The Ahla Foundation
The AHLA Foundation is a Washington, DC-based public charity formed in 1953. It supports people building careers in hospitality and programs intended to strengthen the lodging industry, including workforce development, scholarships, research, and efforts to combat human trafficking.
The Ahla Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ahla Foundation gave $1.4M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $54K), top state Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,393,792
- +160.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +420.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $53,607
- -49.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $31,902,347
- -4.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (23% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Ahla Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests for lodging-industry research grants. The Survivor Fund cycle used a letter-of-interest process, with selected organizations invited to apply; its 2026 deadlines have passed.
- Review Cycle
- The Survivor Fund’s 2026 cycle required letters of interest by April 6, 2026, and invited applications by May 4, 2026. Both deadlines have passed.
- Deadline
- The Survivor Fund’s 2026 cycle required letters of interest by April 6, 2026, and invited applications by May 4, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1250 I Street Nw 1100, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 289-3100
Website: https://ahlafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from The Ahla Foundation
Academic Scholarships (General/College-based)
The Ahla Foundation
Amount
$1,000,000+
Deadline
Deadline not published
Apprenticeship Program
The Ahla Foundation
Amount
Unknown
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ecolab Hospitality Scholarship Program
The Ahla Foundation
Amount
$500,000+
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Ahla Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The University of Marylandsafe Center ($303K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 49 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s research grant program is for projects in the lodging industry, and its scholarship programs are described as serving students and employees across the United States. In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as Texas 23%, Maryland 22%, California 13%, New York 11%, and Connecticut 8%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Ahla Foundation gives
- Giving grew 501% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $220K (2020) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Marylandsafe Center Baltimore, MD | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $302,600 |
| Rebecca Bender Initiative Lake Worth, TX | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $150,000 |
| Restore NYC New York, NY | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $150,000 |
| 3STRANDS Global Foundation El Dorado Hills, CA | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $100,000 |
| Empowered Network New London, CT | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $100,000 |
| New Friends New Life Dallas, TX | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $100,000 |
| Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking Seattle, WA | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $60,000 |
| Safe House Project Norfolk, VA | Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement | $50,000 |
| University of South Carolina Columbia, SC | Research and Grants | $48,299 |
| Skillpoint Alliance Austin, TX | Opportunity Youth Program | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ahla Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,902,347 | $5,469,164 | $7,856,803 | $1,393,792 | 26 | $2,309,909 |
| 2023 | $33,352,803 | $5,934,187 | $6,978,338 | $535,000 | 5 | $1,218,643 |
| 2022 | $32,049,019 | $5,438,384 | $6,123,809 | $582,631 | 7 | $2,120,587 |
| 2021 | $38,777,337 | $6,832,027 | $4,115,821 | $231,774 | 9 | $4,152,046 |
| 2020 | $36,231,203 | $2,671,648 | $2,475,388 | $219,616 | 2 | $1,914,409 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to help people build careers that improve their lives and strengthen the lodging industry by providing tools, resources, and education to support long-term careers.
Its programs include academic and professional development scholarships, career development, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, research, and the No Room for Trafficking Survivor Fund. The Foundation reports that its 2024 DE&I programming included leadership development for women, mentorship, and resources for hotels. Its Survivor Fund supports community-based organizations serving human trafficking survivors, including programs focused on workforce training, employment preparedness, emergency exit services, and trauma-informed care.
The Foundation’s grants have supported organizations with varied missions. For example, Restore NYC says it provides long-term aftercare to survivors of sex trafficking through counseling, case management, housing, and economic empowerment services. New Friends New Life describes its work as restoring and empowering trafficked and sexually exploited girls and women and their children. Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking says it educates employers to prevent trafficking and creates employment pathways for survivors. Skillpoint Alliance says it provides skills-based training and education.
The Foundation also administers scholarships for students pursuing hospitality-related degrees and professional development scholarships for hospitality employees. These are participant scholarships, rather than grants to outside organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 26 grants totaling $1,393,792. Individual grants ranged from $10,000 to $302,600, with a median of $30,000. The largest reported awards included $302,600 to the University of Maryland Safe Center for a Survivor Fund grant disbursement; $150,000 each to Rebecca Bender Initiative and Restore NYC for Survivor Fund grant disbursements; and $100,000 each to 3Strands Global Foundation, Empowered Network, and New Friends New Life for Survivor Fund grant disbursements. Other reported awards included $60,000 to Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking for a Survivor Fund grant disbursement and $48,299 to the University of South Carolina for research and grants.
The Foundation says it accepts unsolicited applications for lodging-industry research projects. It typically budgets $250,000 annually for research grants, overseen by a Research and Project Funding Committee comprised primarily of hotel operators. The website’s stated 2023 research application cycle has passed; it does not provide a current cycle deadline in the supplied information.
For the 2026–2027 No Room for Trafficking Survivor Fund cycle, the Foundation described a preliminary letter-of-interest process, with selected organizations invited to submit a full application. Eligible applicants were to be US-based public charities with at least two years since receiving their IRS determination letter, current government funding, direct-service experience, and programs with outcomes aligned to the requested funding. Applications could not request support for religious programming, lobbying or political activities or campaigns, new construction or real estate investment, or endowments. The cycle offered up to $800,000 in awards. Its application dates have passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Julienne Smith as chair, Thomas Bardenett as immediate past chair, Anu Saxena as vice chair, and Jon Stanner as secretary/treasurer. It also lists Greg Cocchiarella, Justin Knight, Jamie Baxter, Scott Trebilco, Daniel Del Olmo, and Raj Chandnani as members of the board of trustees.
The Ahla Foundation is led by Kevin Carey, Interim President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 31 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kevin Carey
Interim President & CEO
COO → COO & Ahla, 2023
COO & Ahla → Interim President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosanna Maietta
President & CEO
Ahlaf President & CEO → Ahla Foundation CEO, 2022
Ahla Foundation CEO → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Chip Rogers
President & CEO
President & CEO → President, CEO & Ahla, 2023
President, CEO & Ahla → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Blue
President & Ahla Foundation
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julienne Smith
Chair
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anu Saxena
Vice Chair
Board Member → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Cocchiarella
Board of Trustees
Board Member → Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Baxter
Board of Trustees
Board Member → Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Malaika Myers
Board of Trustees
Board Member → Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Knight
Board of Trustees
Ahla Vice Chair → Chair of the Board, 2022
Chair of the Board → Board of Trustees, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Jacobs
Board of Trustees
Secretary & Treasurer → Board of Trustees, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie D. Hale
Board of Trustees
Vice Chair → Board of Trustees, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Foster
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Christenson
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Quinn
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Del Olmo
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Peek
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Richard
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean-Luc Barone
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Lancaster
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jyoti Sarolia
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Checchio
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raj Chandnani
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Rivett
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Trebilco
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suraj Bhakta
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jess Janis
Board of Trustees
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Stanner
Secretary & Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leticia Proctor
Board of Trustees
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Bardenett
Immediate Past Chair
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Taylor
Board of Trustees
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (40)
- Former: Tom Bardenett (2020–2023) — Chair of the Board
- Former: Jennifer Fugolo (2022–2023) — Vice President of Advancement
- Former: Lindsay Miller (2022–2023) — Senior Director & Development
- Former: Sarah Cozewith (2022–2023) — Vice President of Career Development
- Former: Elizabeth McCoy (2023) — Vice President, Prevention & Awareness Programs
- Former: Jonathan Stanner (2023) — Board of Trustees
- Former: Katherine Moore (2023) — Vice President, Strategy & Executive Management
- Former: Jon E. Bortz (2020–2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Mark S. Hoplamazian (2020–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Michael J. Deitemeyer (2021–2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Allyson Freedman (2022) — Director & Impact
- Former: Elie W. Maalouf (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Geoff Ballotti (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Heather McCrory (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Jim Risoleo (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: John A. Belden (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: John Murray (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Kris Kielsa (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Lawrence Cuculic (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Liam Brown (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Lynn S. Mohrfeld (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Mit Shah (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Mitch Patel (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Rob Palleschi (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Sheila C. Johnson (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Thomas Baltimore Jr. (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Walter Isenberg (2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Barry Bloom (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: David Kong (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Mullins (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Greg Juceam (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Harshil Patel (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joy Rothschild (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Carrier (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Tricia Primrose (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Daniel Hansen (2021) — Board Member
- Former: James Merkel (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Dan Hansen (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Merkel (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Deitemeyer (2020) — Board Member
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Ahla Foundation
How much does The Ahla Foundation give each year?
The Ahla Foundation gave $1.4M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $535K across 5 grants.
What is The Ahla Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ahla Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $53,607, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Ahla Foundation give grants?
The Ahla Foundation's top state is Texas, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Maryland (22%) and California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Ahla Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on The Ahla Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Survivor Fund Grant Disbursement" (16 grants), "Opportunity Youth Program" (3 grants) and "Conrad N Hilton Foundation Grant" (3 grants).
Who are The Ahla Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ahla Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The University of Marylandsafe Center ($302,600), Rebecca Bender Initiative ($150,000) and Restore NYC ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ahla Foundation?
The Ahla Foundation reported $31.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.5M.
What does The Ahla Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to help people build careers that improve their lives and strengthen the lodging industry by providing tools, resources, and education to support long-term careers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ahla Foundation?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests for lodging-industry research grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ahla Foundation's EIN?
The Ahla Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6095316. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Ahla Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 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 November 8, 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 October 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ahla Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ahla Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ahla-foundation-morg_fd1cad2cfe4a45e4af7300236bddb70c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136095316_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ahla Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ahla-foundation-morg_fd1cad2cfe4a45e4af7300236bddb70c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Ahla Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Ahla Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?