EAA Aviation Foundation Inc
EAA Aviation Foundation (EAA foundation) is organized and operated in order to support the experimental aircraft association, inc. (EAA), a separate 501(c)(3) organization. The organization, through the conduct of its activities, receives, holds, and invests funds and uses the principal or earnings therefrom for the benefit of EAA and also holds title to certain assets including the organization's headquarters, other buildings, and the aviation museum collection. The organization is compensated under a lease contract with EAA for the use of these facilities and other assets.
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: EAA Aviation Foundation Inc gave $6.9M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $6.9M), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,928,078
- +16.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,928,078
- +16.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,928,078
- Total assets
- $76,672,861
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who EAA Aviation Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Experimental Aircraft Association Inc ($6.9M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How EAA Aviation Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 36% 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2019) to $6.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $6.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Aircraft Association Inc Oshkosh, WI | Grant - see form 990 part iii, line 4a | $6,928,078 |
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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 | $76,672,861 | $13,503,529 | $9,224,861 | $6,928,078 | 1 | $2,983,855 |
| 2024 | $71,335,501 | $11,751,687 | $7,850,328 | $5,941,311 | 1 | $1,969,589 |
| 2023 | $64,595,062 | $9,812,551 | $7,067,739 | $5,738,680 | 1 | $929,587 |
| 2022 | $66,251,406 | $12,445,510 | $7,309,892 | $5,084,785 | 1 | $5,176,034 |
| 2021 | $62,820,883 | $14,243,844 | $6,489,619 | $4,082,365 | 1 | $4,069,808 |
| 2020 | $52,327,894 | $11,352,088 | $6,471,731 | $3,806,545 | 2 | $1,273,890 |
| 2019 | $47,665,886 | $5,642,131 | $3,948,230 | $1,962,611 | 6 | $2,008,992 |
About EAA Aviation Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Oshkosh, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $76.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $6.9M. Net investment income was $3.0M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc is led by Jack Pelton, President on every filing since 2019; 4 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jack Pelton
President
On filings since 2019
17.5 hrs/week
$133K (2019) → $276K (2025)
Norm Dewitt
Trustee
Trustee - → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Johnson
Trustee
Trustee - → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Frasca
Trustee
Trustee - → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patti Arthur
Trustee -
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Larsen
Secretary & Treasurer
Assistant Secretary - → Assistant Secretary, 2022
Assistant Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $6K (2025)
Margaret Brill
Vice President
Director → Dir-, 2024
Dir- → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $182K (2025)
Kelly Ruh
CFO & Vice President of Finance
Director Finance, Hr & CFO - → CFO & Vice President of Finance, 2025
On filings since 2024
12.5 hrs/week
$40K (2024) → $67K (2025)
Eric Gurley
Vice President -
Vice President - → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Vice President -, 2025
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lou Seno
Secretary & Treasurer
Trustee → Trs-, 2024
Trs- → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Brian Wierzbinski (2019–2024) — CFO -
- Former: Louis Andrew (2019–2024) — Secretary & Treasurer -
- Former: Larry Kekst (2021–2024) — Trustee -
- Former: Karen Kryzaniak (2023–2024) — Vice President, Risk Management & Hr-
- Former: Charles Ahearn (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Tony Wihlm (2019–2022) — Director & Finance -
- Former: Ken Strmiska (2019–2021) — Assistant Secretary & Vice President Donor Stew -
- Former: Peter Burgher (2019–2021) — Trustee -
- Former: Stuart Auerbach (2019–2020) — Vice President -
- Former: Jon Jacobs (2019) — Trustee -
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $276K, to Jack Pelton (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about EAA Aviation Foundation Inc
How much does EAA Aviation Foundation Inc give each year?
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc gave $6.9M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.9M across 1 grant.
How large is EAA Aviation Foundation Inc?
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc reported $76.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $13.5M.
What is EAA Aviation Foundation Inc?
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Oshkosh, WI. It holds $76.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does EAA Aviation Foundation Inc operate?
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Wisconsin.
What is EAA Aviation Foundation Inc's EIN?
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1033301. 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
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work EAA Aviation Foundation Inc funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in EAA Aviation Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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EAA Aviation Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?