at a glance

In short: American Planning Association gave $210K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$209,765
+13.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
5
+150.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$41,953
-54.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$8,000
Total assets
$34,975,568
+29.7% vs 2024
Primary geography
Illinois (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

How to apply to American Planning Association

Who American Planning Association funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2025

Planning Accreditation Board: $179KPlanning Accreditation Board$179KNebraska Chapter: $10KNebraska Chapter$10KTexas Chapter: $8KTexas Chapter$8KNew Mexico Chapter: $7KNew Mexico Chapter$7KDelaware Chapter: $5KDelaware Chapter$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Planning Accreditation Board ($179K). Together the top 5 received $210K.

Grant Size Distribution

15 grants across all recorded years

9<$50K1$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 15 (60%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoTallahasseeAtlantaAlbuqerqueCopleyDoverLeanderMicanopyOmahaWashington

How American Planning Association gives

  • Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K2 grants2019 2 grants2020 3 grants2021 2 grants2022 3 grants2023 2 grants2024 5 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $155K (2022) to $231K (2019). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $210K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Planning Accreditation Board Chicago, ILGeneral Support$179,268
Nebraska Chapter Omaha, NEGeneral Support$10,397
Texas Chapter Leander, TXGeneral Support$8,000
New Mexico Chapter Albuqerque, NMGeneral Support$6,700
Delaware Chapter Dover, DEGeneral Support$5,400
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$34,975,568$19,898,169$20,990,422$209,7655$1,124,343
2024$26,958,095$19,236,852$19,029,840$184,3582$971,976
2023$25,045,194$18,555,514$17,818,561$230,0003$299,335
2022$22,871,568$20,969,447$16,975,437$155,4502$1,027,406
2021$23,906,674$19,430,254$14,551,112$211,0003$646,490
2020$18,386,413$16,739,418$16,136,152$183,9232$169,435
2019$15,354,235$20,376,415$20,668,439$231,4552$383,308

About American Planning Association

Based on IRS filings

American Planning Association is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $35.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $210K. Net investment income was $1.1M.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

American Planning Association is led by Joel D Albizo FASAE CAE, Chief Executive Officer on the 2025 filing; 13 of 30 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Joel D Albizo FASAE CAE

    Chief Executive Officer

    New on the 2025 filing

    35 hrs/week

    $425K (2025)

  • Sue Schwartz FAICP

    President

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Lang

    Director of Marketing

    Director of Marketing & Promotions → Director of Marketing, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    35 hrs/week

    $146K (2019) → $185K (2025)

  • Eva Wilczek

    Meetings Director

    On filings since 2019

    35 hrs/week

    $135K (2019) → $200K (2025)

  • Mike Welch

    Leadership Director

    On filings since 2019

    35 hrs/week

    $127K (2019) → $166K (2025)

  • Felicia Braunstein

    Professional Practice Director

    On filings since 2021

    35 hrs/week

    $136K (2021) → $177K (2025)

  • Randall West

    Technology Director

    On filings since 2023

    35 hrs/week

    $147K (2023) → $165K (2025)

  • Karl Schmidt

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    35 hrs/week

    $139K (2025)

  • Allison G Mouch AICP

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bianca Mers

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chad M Nabity AICP

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dawn Thomas AICP

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julia Lave Johnston

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Wolf AICP

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sara Copeland FAICP

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott D Turner AICP

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Silvia E Vargas FAICP

    Board Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Benjamin Hitchings FAICP

    Board Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bruce Stiftel FAICP

    Board Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erin N Perdu AICP

    Board Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nina Idemudia AICP

    Board Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Harriet Bogdanowicz

    Chief Operating Officer

    Chief Communications Officer → Chief Strategy Officer, 2023

    Chief Strategy Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    35 hrs/week

    $195K (2019) → $280K (2025)

  • Mark Ferguson

    Chief Information Officer

    On filings since 2019

    35 hrs/week

    $180K (2019) → $300K (2025)

  • Petra Hurtado PhD

    Chief Foresight & Knowledge Officer

    Director of Research → Chief Foresight & Knowledge Officer, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    35 hrs/week

    $146K (2021) → $239K (2025)

  • Alejandro Fuentes Encinas

    Chief Financial & Member Eng Officer

    On filings since 2024

    35 hrs/week

    $295K (2024) → $305K (2025)

  • Meghan Stromberg

    Editor in Chief

    New on the 2025 filing

    35 hrs/week

    $118K (2025)

  • Roberta Rewers

    Senior Committee Manager

    New on the 2025 filing

    35 hrs/week

    $108K (2025)

  • Angela D Brooks FAICP

    Immediate Past President

    President → Immediate Past President, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristen Lynn Asp AICP

    Secretary

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lauren Driscoll AICP

    Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (44)
  • Former: Benjamin G Hitchings (2019–2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Joel D Albizo (2019–2024) — Chief Executive Officer
  • Former: Kristen Lynn Asp (2019–2024) — Secretary
  • Former: Lauren M Driscoll (2019–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Wendy D Shabay (2019–2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Wendy E Moeller (2019–2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Linda Amato (2020–2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Edna Ely-Ledesma (2022–2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Kohl Malo (2022–2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Tim Gladhill (2022–2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Bruce Stiftel (2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Nina Idemudia (2024) — Board Director
  • Former: Sue Schwartz (2024) — President-Elect
  • Former: Leo Asuncion Jr. (2019–2023) — Immediate Past President
  • Former: Angela D Brooks (2020–2023) — President
  • Former: Mitchell J Silver (2020–2023) — Board Director
  • Former: Alejandro Fuentes (2022–2023) — CFO & COO
  • Former: Allison G Mouch (2022–2023) — Board Director
  • Former: Chad M Nabity (2022–2023) — Board Director
  • Former: Kimberley Jacques (2022–2023) — Education Director
  • Former: Scott D Turner (2022–2023) — Board Director
  • Former: Silvia E Vargas (2022–2023) — Board Director
  • Former: Karen Wolf (2023) — Board Director
  • Former: Ann M Simms (2019–2022) — CFO & COO
  • Former: David Fields (2019–2022) — Board Director
  • Former: Marjorie P Press (2019–2022) — Board Director
  • Former: Sara Copeland (2020–2022) — Board Director
  • Former: Susan Wood (2020–2022) — Board Director
  • Former: Veronica Escalera-Ibarra (2020–2022) — Board Director
  • Former: Courtney D Mercer (2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: Courtenay D Mercer (2019–2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Deborah A Lawlor (2019–2021) — Board Director
  • Former: Kurt E Christiansen (2019–2021) — Past President
  • Former: Cynthia A Bowen (2019–2020) — Past President
  • Former: David C Rouse (2019–2020) — Former Key Employee
  • Former: Fleming A El-Amin (2019–2020) — Board Director
  • Former: Jeffrey Soule (2019–2020) — Director of Outreach & Intl. Program
  • Former: Kara W Drane (2019–2020) — Board Director
  • Former: Rachael Thompson Panik (2019–2020) — Board Director
  • Former: Rodger H Lentz (2019–2020) — Board Director
  • Former: Christine Rahill (2020) — Development Director
  • Former: Christine Ott-Shaw (2019) — Development Director
  • Former: Glenn E Larson (2019) — Board Director
  • Former: James M Drinan (2019) — CEO

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Joel D Albizo FASAE CAE — Chief Executive Officer: $425KJoel D Albizo FASAE CAEChief Executive Officer$425KAlejandro Fuentes Encinas — Chief Financial & Member Eng Officer: $305KAlejandro Fuentes…Chief Financial & Member Eng…$305KMark Ferguson — Chief Information Officer: $300KMark FergusonChief Information Officer$300KHarriet Bogdanowicz — Chief Operating Officer: $280KHarriet BogdanowiczChief Operating Officer$280KPetra Hurtado PhD — Chief Foresight & Knowledge Officer: $239KPetra Hurtado PhDChief Foresight & Knowledge…$239KEva Wilczek — Meetings Director: $200KEva WilczekMeetings Director$200KElizabeth Lang — Director of Marketing: $185KElizabeth LangDirector of Marketing$185KFelicia Braunstein — Professional Practice Director: $177KFelicia BraunsteinProfessional Practice Director$177KMike Welch — Leadership Director: $166KMike WelchLeadership Director$166KRandall West — Technology Director: $165KRandall WestTechnology Director$165KKarl Schmidt — Director: $139KKarl SchmidtDirector$139KMeghan Stromberg — Editor in Chief: $118KMeghan StrombergEditor in Chief$118KRoberta Rewers — Sr Comm. Mgr: $108KRoberta RewersSr Comm. Mgr$108K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $425K, to Joel D Albizo FASAE CAE (Chief Executive Officer). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about American Planning Association

How much does American Planning Association give each year?

American Planning Association gave $210K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $184K across 2 grants.

What is American Planning Association's typical grant size?

American Planning Association's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $41,953, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does American Planning Association give grants?

American Planning Association gives mostly in Illinois: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.

Does American Planning Association give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of American Planning Association's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are American Planning Association's largest grantees?

American Planning Association's largest 2025 grantees include Planning Accreditation Board ($179,268), Nebraska Chapter ($10,397) and Texas Chapter ($8,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is American Planning Association?

American Planning Association reported $35.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19.9M.

What is American Planning Association?

American Planning Association is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $35.0M in total assets as of 2025.

What is American Planning Association's EIN?

American Planning Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1134021. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 9, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 18, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Live grants for the work American Planning Association funds

Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from American Planning 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.

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