Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1953 and based in Arlington, Virginia. Its stated mission is to save lives and improve quality of life for people affected by asthma and allergic diseases through support, advocacy, education, and research.
Key facts about Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc
In short: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc gave $673K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $67K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 13-1691693
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $673,155
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- Average grant
- $67,316
- Median grant
- $61,250
- Total assets
- $5,449,679
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
+54.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$673K
+62.5% YoY
Grant Count
10
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
+30.0% YoY
How Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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
AAFA’s mission, as stated by the organization, is to save lives and reduce the burden of disease for people with asthma and allergies through support, advocacy, education, and research. Its reported activities include providing disease information and support to patients and caregivers; evaluating legislation and policies affecting people with asthma and allergies; incorporating patient perspectives into research; and offering education for health care professionals, patients, and caregivers.
AAFA’s 2025 grants show support for projects involving food-allergy decision aids, chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patient education and empowerment, nasal-polyp education and care, and the HEAL Innovation Program. Among the grantees, Baylor College of Medicine describes its mission as advancing human health through patient care, research, education, and community services. The Mast Cell Disease Society describes its mission as supporting patients, families, and medical professionals and advancing knowledge and research in mast cell diseases through education, advocacy, and collaboration.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, AAFA reported 10 grants totaling $673,155. Grant amounts ranged from $28,750 to $121,405, with a median of $61,250.
The largest reported grants were $121,405 to Baylor College of Medicine for a food-allergy decision aid research project; $100,000 each to The Mast Cell Disease Society and WE CU for a CSU patient education and empowerment campaign; and $75,500 to the University of Colorado Denver for a food-allergy decision aid research project. Other recipients were Health Promotion Council ($62,500), Young Teen Asthma & Wellness Camp ($60,000), AIRnyc ($50,000), Brigham and Women’s Hospital ($43,750), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America – Michigan Chapter ($31,250), and The General Hospital Corporation ($28,750). The latter six grants were for the HEAL Innovation Program, except the Brigham and Women’s Hospital grant, which supported a patient-centered education and care program for nasal polyps.
The filing states that grant recipients signed memoranda of understanding with AAFA and other domestic partners, and that a council of representatives from AAFA and each partner provided oversight of grant funds.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares were Massachusetts (26%), Texas (18%), Tennessee (15%), Colorado (11%), and Pennsylvania (9%). These figures describe the locations of 2025 grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2021) to $673K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $673K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Baylor College of Medicine ($121K). Together the top 10 received $673K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 15 grants of 32 (47%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX | Food Allergy Decision Aid Research Project | $121,405 |
| The Mast Cell Disease Society Inc Sterling, MA | CSU Patient Education and Empowerment Campaign | $100,000 |
| We Cu Hendersonville, TN | CSU Patient Education and Empowerment Campaign | $100,000 |
| University of Colorado Denver Denver, CO | Food Allergy Decision Aid Research Project | $75,500 |
| Health Promotion Council Philadelphia, PA | Heal Innovation Program | $62,500 |
| Young Teen Asthma & Wellness Camp Inc Birmingham, AL | Heal Innovation Program | $60,000 |
| Airnyc Bronx, NY | Heal Innovation Program | $50,000 |
| Brigham and Womens Hospital Inc Boston, MA | Patient-Centered Education and Care for Nasal Polyps Program | $43,750 |
| Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Michigan Chapter Franklin, MI | Heal Innovation Program | $31,250 |
| The General Hospital Corporation Boston, MA | Heal Innovation Program | $28,750 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,449,679 | $7,037,778 | $6,445,871 | $673,155 (10) |
| 2024 | $3,525,089 | $6,199,439 | $5,908,282 | $414,190 (8) |
| 2023 | $3,597,009 | $5,823,476 | $5,801,872 | $323,750 (7) |
AAFA is listed as a public charity. Its website reports that, for the year ending December 31, 2023, pharmaceutical support accounted for approximately 51% of annual revenue, individual giving and fundraising for approximately 15%, corporate support for approximately 14%, and U.S. government funding for approximately 5%.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,449,679 | $3,525,089 | $3,597,009 |
| Revenue | $7,037,778 | $6,199,439 | $5,823,476 |
| Expenses | $6,445,871 | $5,908,282 | $5,801,872 |
| Net Investment Income | $110,745 | $280,358 | $109,788 |
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 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Ritesh Patel, Chair; Kelli Wood Cross, Secretary; Richard Murray, Immediate Past Chair; Monica E Randall, Treasurer & Finance Chair; Mitchell Grayson, Chair of Medical-Scientific Council; Mary Ellen Conley, Chair of Community Relations; Prue Fitzpatrick, Chair of Policy & Advocacy; Lynn Hanessian, Chair of Development; Peter Loupos, Chair of Ad Hoc Strategy; and Evalyn Grant, Chair of Audit.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc is led by Kenneth Mendez, CEO & President on every filing since 2020; 10 of 33 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kenneth Mendez
CEO & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$391K (2020) → $494K (2025)
Lynn Hanessian
Chair of Development
Director → Chair of Development, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ellen Conley
Chair of Community Relations
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mitchell Grayson
Chair of Medical-Scientific Council
Chair of Medical-Scientific Council → Treasurer & Finance Chair, 2024
Treasurer & Finance Chair → Chair of Medical-Scientific Council, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monica E. Randall
Treasurer & Finance Chair
Director → Chair of Ad Hoc Strategy, 2021
Chair of Ad Hoc Strategy → Treasurer & Finance Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Prue Fitzpatrick
Chair of Policy & Advocacy
Director → Chair of Policy of Advocacy, 2021
Chair of Policy of Advocacy → Chair of Policy & Advocacy, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ritesh Patel
Chair
Director → Chair of Certification, 2021
Chair of Certification → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evalyn Grant
Chair of Audit
Director → Chair of Audit, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Loupos
Chair of Ad Hoc Strategy
Director → Chair of Ad Hoc Strategy, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gordon Buzby
Chair of Certification
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisa Zizza
Director of Development
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$102K (2023) → $116K (2025)
Nicole Gaghan
Creative Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$102K (2024) → $113K (2025)
Lynne Bosma
Health Equity Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$110K (2025)
James Flood
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jodi Daniel
Director
Chair of Policy & Advocacy → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Lai
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Schwartz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis Arthur
Director
Director → Chair of Audit, 2022
Chair of Audit → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emmanuel Mahlis
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meighan Girgus Vafa
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James C. Dockery
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Folashade Farri
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry M. Shier
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Carver
Chief Missions Officer
Chief Mission Officer → Chief Missions Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$166K (2020) → $318K (2025)
Sanaz Eftekhari
Chief Business Development Officer & Vice President Research
Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Research → Chief Business Development Officer, Vice President & Research, 2023
Chief Business Development Officer, Vice President & Research → Chief Business Development Officer & Vice President Research, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$172K (2020) → $330K (2025)
Kimberly Rafferty
Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Communications Production Director → Marketing & Communications, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$106K (2023) → $123K (2025)
Jenna Riemenschneider
Vice President of Advocacy
Vice President of Advocacy & Policy → Vice President of Advocacy, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$122K (2024) → $167K (2025)
Qingxin Cai
Controller
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$117K (2024) → $195K (2025)
Cheyney Treherne
Manager of Administration & Governance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2025)
Kelli Wood Cross
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Murray
Immediate Past Chair
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Heller
General Counsel
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tory Matese
General Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Sarbjit Saini (2020–2024) — Vice Chair & Medical-Scientific Council · Filing note: Thru July 2024
- Former: Kathryn Przywara (2021–2024) — Vice President & Community
- Former: Calvin Anderson (2020–2023) — Treasurer & Finance Chair
- Former: Heidi Baker (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Celeste Santifer (2021–2023) — Chief People & Administrative Officer
- Former: Jake Heller (2022–2023) — General Counsel
- Former: Jerome Shier (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Julie Jones (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Alex Buzby (2023) — Chair of Certification
- Former: Mitch Grayson MD (2023) — Chair of Medical-Scientific Council
- Former: Shade Farri (2023) — Director
- Former: Chris Ward (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Renuka Babu Brown (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Shimer (2022) — Senior Staff Accountant
- Former: Colette Martin (2020–2021) — Chair of Audit
- Former: Dennis Cryer MD (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Victoria Matese (2020–2021) — General Counsel
- Former: Mitchell Garyson MD (2021) — Chair of Medical-Scientific Council
- Former: Denzel Blount (2020) — Controller
- Former: Margaret Anderson (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 $494K, to Kenneth Mendez (CEO & President). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1400 Crystal Drive 660, Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: (800) 727-8462
Website: https://aafa.org
Frequently asked questions about Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc
How much does Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc give each year?
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc gave $673K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $414K across 8 grants.
What is Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's typical grant size?
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's median grant in 2025 was $61,250, and its average grant was $67,316, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc give grants?
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's top state is Massachusetts, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Texas (18%) and Tennessee (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Heal Innovation Program" (5 grants).
Who are Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's largest grantees?
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Baylor College of Medicine ($121,405), The Mast Cell Disease Society Inc ($100,000) and We Cu ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc?
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.0M.
What does Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc fund?
AAFA’s mission, as stated by the organization, is to save lives and reduce the burden of disease for people with asthma and allergies through support, advocacy, education, and research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc?
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check aafa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's EIN?
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1691693. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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