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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2026 Expires: August 2028

AOPA Foundation

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
13
(800) 872-2672
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD, 21701
https://foundation.aopa.org/
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Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

AOPA Foundation does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 13 (Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements)
Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

AOPA Foundation does not meet this Standard because, in BBB WGA's opinion, the 2025 audited financial statements does not provide an accurate presentation of the organization's fundraising and program service expenses.

AOPA Foundation provided a copy of its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, which included an auditor's opinion that the statements were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). According to the audited financial statements, AOPA Foundation incurred joint costs of $2,708,000 for informational materials and activities that include fundraising materials. Of this amount $2,285,000 was allocated to program service expenses and $423,000 was allocated to fundraising expenses.

Based on an evaluation of sample AOPA Foundation appeals, BBB WGA disagrees with the allocation of $2,285,000 of direct mail appeals to the program service category. BBB WGA is of the opinion that the contents of the direct mail appeals do not substantiate 84% of the cost of direct mail appeals to program service expenses. A significant portion of the content of the appeals could be considered fundraising, as it explains why one should donate to AOPA Foundation (including the organization's program accomplishments) rather than fulfilling a programmatic function.

Depending on how one recognizes AOPA Foundation's direct mail expenses, its fundraising costs could be higher than the 4% of related contributions that was reported by AOPA Foundation and its program services could be lower than 87% of total expenses also reported by AOPA Foundation. 

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 1

AOPA Foundation meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to improve aviation safety, preserve community airports, and encourage learning to fly for career and personal benefit."

Year, State Incorporated:
2007, MD

AOPA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which funds efforts to advance aviation safety and security and to educate the public about general aviation through AOPA's Air Safety Institute. The foundation's programs like High School, You Can Fly, Flight Training, Flying Clubs, and Rusty Pilots include a set of initiatives that introduce high school students and teachers to career opportunities in aviation and aerospace, support flight schools and students, deliver tools and resources to help pilots create and grow flying clubs, and help lapsed pilots who want to return to flying through in-person seminars and online courses. To support its education programming, AOPA Foundation states that it provides free four-year aviation-based STEM curriculum to high school students across the United States and awards annual scholarships to high school teachers and students to help them earn a pilot certificate. During the 2025-2026 school year, the organization reports that its aviation-based STEM curriculum served more than 32,000 students nationwide. Some ($2,285,000 or 22%) of AOPA Foundation's program activities is carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, AOPA Foundation's program expenses were:

Program services $10,217,000
Total Program Expenses $10,217,000

Chief Executive
Katie Pribyl and Jill Baker, Co-Presidents

Chair of the Board
Luke R. Wippler

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Corporate Treasurer and Executive Vice President, U.S. Bank

Board Size
12

Paid Staff Size
30

*2026 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note 1: The organization reports that Ms. Pribyl and Mrs. Baker are full-time employees of the related organization, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and receive their compensation through AOPA. Their compensation for 2026 is not available yet.

Note 2: Mr. Darren Pleasance served as Chief Exeuctive Officer of AOPA and the AOPA Foundation in 2025. The organization reports that his compensation was $727,101 in 2025.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Workplace Giving

AOPA Foundation incurred joint costs of $2,708,000 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $2,285,000 was allocated to program expenses and $423,000 was allocated to fundraising expenses.

Fundraising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $11,513,000, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on AOPA Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Source of Funds
Contributions $11,513,000
Investment income, net $9,156,000
Registration and exhibitor income $476,000
Other income $60,000
Total Income $21,205,000

Programs: 87% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 9%

Total Income $21,205,000
Total expenses: $11,687,000
  Program expenses $10,217,000
  Fundraising expenses $423,000
  Administrative expenses $1,047,000
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $9,518,000
Beginning Net Assets $60,526,000
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $70,044,000
Total Liabilities $1,289,000
Total Assets $71,333,000

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance