Appalachian College Association Inc
ACA is an organization of 33 independent liberal arts higher education institutions that provides expanded and enhanced learning opportunities to faculty, staff, and students for the purpose of serving the educational and economic wellbeing of the people of Central Appalachia.
Appalachian College Association Inc at a glance
In short: Appalachian College Association Inc gave $456K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $65K), top state Kentucky. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $456,416
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $65,202
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $57,749
- Total assets
- $43,472,392
- +6.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (41% 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 Appalachian College Association Inc
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Appalachian College Association Inc
Appalachian College Association Ledford Scholars Award
Appalachian College Association Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ledford Scholars Award
Appalachian College Association Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Planning Grants for Strategic Collaborations
Appalachian College Association Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Appalachian College Association Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ferrum College ($95K). Together the top 7 received $456K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 13 grants of 14 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $397K (2024) to $456K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $456K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrum College Ferrum, VA | Financial Education for Students | $95,000 |
| Berea College Berea, KY | Financial Education for Students | $70,800 |
| Emory & Henry University Emory, VA | Financial Education for Students | $60,825 |
| Mars Hill University Mars Hill, NC | Financial Education for Students | $57,749 |
| University of Pikeville Pikeville, KY | Financial Education for Students | $57,600 |
| Union Commonwealth University Barbourville, KY | Financial Education for Students | $57,600 |
| Maryville College Maryville, TN | Financial Education for Students | $56,842 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,472,392 | $6,388,859 | $5,652,718 | $456,416 | 7 | $1,909,656 |
| 2024 | $40,668,780 | $5,086,965 | $5,251,004 | $396,971 | 7 | $805,032 |
| 2023 | $36,583,356 | $6,304,923 | $4,650,144 | — | — | $2,777,895 |
| 2022 | $34,357,226 | $4,966,701 | $4,650,592 | — | — | $1,255,689 |
| 2021 | $39,696,056 | $4,630,914 | $4,253,008 | — | — | $997,607 |
| 2020 | $32,354,747 | $4,294,648 | $4,274,145 | — | — | $593,988 |
About Appalachian College Association Inc
Based on IRS filings
Appalachian College Association Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Lexington, KY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $43.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $456K. Net investment income was $1.9M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Appalachian College Association Inc is led by Nancy E Rushing - Appalachian Colle, President on every filing since 2023; 2 of 35 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nancy E Rushing - Appalachian Colle
President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $175K (2025)
John W Wells - Young Harris College
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Floyd - Mars Hill University
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bradley Andrews - Brevard College
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Coker - Maryville College
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Burton Webb - University of Pikevil
Director
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Fowler - Carson-Newman Univ
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Wood - Davis and Elkins Colle
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Whitt - Lenoir Rhyne Universit
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Moore - West Virginia Wesleya
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Caridi - Bethany College
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Stepp - Alice Lloyd College
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Hopkins - Campbellsville Uni
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee King - Lees-McRae College
Director
Treasurer → Interim Chair & Treasurer, 2024
Interim Chair & Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Roth - University of Charles
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Maurer - Montret College
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Hummel - Tusculum University
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry Allcorn - Kentucky Christian
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Forrest - Tennessee Wesleyan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Nixon - Berea College
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dianna M Vargo - Wheeling Universit
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason McConnell - Lincoln Memorial
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mirta Martin - Ferrum College
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Conn - Lee University
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Pearigen - University of the
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Tooley - King University
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daian Fernandez - Warren Wilson Col
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Overdorf - Johnson Universit
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
DJ Washington - Union Commonwealth
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louise Fincher - Emory and Henry Co
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Waers - Milligan University
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Patterson - Bluefield Univer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Luckey - Lindsey Wilson Uni
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Hall - Appalachian College As
Vice President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$122K (2023) → $133K (2025)
Doug Mann - Bryan College
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (66)
- Former: Alexander Whitaker - King Universit (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Bill Greer - Milligan University (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Damian Fernandez - Warren Wilson Co (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: David Olive - Bluefield University (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Douglas Mann - Bryan College (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Drew Van Horn - Young Harris Colleg (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: William Luckey - Lindsey Wilson Col (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: L Thomas Smith - Johnson University (2024) — Director
- Former: Marcia Hawkins - Union Commonwealth (2024) — Director
- Former: Clayton Hess - Lincoln Memorial Uni (2023) — Director
- Former: David Johns - Ferrum College (2023) — Director
- Former: Genny Favede - Wheeling University (2023) — Director
- Former: Lyle Roelofs - Berea College (2023) — Director
- Former: Marcia Hawkins - Union College (2023) — Director
- Former: Mark Walker - Lee University (2023) — Director
- Former: Nancy Berner - University of the So (2023) — Director
- Former: Thomas Smith - Johnson University (2023) — Director
- Former: Tim Barry - Alderson Broaddus Unive (2023) — Director
- Former: Bill Greer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Bryan Coker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Burton Webb (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Charles Fowler (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Chris Wood (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Clayton Hess (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: David Olive (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Douglas Mann (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Fred Whitt (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Genny Favede (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John Wells (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Larry Hall (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Lee King (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Lyle Roelofs (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Marcia Hawkins (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Walker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Martin Roth (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Nancy E Rushing (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Scott Hummel (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Terry Allcorn (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Thomas Smith (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tim Barry (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tony Floyd (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: William Luckey (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Paul Maurer (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Alexander Whitaker (2022) — Director
- Former: Bill Christy (2022) — Director
- Former: Bradley Andrews (2022) — Director
- Former: Drew Van Horn (2022) — Director
- Former: James Moore (2022) — Director
- Former: Jamie Caridi (2022) — Director
- Former: Jim Stepp (2022) — Director
- Former: Joseph Hopkins (2022) — Director
- Former: Mirta Martin (2022) — Director
- Former: Nancy Berner (2022) — Director
- Former: Tyler Forrest (2022) — Director
- Former: A. Whitaker (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Johns (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Joyce (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Harley Knowles (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: J. Thierstein (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Joe Stepp (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Keith Spears (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lynn Morton (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael Ross (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Reuben Brigety (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: T. Rodenberg (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Larry Cockrum (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $175K, to Nancy E Rushing - Appalachian Colle (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Appalachian College Association Inc
How much does Appalachian College Association Inc give each year?
Appalachian College Association Inc gave $456K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $397K across 7 grants.
What is Appalachian College Association Inc's typical grant size?
Appalachian College Association Inc's median grant in 2025 was $57,749, and its average grant was $65,202, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Appalachian College Association Inc give grants?
Appalachian College Association Inc's top state is Kentucky, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (34%) and North Carolina (13%).
Does Appalachian College Association Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Appalachian College Association Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Education for Students" (7 grants).
Who are Appalachian College Association Inc's largest grantees?
Appalachian College Association Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ferrum College ($95,000), Berea College ($70,800) and Emory & Henry University ($60,825), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Appalachian College Association Inc?
Appalachian College Association Inc reported $43.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.4M.
What is Appalachian College Association Inc?
Appalachian College Association Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Lexington, KY. It holds $43.5M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Appalachian College Association Inc's EIN?
Appalachian College Association Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1758784. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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