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Air Safety Institute (ASI)
aviation safetypilot educationrisk reduction+1 more
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About Aopa Foundation
The AOPA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AOPA, funding programs that membership dues don’t cover to build a stronger, safer pilot community and support growth opportunities for AOPA members and the general aviation community.
Focus Areas
Aviation safetyFlight training scholarshipsPilot educationSTEM / aviation education
Who They Fund
airport authorities / airport operations staffpilot program participants (pilot population)air travelers / passengers
Funding Style
program supportpilot/seed funding for scale-upoperational/infrastructure support
Topics
About Aopa Foundation
The Aopa Foundation Inc uses philanthropy to underwrite general aviation work that AOPA membership dues do not cover, with a clear emphasis on safety, pilot pipeline growth, and airport support. Its recent grants show repeated backing for Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association in Frederick, Maryland, including a $764,000 safety-support grant in 2024 and a $600,000 safety-support grant in 2025, alongside funding for pilot-population growth and airport support. That pattern points to a foundation that invests in the operating programs and infrastructure of general aviation rather than one-off charitable awards. The foundation’s program areas include aviation safety, flight training scholarships, pilot education, and STEM or aviation education. It also supports efforts tied to airport safety and security, aviation operations support, safety program development and expansion, and pilot program growth and scale-up. The overall picture is of a funder working inside the general aviation ecosystem, with grants aimed at keeping pilots trained, safety education active, and aviation community capacity strong.
What Aopa Foundation Funds
Aviation safety is a central lane for The Aopa Foundation Inc. In 2024, it gave $764,000 to Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association for safety support, and it repeated that support with a $600,000 grant in 2025. The same organization also received airport support funding, including $397,000 in 2024 and $375,000 in 2025. Pilot growth is another visible theme. The foundation awarded $525,000 in 2025 and $425,000 in 2023 for grow pilot population work, indicating a sustained interest in expanding participation in general aviation. Its grant programs also point to education and training. Active programs include AOPA Flight Training Scholarships, Flight Training Scholarships (AOPA Foundation), and You Can Fly, each tied to pilot development, flight training access, or community outreach in the United States.
How Aopa Foundation Gives
Grant size is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $393,250, the median is $411,000, and the 75th percentile is $618,500. The recent awards sit mostly in the low-to-mid six figures, with repeated grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025 to the same recipient. That pattern suggests ongoing operating support rather than isolated project awards. The foundation is a philanthropic arm of AOPA, and its funding supports programs that membership dues do not cover. Active grantmaking includes both unsolicited and non-unsolicited pathways, depending on the program.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.5M
Total Assets
$61.6M
Total Revenue
$17.5M
Total Expenses
$11.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $393K and $619K, with a median of $411K.
25th Percentile
$393K
Median
$411K
75th Percentile
$619K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
MARK BAKER CEOPRESIDENT
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