What AOPA Foundation does

The AOPA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2007, headquartered at 421 Aviation Way in Frederick, Maryland. It operates as the philanthropic arm of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), funding general aviation safety, education, and pilot development programs that AOPA membership dues do not cover. Core funded programs include the AOPA Air Safety Institute, which has produced free safety education content for over 60 years, the You Can Fly initiative supporting pilots at every career stage, and flight training scholarships that reduce financial barriers for student pilots. The Foundation also funds community airport preservation and public education on the value of general aviation.

Name

AOPA Foundation

Legal name

The AOPA Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://foundation.aopa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The AOPA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2007 in Frederick, MD, that funds aviation safety education, pilot training scholarships, and general aviation community programs through charitable contributions to AOPA's pilot and donor base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Nonprofit Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Aviation safety education
• Flight training scholarships
• General aviation philanthropy
• Nonprofit charitable giving
• Pilot community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Contributions: The AOPA Foundation generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals and organizations. Donors contribute at various levels including Friends of GA ($1-999), Hat in the Ring Society ($1,000-$9,999), President's Council ($10,000+), and Legacy Society (estate planned gifts). The foundation also receives aircraft donations and stock gifts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The AOPA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. It funds aviation safety education, pilot development, and community programs that AOPA membership dues alone cannot cover, including the AOPA Air Safety Institute (over 60 years of free safety courses, videos, and live seminars), the You Can Fly program supporting pilots at every stage, and flight training scholarships. The Foundation also administers donor recognition programs and multiple giving mechanisms (online, mail, phone, aircraft donations, stock gifts, IRA rollovers, donor-advised funds, legacy gifts).

Product overview

The AOPA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves as the philanthropic arm of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). It funds programs that membership dues do not cover, operating a portfolio of aviation safety, education, and pilot development initiatives. The core programs include the AOPA Air Safety Institute (producing free safety education programs including online courses, videos, and live seminars for over 60 years), the You Can Fly program (a collection of practical initiatives supporting pilots at every stage of their aviation journey), and Flight Training Scholarships (helping student pilots with financial burdens). The Foundation also manages various donor programs including the Hat in the Ring Society (leadership-level giving from $1,000-$9,999), President's Council ($10,000+ annual gifts), and Legacy Society (estate planned gifts). Additional programs include the Give Wings Aircraft Donation Program, Donor-Advised Fund giving, Wire and Stock Gifts, IRA Rollover Gifts, and Endowments. The organization is funded entirely by charitable contributions and does not operate a commercial technology product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• You Can Fly: A collection of practical, rigorous, and engaging initiatives developed to support pilots at every stage of their aviation journey.
• AOPA Air Safety Institute

Products and services

• AOPA Air Safety Institute Produces free aviation safety education programs including online courses, videos, and live seminars to help all pilots fly safer. Operated for more than 60 years.
• You Can Fly A collection of practical, rigorous, and engaging initiatives developed through real world experience to support pilots at every stage of their aviation journey.
• Flight Training Scholarships Scholarship program that helps student pilots succeed, eases the financial burden of flight training, and ultimately adds to the pilot population.
• Hat in the Ring Society A giving circle for pilots and aviation enthusiasts who contribute between $1,000 and $9,999 annually, supporting AOPA programs that build a stronger, safer pilot community.
• President's Council High-level contributor program for aviation philanthropy with annual gifts of $10,000 or more.
• Legacy Society Recognizes donors who have included a legacy gift to the AOPA Foundation in their estate plans. Members are listed on the Legacy Society recognition wall at AOPA Headquarters.
• Give Wings Aircraft Donation Program Aircraft donation program allowing donors to support general aviation while potentially receiving significant tax benefits by claiming a tax deduction equal to the gross proceeds of the sale.
• Donor-Advised Fund Giving Allows donors to support general aviation through a donor-advised fund, providing tax-efficient charitable giving on their own terms.
• Wire and Stock Gifts Program accepting wired gifts including gifts of stock, potentially helping donors avoid capital gains tax.
• IRA Rollover Gifts Allows donors 70½ or older to donate up to $100,000 annually directly from their IRA, with amounts not taxed as income.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free safety education programs available to all pilots through the Air Safety Institute
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Civil Air Patrol: The volunteer civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force, a large congressionally chartered nonprofit providing aviation education, cadet programs, and emergency services. Comparable as a major aviation education and youth development organization with overlapping cadet and pilot-training missions.

Direct peers

• Angel Flight West: A nonprofit that arranges free volunteer pilot flights for medical and other needs. Comparable as an aviation-charitable organization that depends on pilot volunteers and donations, addressing access challenges similar to AOPA Foundation's flight training scholarship mission.
• Flight Safety Foundation: An independent nonprofit focused on aviation safety research, education, and advocacy. Highly comparable to AOPA Foundation given overlapping mission around pilot safety and accident prevention, though FSF operates more at the commercial/airline level rather than general aviation.
• Veterans Airlift Command: A nonprofit providing free air transportation to veterans and their families for medical and other needs. Comparable as a donation-funded aviation charity using volunteer pilots to deliver a public-benefit service in the same GA ecosystem.
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA): A 501(c)(3) membership-based aviation organization that funds education programs, scholarships, and youth aviation initiatives. Comparable because it operates as a tax-exempt nonprofit with charitable, educational, and pilot-development programs serving the same general aviation community as AOPA Foundation.
• Recreational Aviation Foundation: A nonprofit that preserves, improves, and creates recreational airstrips for general aviation. Directly comparable as a small grantmaking 501(c)(3) supporting general aviation access and pilot activity, with similar donor-dependent funding model and advocacy mission.
• Commemorative Air Force: A nonprofit educational organization dedicated to preserving historic military aircraft. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) aviation nonprofit funded by donations, members, and aircraft-related gifts that delivers education and heritage programs in the general aviation ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Soaring Society of America: A nonprofit membership organization supporting soaring (glider) aviation, pilot training, and safety. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) aviation organization funding education and pilot development within the broader GA community AOPA Foundation serves.
• National Aviation Hall of Fame: A nonprofit dedicated to honoring aviation achievements and inspiring future generations. Comparable mission overlap on aviation education and youth engagement, though it is smaller in operating scale than AOPA Foundation.
• Women in Aviation International: A nonprofit encouraging women to pursue aviation careers through scholarships, education, and networking. Comparable as an aviation-focused 501(c)(3) that distributes scholarships and supports pilot career development, serving overlapping student pilot and donor constituencies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AOPA Foundation