The foundation focuses narrowly on supporting model aviation through a single, substantial grant to its parent/affiliate organization for maintenance and programming of a national site and museum, plus scholarships and education. Its giving is mission-aligned and centered on preserving hobbyist aviation history and promoting youth and public education in model aeronautics.
Highly concentrated: a single large grant to an affiliated organization covering capital/site support, museum operations, scholarships, and education rather than diversified or repeated external grantees.
A single 2023 grant of $120,777 to Academy of Model Aeronautics Inc supported the national site, the museum, scholarships, and education. That one award captures how Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation Inc gives: narrowly, in line with model aviation, and through institutional support tied to the organization’s core programs. The foundation’s recent record points to a small, mission-specific grantmaker rather than a broad discretionary funder. Its listed programs include scholarships for students involved in AMA activities, club support grants for flying sites, disaster relief for damaged fields, and small recognition or safety grants for chartered clubs. The foundation also backs public-facing work around model aviation history and access, pairing site and museum support with education and outreach. Because the grant programs are directed to AMA chartered clubs, students, and affiliated activities, the foundation’s giving is organized around preserving the hobby’s infrastructure and helping newer participants enter it. The recent grant to the parent organization shows that the foundation also funds the systems that keep the national museum, site, and education efforts operating.
Education appears in multiple parts of the foundation’s work. The AMA Scholarships program provides educational funding through the foundation, including support for graduating seniors and youth involved in AMA activities. Youth development also shows up in the Take-A-Kid/Take-And-Grow grant, which supports events and programs that introduce young people to model aviation and help grow membership. Club infrastructure is another clear theme. The Flying Site Improvement Grant is part of AMA’s club support offerings, and the Disaster Relief Grant provides immediate help to AMA chartered clubs after natural disasters damage flying sites. Safety is addressed through the Al Kanser AMA AED Save A Life Grant, which is tied to emergency preparedness and AED access.
The foundation’s grant size pattern is fixed in the available data: p25, median, and p75 are all $120,777. That matches a single recent grant and suggests a very concentrated giving pattern rather than a spread of award sizes. The foundation is a public charity and a regular funder, not a DAF or program-related investment vehicle. Its grants appear highly recurring in purpose but not in the recipient list shown here, with ongoing support for scholarships, club assistance, site repair, and education through AMA-linked programs. Several of the listed programs accept unsolicited requests.
$117K
$2.1M
$394K
$470K
Most grants fall between $121K and $121K, with a median of $121K.
25th Percentile
$121K
Median
$121K
75th Percentile
$121K
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Notable grantees: Academy of Model Aeronautics Inc
Giving is entirely local in the available record, with 100% of grants to recipients in Indiana. The top state by grant count is also IN. The recent grant went to a recipient in Muncie, IN, matching the foundation’s headquarters city and reinforcing the organization’s in-state focus. No non-U.S. recipient countries appear in the grant record provided.
Its listed programs center on model aviation: scholarships, flying site improvement, club recognition and reward grants, disaster relief for damaged flying sites, youth outreach through TAG grants, and safety support through the Al Kanser AMA AED Save A Life Grant. The grant record also shows support for the national site, museum, scholarships, and education.
Yes. The AMA Scholarships program provides educational funding through the foundation, and the scholarship description says awards go to qualifying students, including graduating seniors and youth involved in AMA activities, for post-secondary education.
It is entirely Indiana-focused in the available data. The top state by grant count is IN, and 100% of grants were made to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grant recipient was in Muncie, IN.
The reported grant-size distribution is flat: p25, median, and p75 are all $120,777. That reflects a very concentrated pattern in the available recent grant data.
Yes. The listed club-support offerings include the Flying Site Improvement Grant, the Disaster Relief Grant for AMA chartered clubs whose flying sites are damaged by a natural disaster, and the Club Recognition and Reward Grant for chartered clubs that receive positive local media coverage.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not specified in the provided content.
Deadline: Referenced in AMA Foundation news as an application with a closing notice, but no complete deadline details were visible in the provided content.
Who can apply: The applicant must be a current AMA-chartered club. Coverage must include the club's name and information about model aviation, be earned rather than paid media, be publicly accessible and free, and involve an event open to the public where applicable. Applications must be submitted within three months of the media coverage. National Model Aviation Day events and social-media-only coverage do not qualify. Clubs may apply several times per year but may receive no more than $175 annually.
Deadline: Available year-round; applications must be submitted within 3 months of the media coverage.
Who can apply: Applicants must be AMA-chartered clubs or chapters that purchased an AED within the two months before submitting the application and can provide a photograph of the purchase receipt. Awards are limited to $200 per club per year and are subject to available annual funds.
Deadline: Available year-round; awards are announced within two weeks of submission.
Who can apply: The applicant must be an AMA-chartered club with a flying site damaged by a natural disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake, flooding, or firestorm. Funds are not intended for structures or facilities damaged by vandalism, theft, or wild animals.
Deadline: Available year-round; award decisions are announced within two weeks of submission.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS INC | MUNCIE, IN | $117,423 | 2024 | GRANT FOR THE NATIONAL SITE, THE MUSEUM, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND EDUCATION |
| ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS INC | MUNCIE, IN | $120,777 | 2023 | GRANT FOR THE NATIONAL SITE, THE MUSEUM, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND EDUCATION |
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS INC
$117,423GRANT FOR THE NATIONAL SITE, THE MUSEUM, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND EDUCATION
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS INC
$120,777GRANT FOR THE NATIONAL SITE, THE MUSEUM, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND EDUCATION