The American Ai Forum
The American AI Forum is a San Francisco, California-based public charity that supports AI education and literacy, including education capacity-building in rural, Indigenous, and other historically underserved communities. Its 2025 filing identifies its mission as creating equitable learning experiences that empower students with AI literacy.
The American Ai Forum at a glance
In short: The American Ai Forum gave $1.3M across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $67K), top state Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,280,000
- +8.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +533.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $67,368
- -82.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $5,494,954
- -31.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Washington (23% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The American Ai Forum
- Contact
Mailing address: 95 Third Street 2Nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-3130
Phone: (414) 828-1244
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The American Ai Forum funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Rural Education Association ($200K). Together the top 10 received $875K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 14 grants of 22 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported state shares were Washington at 23%, Arizona at 16%, California at 14%, Indiana at 12%, and Oklahoma at 6%. Grant purposes also specifically identified rural and Indigenous communities and Native Hawaiian communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2024) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Rural Education Association Tuscon, AZ | The grant is to be used to advance meaningful ai education in rural and indigenous communities | $200,000 |
| Tribal Education Departments National Assembly Oklahoma City, OK | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
| NCW Tech Alliance Wenatchee, WA | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
| Cast Inc Lynnfield, MA | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
| East Central Educational Service Center Ew Castle, IN | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
| Central Indiana Educational Service Center Indianapolis, IN | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
| Kentucky Educational Development Corporation Ashland, KY | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
| Ulu Hi-Tech Honolulu, HI | To advance meaningful culturally relevant ai and computer science education within native hawaiian communities | $75,000 |
| School Services of Montana Bozeman, MT | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
| South Kitsap School District (STEM Foundation) Port Orchard, WA | To advance meaningful ai education in historically underserved communities | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The American Ai Forum?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing type: Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,494,954 | $3,981,226 | $6,531,524 | $1,280,000 | 19 | $140,457 |
| 2024 | $8,036,571 | $2,406,591 | $5,296,905 | $1,176,000 | 3 | $162,012 |
| 2023 | $11,059,557 | $12,002,798 | $2,932,838 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | $1,593,088 | $1,834,577 | $914,090 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $280,315 | $759,279 | $532,528 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $53,295 | $218,421 | $219,012 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that it creates equitable learning experiences to build AI literacy, with particular attention to people who may be disproportionately affected by AI systems. Its grant descriptions emphasize AI education in historically underserved communities, rural and Indigenous communities, and culturally relevant AI and computer science education for Native Hawaiian communities.
The 2025 grants went to education-focused organizations and service providers. For example, the Tribal Education Departments National Assembly describes its mission as building the capacity of tribal educational departments, including college and career readiness for Native American students. CAST says it works to design equitable, inclusive learning experiences through its Universal Design for Learning framework. School Services of Montana describes a focus on supporting public schools through professional development, collaboration, and resource optimization.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 19 grants totaling $1,280,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median award of $75,000. In 2024, it reported three grants totaling $1,176,000; in 2023, it reported no grants.
The largest reported 2025 award was $200,000 to the National Rural Education Association to advance meaningful AI education in rural and Indigenous communities. Other notable awards were $75,000 each to the Tribal Education Departments National Assembly, NCW Tech Alliance, CAST, Central Indiana Educational Service Center, Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, School Services of Montana, and Stanford University, among other recipients.
The funder’s website describes the Community Catalyst Program as supporting school districts, educational service agencies, and nonprofits working to build AI literacy, with priority for rural and Indigenous communities. Its 2026 program page says applications are closed. The program offered grants of $25,000 to $50,000 for projects beginning in summer 2026 and running approximately 12 months, focused on educator capacity-building. Eligible applicants included school districts, educational service agencies, certain 501(c)(3) nonprofits, independent charter schools, and charter management organizations. Applicants were asked to keep the request to 10% or less of their organization’s operating budget. Funding could support specified personnel, teacher stipends, substitute coverage, materials, and convening costs; it could not support AI tool subscriptions or licenses, general communications work, or general and administrative costs above 10%.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Alex Kotran as chief executive officer; Julie Brickell as secretary; Marcus Brauchli as treasurer; Karen Silverman, Tiffany Taylor, and Ehrik Aldana as board members; Loni Mahanta as COO through September 2025; Emma Doggett as chief programs officer; Christian Pinedo as VP, external affairs and advocacy; and CJ Jackson as head of communications.
The American Ai Forum is led by Alex Kotran, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alex Kotran
Chief Executive Officer
President → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$37K (2021) → $287K (2025)
Ally Kupcewicz
Director of People
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$126K (2024) → $155K (2025)
Khushali Narechania
Director of Learning
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$160K (2025)
Ehrik Aldana
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$67K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Christian Pinedo
Vice President, External Affairs & Advocacy
Chief of Staff → Vice President, External Affairs & Advocacy, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$141K (2024) → $164K (2025)
Emma Doggett
Chief Programs Officer
Chief Program Officer → Chief Programs Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$177K (2024) → $269K (2025)
Loni Mahanta
COO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$178K (2024) → $172K (2025)
Cj Jackson
Head of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$149K (2025)
Julie Brickell
Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Silverman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcus Brauchli
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Taylor
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Melanie Whitfield (2024) — Senior Executive Assistant
- Former: Wren Hoffman (2024) — Seniord Lead & Professional Learning
- Former: Charlotte Dungan (2023) — COO
- Former: Cristina Nowak (2023) — Chief Learning Officer
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 $287K, to Alex Kotran (Chief Executive Officer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The American Ai Forum
How much does The American Ai Forum give each year?
The American Ai Forum gave $1.3M across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 3 grants.
What is The American Ai Forum's typical grant size?
The American Ai Forum's median grant in 2025 was $75,000, and its average grant was $67,368, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The American Ai Forum give grants?
The American Ai Forum's top state is Washington, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Arizona (16%) and California (14%).
Does The American Ai Forum give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on The American Ai Forum's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The American Ai Forum's largest grantees?
The American Ai Forum's largest 2025 grantees include National Rural Education Association ($200,000), Tribal Education Departments National Assembly ($75,000) and NCW Tech Alliance ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The American Ai Forum?
The American Ai Forum reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.0M.
What does The American Ai Forum fund?
The organization states that it creates equitable learning experiences to build AI literacy, with particular attention to people who may be disproportionately affected by AI systems. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The American Ai Forum?
The American Ai Forum has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The American Ai Forum's EIN?
The American Ai Forum's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1839493. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 31, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 1, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The American Ai Forum's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The American Ai Forum funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-american-ai-forum-morg_c1753da455ea4522821bf283e2209605
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_841839493_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The American Ai Forum funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-american-ai-forum-morg_c1753da455ea4522821bf283e2209605},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 American Ai Forum'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.
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