Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 1934. It represents the U.S. freight rail industry and works on policy, standards, industry data, research, and technology related to freight rail safety and operations.
Key facts about Association of American Railroads
In short: Association of American Railroads gave $1.8M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $142K), top state District of Columbia. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 53-6000125
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,843,655
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $141,820
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (3 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $52,287,380
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- January 7, 2026, for the National Railroad Partnership Program.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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
$52.3M
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+12.0% YoY
Grant Count
13
+18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$142K
-5.2% YoY
Is Association of American Railroads open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 13 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $180K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 77% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
AAR’s stated mission is to promote a safe and efficient North American rail system, with principal activities in standards, operations, safety, security, public affairs, and public policy. Its Strategic Research Initiatives address topics including signals, train control, automated operations, track, bridges, and railcar components. Its other described programs include an integrated communications campaign and work to promote balanced regulation.
AAR’s 2024 grants included program and event support for organizations working in varied areas. GoRail, which received $716,500, describes its mission as promoting greater use of freight rail as an alternative to continued reliance on congested highways. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which received $25,000, describes itself as a nonpartisan public policy, research, and educational institute focused on improving the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities. The Metropolitan Planning Council, which received $10,000, describes its work as promoting sensible planning and development policies for the Chicago region.
Grantmaking
AAR reported 13 grants totaling $1,843,655 in 2024. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $750,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed awards were $750,000 to the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks LLC (CABT) and $716,500 to GoRail, both for program support. Other listed awards included $174,000 to the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering for program support and $50,000 to the Surface Transportation Policy Project for program support. AAR also made event-support grants of $10,000 each to the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Separately, AAR’s website describes the FY24-25 National Railroad Partnership Program as a Federal Railroad Administration/U.S. Department of Transportation program under which federal funding is available for capital projects serving intercity passenger rail outside the Northeast Corridor. Eligible project categories include state-of-good-repair work, service improvements, new service, and related projects. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov. The listed materials include a project narrative and statements of work, benefit-cost analysis, environmental compliance documentation, and federal application forms. Awards may cover up to 80% of project costs; the project sponsor must provide a 20% non-federal match, and other federal grant funds cannot be used for that match.
Review Cycle
January 7, 2026, for the National Railroad Partnership Program.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AAR is based in Washington, DC. In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in DC (46%), Virginia (41%), Illinois (10%), Wisconsin (1%), and Connecticut (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2022) to $1.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Coalition Against Bigger Trucks LLC (Cabt) ($750K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 61 (67%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Coalition Against Bigger Trucks LLC (Cabt) Alexandria, VA | Program Support | $750,000 |
| Gorail Washington, DC | Program Support | $716,500 |
| University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering Urbana, IL | Program Support | $174,000 |
| Surface Transportation Policy Project Washington, DC | Program Support | $50,000 |
| National Academy of Sciences Washington, DC | Program Support | $40,655 |
| Governing Majority Education Fund Milwaukee, WI | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Washington, DC | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Congressional Black Caucus Institute (CBCI) Washington, DC | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Metropolitan Planning Council Chicago, IL | Event Support | $10,000 |
| Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Inc Washington, DC | Event Support | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $52,287,380 | $70,167,327 | $68,311,159 | $1,843,655 |
| 2023 | $48,749,406 | $77,003,356 | $68,097,791 | $1,646,163 |
| 2022 | $28,089,328 | $59,775,689 | $59,833,146 | $1,406,320 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,287,380 | $48,749,406 | $28,089,328 |
| Revenue | $70,167,327 | $77,003,356 | $59,775,689 |
| Expenses | $68,311,159 | $68,097,791 | $59,833,146 |
| Net Investment Income | $651,028 | $376,199 | $45,582 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 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 November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
AAR’s website identifies Ian Jefferies as President and CEO, Mike Rush as Senior Vice President for Safety and Operations, Adrian Arnakis as Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, and Paul Hedrick as Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer.
The 2024 filing lists Keith Creel, Kathryn M. Farmer, Joe Hinrichs, Tracy Robinson, Alan Shaw, Michael Miller, Jim Vena, William O’Leary, Mark George, and Dan Smith as directors. Alan Shaw’s listing notes that he served until September 15, 2024.
Association of American Railroads is led by Ian N. Jefferies, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 11 of 21 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ian N. Jefferies
President & CEO
President, CEO & Director → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$1.3M (2020) → $2.7M (2024)
Keith Creel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William G. O'Leary
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn M. Farmer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alan Shaw
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Smith
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Hinrichs
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Robinson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Vena
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Miller
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark George
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin A. Smith
Svp-Communications
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$393K (2020) → $514K (2024)
Michael J. Rush
Svp-Safety & Operations
On filings since 2020
38 hrs/week
$477K (2020) → $604K (2024)
William C. Thompson
Program Manager
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$322K (2020) → $386K (2024)
Adrian Arnakis
Svp-Government Affairs
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$538K (2021) → $675K (2024)
Edward A. Kendall Jr.
Corporate Secretary
On filings since 2022
38 hrs/week
$240K (2022) → $295K (2024)
John Miller
Associate General Counsel
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$274K (2022) → $367K (2024)
Kathryn D. Kirmayer
Svp-Law & General Counsel
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$652K (2022) → $761K (2024)
Paul R. Hedrick
Svp-Fin, Administrator & CFO
Svp-Fin., Administrator & CFO → Svp-Fin, Administrator & CFO, 2024
On filings since 2022
39 hrs/week
$475K (2022) → $611K (2024)
Stephen Gordon
Associate General Counsel
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$316K (2023) → $362K (2024)
Rand Ghayad
Svp-Policy & Economics
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$411K (2024)
Former officers (26)
- Former: John C. Hellmann (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John T. Gray (2020–2023) — Svp-Policy & Economics
- Former: Lance M. Fritz (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Patrick J. Ottensmeyer (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Fernando Lopez-Guerra (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Dewayne Swindall (2023) — Director
- Former: Joe Parsons (2023) — Director
- Former: Daniel Saphire (2020–2022) — Associate General Counsel
- Former: Jeffrey D. Marsh (2020–2022) — Svp-Finance & CFO
- Former: Timothy J. Strafford (2020–2022) — Corporate Secretary
- Former: Edward Quinn (2022) — Director
- Former: Peter A. Gilbertson (2022) — Director
- Former: James A. Squires (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: James M. Foote (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jean-Jacques Ruest (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kathy D. Kirmayer (2020–2021) — Svp-Law & General Counsel
- Former: Kelley French Donley (2020–2021) — Avp-Member Services
- Former: Jonathan Chastek (2021) — Director
- Former: Nathan Asplund (2021) — Director
- Former: Adrian Anarkis (2020) — Svp-Government Affairs
- Former: Carl R. Ice (2020) — Director
- Former: Iker De Luisa (2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Macdonald (2020) — Avp-Govt Affairs
- Former: Peter K. Mills (2020) — Director
- Former: Robert E. Fronczak (2020) — Avp-Environment & Hazmat
- Former: William J. Flynn (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 $2.7M, to Ian N Jefferies (President, CEO). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 425 3Rd Street Sw 1000, Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 639-2100
Website: https://aar.org
Frequently asked questions about Association of American Railroads
How much does Association of American Railroads give each year?
Association of American Railroads gave $1.8M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 11 grants.
What is Association of American Railroads's typical grant size?
Association of American Railroads's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $141,820, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Association of American Railroads that year got $15K on average.
Where does Association of American Railroads give grants?
Association of American Railroads's top state is District of Columbia, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (41%) and Illinois (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (6 grants) and Alexandria, VA (2 grants).
Does Association of American Railroads give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Association of American Railroads's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (10 grants) and "Event Support" (3 grants).
Who are Association of American Railroads's largest grantees?
Association of American Railroads's largest 2024 grantees include Coalition Against Bigger Trucks LLC (Cabt) ($750,000), Gorail ($716,500) and University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering ($174,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Association of American Railroads?
Association of American Railroads reported $52.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $70.2M.
What does Association of American Railroads fund?
AAR’s stated mission is to promote a safe and efficient North American rail system, with principal activities in standards, operations, safety, security, public affairs, and public policy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Association of American Railroads?
Association of American Railroads has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check aar.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Association of American Railroads's EIN?
Association of American Railroads's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-6000125. 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.
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Association of American Railroads down — hundreds of funders to go?