Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a public charity based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It coordinates intercollegiate athletics among 18 nonprofit educational institutions and supports member institutions through large general-support allocations, alongside education and research initiatives.
Atlantic Coast Conference at a glance
In short: Atlantic Coast Conference gave $736.6M across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $40.9M). 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $736,617,636
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,923,202
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $46,382,982
- Total assets
- $364,439,570
- +33.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (3 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Atlantic Coast Conference
- Contact
Mailing address: 620 South Tryon Street 1200, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 936-0503
Website: https://theacc.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Atlantic Coast Conference funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Clemson University ($55.1M). Together the top 10 received $482.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 78 grants of 78 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The ACC’s reported 2025 grantees include universities such as Clemson, Syracuse, Miami, Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville. Its website also describes community-based education initiatives connected to Charlotte and to communities represented by teams playing in ACC championship games. The available grant information does not identify recipient-state totals.
Is Atlantic Coast Conference open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 18 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $20M; repeat grants $45M. How we count
Medians: $20M first-time, $47M repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $463.8M (2020) to $736.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $736.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | Allocation of General Support | $55,129,046 |
| Syracuse University | Allocation of General Support | $49,448,990 |
| University of Miami | Allocation of General Support | $48,250,645 |
| Duke University | Allocation of General Support | $48,236,296 |
| University of North Carolina | Allocation of General Support | $47,916,855 |
| University of Louisville | Allocation of General Support | $47,381,878 |
| Boston College | Allocation of General Support | $47,087,682 |
| Virginia Tech | Allocation of General Support | $46,546,737 |
| NC State University | Allocation of General Support | $46,461,278 |
| University of Pittsburgh | Allocation of General Support | $46,304,685 |
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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 | $364,439,570 | $826,480,916 | $789,217,685 | $736,617,636 | 18 | $7,532,781 |
| 2024 | $274,028,095 | $711,352,847 | $705,382,644 | $650,369,789 | 15 | $7,796,981 |
| 2023 | $275,489,749 | $706,627,287 | $694,259,821 | $649,472,670 | 15 | $6,752,062 |
| 2022 | $246,441,722 | $616,986,841 | $606,933,903 | $569,671,900 | 15 | $692,908 |
| 2021 | $229,574,212 | $578,309,944 | $572,522,121 | $541,097,531 | 15 | $400,181 |
| 2020 | $116,767,992 | $496,715,510 | $499,500,712 | $463,819,745 | 15 | $1,911,392 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The ACC’s stated mission is to promote intercollegiate athletic programs among its 18 member institutions while supporting student-athletes’ academic excellence, athletic competition, quality of life, and development. It also emphasizes inclusion, fairness, integrity, and sportsmanship.
The ACC Academic Consortium aims to strengthen the educational missions of member universities through collaborative programs intended to benefit all students, not only student-athletes. Its website says most of the consortium’s funding goes to direct student support. The ACC and the Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics have also offered a small-grant initiative for faculty and student research on college athletics administration.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the ACC reported 18 grants totaling $736,617,636. Grant amounts ranged from $17,065,303 to $55,129,046, with a median of $46,382,982. The largest reported awards included:
The ACC has also described specific initiatives. In 2020, it and the Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics selected seven faculty and student research projects for a total of $22,000. In 2025, the ACC announced a $50,000 Extra Yard for Teachers makeover for Croft Community School, as well as support for teachers’ projects through DonorsChoose. Its 2026 partnership plans include three classroom makeovers; the ACC announced a $50,000 makeover for Pinewood Elementary.
The Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway provides tuition support to student-athletes pursuing education-related degrees or careers. These payments support the ACC’s own participants and are not an outside-applicant grant program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The ACC’s 2025 filing lists the following directors: Kent D. Syverud, Randy Woodson, Kim Schatzel, Timothy D. Sands, Angel Cabrera, Lee Roberts, Joe Echevarria, Rev. Robert Dowd, Joan T. A. Gabel, and Richard McCullough.
Atlantic Coast Conference is led by James Phillips, President on every filing since 2022; 8 of 26 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Phillips
President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$2.4M (2022) → $4.4M (2025)
James Ryan
Board - Chair
Board of Directors' Vice Chair → Board of Directors' Chair, 2023
Board of Directors' Chair → Board - Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angel Cabrera
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James P. Clements
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kent D. Syverud
Director
Council of Presidents' Cha → Board of Directors' Chair, 2021
Board of Directors' Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy Woodson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy D. Sands
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vincent Price
Director
Board of Directors' Vice Chair → Board of Directors' Chair, 2022
Board of Directors' Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Leahy
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard McCullough
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Ta Gabel
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Schatzel
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Echevarria
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Levin
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Roberts
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
R. Gerald Turner
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rich Lyons
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Dowd
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Yakola
Chief Communications Officer
Deputy Committee - Chief of External Affairs → Deputy Committee - Chief of Executive, 2021
Deputy Committee - Chief of Executive → Chief Communications Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$251K (2020) → $302K (2025)
Ben Tario
Treasurer
Deputy Committee - CFO, Business & Legal Affairs → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$211K (2020) → $400K (2025)
Brad Hostetter
Secretary
Deputy Committee - Chief of Internal Affairs → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$262K (2020) → $330K (2025)
Michael Strickland
Senior Vice President & Football
Senior Associate Committee - Footbal → Senior Vice President & Football, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$234K (2020) → $287K (2025)
Paul Brazeau
Senior Vice President & Men's Basketball
Senior Associate Committee - Mbb → Senior Vice President & Men's Basketball, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$289K (2020) → $340K (2025)
Pearlynn Houck
Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel
General Counsel → Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$389K (2024) → $594K (2025)
Alberto Riveron
Supervisor of Football Officials
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$238K (2025)
Susan R. Wente
Board - Vice Chair
Director → Board of Directors' Vice Chair, 2024
Board of Directors' Vice Chair → Board - Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Mary McElroy (2021–2024) — Senior Associate Committee - Women's
- Former: John Jenkins (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John Swofford (2020–2023) — Former President
- Former: Julio Frenk (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kevin Guskiewicz (2020–2023) — Board of Directors' Vice Chair
- Former: Dennis Hennigan (2021–2023) — Supervisor of Football Officer
- Former: Patrick D. Gallagher (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lori Stewart Gonzalez (2022) — Director
- Former: John Thrasher (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nathan Hatch (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Neeli Bendapudi (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Janie Hodge (2020) — Past President
- Former: Joe Tront (2020) — President
- Former: Peter Brubaker (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Reyna Gilbert-Lowry (2020) — Senior Woman Administrator
- Former: Tricia Bellia (2020) — Secretary-Treasurer
- Former: Whit Babcock (2020) — Athletics Directors' Chair
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 $4.4M, to James Phillips (President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Atlantic Coast Conference
How much does Atlantic Coast Conference give each year?
Atlantic Coast Conference gave $736.6M across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $650.4M across 15 grants.
What is Atlantic Coast Conference's typical grant size?
Atlantic Coast Conference's median grant in 2025 was $46,382,982, and its average grant was $40,923,202, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Atlantic Coast Conference that year got $20M on average.
Does Atlantic Coast Conference give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Atlantic Coast Conference's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Atlantic Coast Conference's largest grantees?
Atlantic Coast Conference's largest 2025 grantees include Clemson University ($55,129,046), Syracuse University ($49,448,990) and University of Miami ($48,250,645), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Atlantic Coast Conference?
Atlantic Coast Conference reported $364.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $826.5M.
What does Atlantic Coast Conference fund?
The ACC’s stated mission is to promote intercollegiate athletic programs among its 18 member institutions while supporting student-athletes’ academic excellence, athletic competition, quality of life, and development. It also emphasizes inclusion, fairness, integrity, and sportsmanship. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Atlantic Coast Conference?
Atlantic Coast Conference has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check theacc.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Atlantic Coast Conference make grants?
The ACC’s reported 2025 grantees include universities such as Clemson, Syracuse, Miami, Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville. Its website also describes community-based education initiatives connected to Charlotte and to communities represented by teams playing in ACC championship games. The available grant information does not identify recipient-state totals.
What is Atlantic Coast Conference's EIN?
Atlantic Coast Conference's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-0599082. 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.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work Atlantic Coast Conference funds
Recreation & Sports Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Atlantic Coast Conference's focus areas in our free grants database
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Atlantic Coast Conference down — hundreds of funders to go?