To acquire, restore, maintain and operate a collection of world war II aircraft for the education and enjoyment of the present and future generations.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
53¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$635K 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

FY2020 · 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 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $750K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
53%
of spending
Worth a look: 53% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$635K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $788K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$8.1M
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$22.8M
Spent
$18.3M
To programs
53%
Net assets
$24.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$22.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$22.8M
FY2021$23.9M
FY2022$23.9M
FY2023$22.0M
FY2024$30.0M
Expenses
$18.3M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$18.3M
FY2021$22.7M
FY2022$24.4M
FY2023$24.9M
FY2024$28.7M
Net assets
$24.3M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$24.3M
FY2021$27.2M
FY2022$28.0M
FY2023$27.0M
FY2024$28.7M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 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 Apr 2009.

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

Where the money goes

53 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 53% · $9.6M Management & general 27% · $5.0M Fundraising 20% · $3.6M

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

15 people listed on the 990; $635K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President
$230,724Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary/Treasurer
$175,568Pt VII · Sec A
$123,849Pt VII · Sec A
VP Development
$105,331Pt VII · Sec A
General Staff
$0Pt VII · Sec A
General Staff
$0Pt VII · Sec A
General Staff
$0Pt VII · Sec A
General Staff
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Henry Coates’s $340K as President (term Ended in 2024) is at the 53rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 749 $10–100M arts & culture 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Henry Coates$339,501$292,706$265,024$233,891$230,724
Lance Linguist$247,327$230,156$218,599$201,466$175,568
Gerald D Oliver$213,977$156,305$143,786$134,785$123,849
Rozelyn Beck$149,006$127,439$121,280$114,579$105,331
Jim Lasche JR$139,232$114,665$108,173$101,323—
Craig Tuminaro$135,068$121,543$113,530——
Nathan Huegen$125,150————
Leah Block$109,097$103,401———

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 The Commemorative Air Force 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

Preserving and operating World War II aircraft for education and enjoyment.

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Your first name shows with your question. The Commemorative Air Force answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $9.6M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Airshows are premiere aviation events where warbirds (aircraft)gather to reenact historic battles. Additional attractions ofthese shows include; junior aces kids tent (providing games, ARTS& crafts and other fun activities for children), famed ghostsquadron aircraft displays, special shows for special people onfridays, preceding the…

$6.3Mprogram expense
02

Membership Dues & Anuac Fees

Membership dues are established &COLLECTED to cover normal operating expenses of individual UNITS.MEMBERSHIP fees include monthly or quarterly subscriptions to thecaf's magazine, "dispatch." members receive free admission to themuseums and exhibits and other benefits such as opportunities tofly in caf aircraft and gift shop…

$2.9Mprogram expense
03

Museum admissions for the caf are for monies collected byindividual units, located throughout the united states, for entryinto their facilities. Facilities are opened to visitors,tourists, school groups, etc. To view the aircraft and educationalexhibits within the facilities.

$389Kprogram 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 11 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $1.6M · 2024–2024

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$22.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$18.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$202K
Money outPt IX
$18.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.6M
Managementcol C$5.0M
Fundraisingcol D$3.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$24.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.5M
Total assetsLn 16$32.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$18.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$706K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$739K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$202K
Other incomeLn 4–11$117K
Gains on assetsLn 7$101K
Total revenueLn 12$22.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$7.7M
SavingsLn 2$764K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$18.0M
Other assetsLn 15$121K
Total assetsLn 16$32.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.1M
Net assetsLn 32$24.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 543
VolunteersI 69,000
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9.2M$8.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.4M$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10.6M$18.0M
Total assetsLn 16$26.0M$32.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.7M$8.1M
Net assetsLn 32$19.3M$24.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.5M$548K$1.9M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$57K$57K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$392K$242$392K
Payroll taxesLn 10$196K$196K
Legal feesLn 11b$81K$77K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$96K$6K$90K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$739K$739K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$271K$262K$9K
OccupancyLn 16$906K$884K$22K
TravelLn 17$182K$137K$45K
InterestLn 20$188K$82K$107K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$525K$383K$142K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$733K$450K$283K
InsuranceLn 23$1.5M$1.5M$37K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$6.6M$2.8M$931K$2.9M
All other expensesLn 24e$3.3M$2.6M$746K
Total functional expensesLn 25$18.3M$9.6M$5.0M$3.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $30.0M$28.7M$1.4M$28.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $22.0M$24.9M−$2.9M$27.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $23.9M$24.4M−$455K$28.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $23.9M$22.7M$1.2M$27.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $22.8M$18.3M$4.5M$24.3M 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 FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $22,821,789 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,912,193$18,020,608
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $11,588,927$4,482,830
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $375,271$201,520
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $67,222$116,831
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $20,943,613$22,821,789
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,127,781$3,113,156
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $681,750$739,194
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $19,313,261$14,428,897
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $23,122,792$18,281,247
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,179,179$4,540,542
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $22,821,789 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $409,082 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$798,912
VIII-1c Fundraising events$739,195
VIII-1d Related organizations$7,826,505
VIII-1e Government grants$705,729
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$7,950,267
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$18,020,608
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $4,122,945$4,122,945
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $100,787$100,787
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $100,733$100,733
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $67,634$67,634
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $4,599,661 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $201,520$22,821,789
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $18,281,247 across 16 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $548,011 · Management $1,920,845$2,468,856
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $56,510$56,510
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $242 · Management $391,577$391,819
IX-10 Payroll taxesManagement $195,971$195,971
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $76,931 · Management $4,206$81,137
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $6,176 · Management $90,263$96,439
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $739,194$739,194
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $261,521 · Management $9,241$270,762
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $883,923 · Management $22,470$906,393
IX-17 TravelPrograms $136,641 · Management $44,986$181,627
IX-20 InterestPrograms $81,539 · Management $106,899$188,438
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $383,089 · Management $142,226$525,315
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $450,068 · Management $283,013$733,081
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,452,588 · Management $37,083$1,489,671
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,774,371 · Management $931,045 · Fundraising $2,909,741$6,615,157
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,594,551 · Management $746,326$3,340,877
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,649,651 · Management $4,982,661 · Fundraising $3,648,935$18,281,247
Part X · Balance sheet $32,457,322 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $8,428,170$7,685,891
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $794,231$764,207
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,823,813$2,317,220
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $795,188$752,735
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $932,714$470,651
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $10,557,430$18,024,461
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $2,430,576$2,298,118
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $29,554$22,889
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $186,873$121,150
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $25,978,549$32,457,322
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,120,033$2,597,170
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $448,427$355,434
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,921,367$3,057,153
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,700,491$8,119,810
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $17,542,394$22,110,741
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,735,664$2,226,771
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $19,278,058$24,337,512
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $25,978,549$32,457,322
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $24,337,512 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$22,821,789
XI-2 Total expenses$18,281,247
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$4,540,542
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$19,278,058
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$251,563
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$267,349
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$24,337,512

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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