Promote dominant u.s. Air & Space Forces, strong national defense, honor airmen & guardians.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.7M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $6.0M a year · 21% of revenue · last 4 filings
Fine: a surplus in 3 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
Looks good: 79% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.7M
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $249K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$15.0M
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
18
of 18 voting members
Looks good: 18 of 18 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$41.2M
+81% vs prior year
Spent
$25.6M
To programs
79%
Net assets
$45.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$41.2M
FY2023▲ +81%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$19.2M
FY2022$22.8M
FY2023$41.2M
FY2024$31.5M
Expenses
$25.6M
FY2023▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$14.7M
FY2022$22.8M
FY2023$25.6M
FY2024$27.6M
Net assets
$45.5M
FY2023▲ +75%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$18.0M
FY2022$25.9M
FY2023$45.5M
FY2024$50.8M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 2009.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $20.1M Management & general 15% · $3.8M Fundraising 6% · $1.6M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

30 people listed on the 990; $2.7M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$538,924Pt VII · Sec A
Dean, Mitchell Institute
$416,353Pt VII · Sec A
Executive VP
$334,410Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$275,607Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director, Mitchell Institute
$247,837Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Legislative Affairs
$238,439Pt VII · Sec A
Editor in Chief/VP Strategic Communications
$236,315Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$227,778Pt VII · Sec A

David Deptula’s $499K as Dean, Mitchell Institute is at the 89th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2020
David Deptula$499,284$416,353$554,351$459,971
Bruce a Wright$88,285$538,924$486,116$503,652
Douglas Raaberg$369,747$334,410$306,460$285,849
Burton M Field$323,215———
Joseph Stangl$264,530$275,607$224,614$173,743
Bernard Skoch———$257,509
Doug Birkey$248,457$247,837$219,283$200,130
William Castle$248,142$238,439$228,203—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Air & Space Forces Association executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advocates for dominant U.S. air and space forces through national defense education, public advocacy, and publications honoring military airmen and guardians.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $12.6M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Conference, Symposium, Event

Afa hosts major national events to facilitate ethical dialog among senior government and military officials, aerospace and other industry leaders, airmen, guardians, media representatives, educators, and interested members of the public and to promote innovation, education, and professional development.

$6.1Mprogram expense
02

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

The mitchell institute for aerospace studies harnesses seasoned talent to positively influence the national security debate by cogently articulating how the domains of air, space, and cyber can prudently advance the nation's interests without projecting undue liability and vulnerability.

$3.7Mprogram expense
03

Air & Space Forces Magazine

Afa's air & space forces magazine and its daily report e-mail newsletter on news, trends, technology, and developments in the us air & space forces, air & space power, and national security.

$2.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 6 funders →
Grants paid · 44 grants · $1.4M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$95,100
Unitemized GrantFY2024$47,053
Civil Air Patrol INCAL · FY2024$35,100
Unitemized GrantFY2024$34,750
Unitemized GrantFY2024$31,500
Unitemized GrantFY2024$29,910
Unitemized GrantFY2024$29,250
Unitemized GrantFY2024$23,960
Unitemized GrantFY2024$20,466
Unitemized GrantFY2024$400
Unitemized GrantFY2023$90,500
Unitemized GrantFY2023$51,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$36,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$32,500
Civil Air Patrol INCAL · FY2023$27,500
Unitemized GrantFY2023$19,500
See all 44 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$41.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$22.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$16.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.9M
Money outPt IX
$25.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$20.1M
Managementcol C$3.8M
Fundraisingcol D$1.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$45.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$10.1M
Total assetsLn 16$60.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
30
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a18
IndependentVI 1b18
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$22.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$420K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$16.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.9M
Other incomeLn 4–11$737K
Gains on assetsLn 7$703K
Total revenueLn 12$41.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.4M
SavingsLn 2$6.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$10.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$47.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$714K
Other assetsLn 15$906K
Total assetsLn 16$60.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15.0M
Net assetsLn 32$45.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5113
VolunteersI 61,250
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.3M$10.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$31.7M$47.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$598K$714K
Total assetsLn 16$44.7M$60.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$18.8M$15.0M
Net assetsLn 32$25.9M$45.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$82K$82K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$283K$283K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.2M$954K$220K$71K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$9.3M$7.1M$1.6M$526K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$890K$685K$154K$52K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$491K$378K$83K$30K
Payroll taxesLn 10$725K$567K$116K$41K
Legal feesLn 11b$131K$54K$76K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$62K$62K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$571K$571K
Investment management feesLn 11f$105K$105K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3.2M$2.3M$876K$65K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$62K$43K$4K$15K
Office expensesLn 13$2.3M$1.1M$554K$673K
Information technologyLn 14$604K$565K$1K$38K
TravelLn 17$836K$646K$178K$12K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3.3M$3.2M$22K$2K
InterestLn 20$28K$28K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$317K$128K$181K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.1M$990K$60K$8K
All other expensesLn 24e$3K$318K$235K−$550K
Total functional expensesLn 25$25.6M$20.1M$3.8M$1.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $31.5M$27.6M$3.9M$50.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $41.2M$25.6M$15.7M$45.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $22.8M$22.8M−$9K$25.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 Not on file
FY2020 $19.2M$14.7M$4.4M$18.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $41,249,058 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,605,776$22,225,013
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $13,033,362$16,364,012
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $421,738$1,923,427
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $727,648$736,606
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $22,788,524$41,249,058
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $367,000$364,567
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $10,662,617$12,636,029
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $340,661$570,658
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $11,426,947$11,996,520
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $22,797,225$25,567,774
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$8,701$15,681,284
Part VI · Governance 18 of 18 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body18
VI-1b Independent voting members18
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $41,249,058 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $104,448 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$153,729
VIII-1b Membership dues$240,763
VIII-1d Related organizations$15,580,599
VIII-1e Government grants$420,023
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,829,899
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$22,225,013
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $15,190,462 · Unrelated business $1,173,550$16,364,012
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,220,742$1,220,742
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $629,587$629,587
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $2,571$2,571
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $702,685$702,685
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $15,294,910 · Unrelated business $1,173,550 · Excluded from tax $2,555,585$41,249,058
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $25,567,774 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $81,500$81,500
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $283,067$283,067
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $953,878 · Management $219,642 · Fundraising $70,678$1,244,198
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $7,120,077 · Management $1,639,538 · Fundraising $526,204$9,285,819
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $684,826 · Management $153,735 · Fundraising $51,878$890,439
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $378,429 · Management $82,969 · Fundraising $29,556$490,954
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $567,200 · Management $116,221 · Fundraising $41,198$724,619
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $54,268 · Management $75,811 · Fundraising $1,089$131,168
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $61,764$61,764
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $570,658$570,658
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $104,708$104,708
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,274,312 · Management $875,561 · Fundraising $64,662$3,214,535
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $42,882 · Management $3,707 · Fundraising $15,286$61,875
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,085,551 · Management $553,810 · Fundraising $673,180$2,312,541
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $564,908 · Management $1,124 · Fundraising $37,757$603,789
IX-17 TravelPrograms $645,874 · Management $178,346 · Fundraising $11,910$836,130
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,240,350 · Management $21,857 · Fundraising $2,241$3,264,448
IX-20 InterestManagement $28,216$28,216
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $127,555 · Management $180,760 · Fundraising $8,659$316,974
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $989,756 · Management $59,708 · Fundraising $7,891$1,057,355
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $317,830 · Management $234,788 · Fundraising −$549,601$3,017
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $20,120,175 · Management $3,831,860 · Fundraising $1,615,739$25,567,774
Part X · Balance sheet $60,550,737 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $7,270,093$3,418,700
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,050,413$6,677,231
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,015$11,015
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,099,438$806,221
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $114,247$215,620
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $563,246$738,754
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $598,191$713,959
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $31,703,071$47,063,545
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,333,562$905,692
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $44,733,276$60,550,737
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $6,568,632$3,074,079
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $8,454,748$8,964,666
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $926,196$568,924
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,847,893$2,434,483
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $18,797,469$15,042,152
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $21,607,935$41,938,707
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,327,872$3,569,878
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $25,935,807$45,508,585
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $44,733,276$60,550,737
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $45,508,585 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$41,249,058
XI-2 Total expenses$25,567,774
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$15,681,284
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$25,935,807
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$4,082,506
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$191,012
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$45,508,585

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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