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Non-profit

AASA, the School Superintendents Association

Website:

www.aasa.org/
Location:

ALEXANDRIA, VA
Tax ID:

54-1999773
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $12,791,063
Expenses: $10,716,321
Assets: $25,509,249
Status:

Non-Profit
Founded:

1937
Executive Director:

David R. Schuler

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The AASA, the School Superintendents Association is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing leadership training for educators, developing programs that promote left-of-center talking points on “educational equity,” and holds an annual education conference. 1 2 Originally part of the National Education Association teachers union, the AASA became an autonomous organization in 1973.

The organization receives most of its revenue from program service fees, although it has received large grants from left-of-center foundations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wallace Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 3 4 5

Background

The AASA began as the National Association of School Administrators on August 17, 1865. The organization merged with the National Teachers Association and the American Normal School Association to become the National Educational Association in 1870 and became the National Education Association’s Department of School Superintendence. 6

Members of the organization approved a name change to the American Association of School Administrators in 1937, but AASA was still a department of the National Education Association until 1969 when it became an associated organization. AASA severed any link with the National Education Association in 1973 and it became an autonomous organization. 7

The AASA began charging membership fees of $5 a year in 1921. The price of these membership fees increased to $10 a year in 1949, $75 in 1975, and $125 with special rates for students, professors, and retired members in 1983. 8

The American Association of School Administrators moved into a new shared headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, with the National Association of Elementary School Principals in 2011. AASA also partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund in 2011 to enroll children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. 9

AASA rebranded and renamed itself again in 2014 to the American Association of School Administrators, the School Superintendents Association. 10 As of June 2022, the organization is now renamed AASA, the School Superintendents Association. 11

The organization focuses on developing programs that promote left-of-center talking points on “educational equity,” provides leadership training for educators, and holds an annual conference on education. 12 13

Finances

The AASA received a total revenue of $13.1 million in 2018, $7.6 million of which came from program service revenue, while just under $3.5 million came from contributions and grants. The organization’s total expenses amounted to $12.2 million, $4.9 million of which was spent on salaries, employee benefits, and other compensation. 14

The organization’s revenue decreased in 2019 when it received a total of $12.6 million. AASA received $7.9 million from program service fees and just over $2.5 million from contributions and grants. Its total expenses amounted to $12.2 million, with just over $5 million being paid towards salaries, employee benefits, and other compensation. 15

AASA’s revenue increased again in 2020 when it received nearly $14 million in total revenue, $8.8 million of which came from program service fees and $2.8 million from contributions and grants. Its total expenses amounted to just over $12 million, with just under $5.1 million being spent on salaries, employee benefits, and other compensation. 16

According to its 2021 990 form, the AASA reported revenue at $18,576,786, expenses at $15,266,693, and total assets of $25,887,343. 17

Funding

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, formed in 2000 by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his then-wife Melinda French Gates, contributed $417,697 to the AASA in April 2011, and another $331,512 in June 2011. The foundation also committed one grant of $450,271 and another worth $748,976 in 2015. Most recently, the foundation granted AASA $99,723 in August 2020, and $525,781 in October 2020. 18

The Wallace Foundation, a left-of-center grantmaking foundation in New York City which supports underperforming schools through special programs, has provided the AASA with three grants. The foundation provided the AASA with grants of $350,000 in 2018, $130,000 in 2020, and another $350,000 in 2021. 19

The left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided AASA with an $858,634 grant from 1991 until 1997. According to the AASA website, the foundation also provided funds to the organization in 1955. The website also notes the Ford Foundation provided the organization with funding in 1977. 20 21

The Raikes Foundation, a left-of-center private grantmaking foundation, provided the AASA with a single grant of $50,000 in 2021. 22

The AASA lists the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as a partner to its 2020 National Conference on Education. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is the grantmaking brand of Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. The initiative donates to many left-of-center foundations and a substantial fund to Zuckerberg’s pro-Democratic political committee, FWD.us. 23

Leadership

David R. Schuler is the executive director for the AASA. Schuler previously served as the superintendent for Illinois’ High School District 214. 24

References

  1. “Aasa.” American Association of School Administrators. Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/Content.aspx.
  2. “American Association of School Administrators (AASA).” Cause IQ. Accessed February 14, 2022. www.causeiq.com/organizations/american-association-of-school-administrators,541999773/.
  3. “Committed Grants,” Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, accessed February 14, 2022, https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants?q=american+association+of+school+administrators.
  4. Foundation, Wallace. “Grantee List – All Fields.” Wallace Foundation. Accessed February 14, 2022. https://www.wallacefoundation.org/about-wallace/our-grantees/lists/granteelist/all%20fields.aspx?Paged=TRUE&p_ID=5135&PageFirstRow=99501&&View=%7B853528AE-6CC7-4D69-85C8-C45CD4E9C21B%7D#InplviewHash853528ae-6cc7-4d69-85c8-c45cd4e9c21b=.
  5. Foundation, Kellogg. “Grantee List – American Association of School Administrators.” W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Accessed February 14, 2022. https://www.wkkf.org/grants#pp=10&p=1&q=American%20Association%20of%20School%20Administrators.
  6.  “Milestones in AASA’ s History (1865-2015).” Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/history.aspx.
  7. “Milestones in AASA’ s History (1865-2015).” Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/history.aspx.
  8. “Milestones in AASA’ s History (1865-2015).” Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/history.aspx.
  9. “ Milestones in AASA’ s History (1865-2015).” Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/history.aspx
  10. “Milestones in AASA’ s History (1865-2015).” Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/history.aspx.
  11. “AASA: Celebrating 150 Years of Supporting Public Education.” AASA: The School Superintendent’s Association. Accessed June 1, 2022. https://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=36086.
  12. “Aasa.” American Association of School Administrators. Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/Content.aspx.
  13. “American Association of School Administrators (AASA).” Cause IQ. Accessed February 14, 2022. www.causeiq.com/organizations/american-association-of-school-administrators,541999773/.
  14. Schwencke, Ken. “AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS INC – Form Form 990 for period ending Jun 2018 – ProPublica.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed February 14, 2022. projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/541999773/11_2019_prefixes_47-54/541999773_201806_990_2019110816831429.
  15. Schwencke, Ken. “AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS INC – Form Form 990 for period ending Jun 2019 – ProPublica.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed February 14, 2022. projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/541999773/09_2020_prefixes_52-56/541999773_201906_990_2020090417282834.
  16. Schwencke, Ken. “AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS INC – Form Form 990 for period ending Jun 2020 – ProPublica.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed February 14, 2022. projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/541999773/05_2021_prefixes_54-56/541999773_202006_990_2021052518186804.
  17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). AASA, the School Superintendents Association. 2021 Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/541999773/202341249349300644/full
  18. “Committed Grants,” Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, accessed February 14, 2022, https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants?q=american+association+of+school+administrators.
  19. Foundation, Wallace. “Grantee List – All Fields.” Wallace Foundation. Accessed February 14, 2022. https://www.wallacefoundation.org/about-wallace/our-grantees/lists/granteelist/all%20fields.aspx?Paged=TRUE&p_ID=5135&PageFirstRow=99501&&View=%7B853528AE-6CC7-4D69-85C8-C45CD4E9C21B%7D#InplviewHash853528ae-6cc7-4d69-85c8-c45cd4e9c21b=.
  20. Foundation, Kellogg. “Grantee List – American Association of School Administrators.” W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Accessed February 14, 2022. https://www.wkkf.org/grants#pp=10&p=1&q=American%20Association%20of%20School%20Administrators.
  21. “Milestones in AASA’ s History (1865-2015).” Accessed February 14, 2022. www.aasa.org/history.aspx.
  22. Raikes, Jeff. “Our Grants.” Raikes Foundation. September 23, 2014. Accessed February 14, 2022. raikesfoundation.org/our-grants.
  23. “Aasa.” AASA Partners. Accessed February 14, 2022. aasa.org/AASAPartners.aspx.
  24. “David R. Schuler.” AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Accessed February 26, 2024. https://www.aasa.org/about-aasa/person/david-schuler
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 2002

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Jun Form 990 $12,791,063 $10,716,321 $25,509,249 $11,543,769 Y $2,665,727 $7,186,237 $268,172 $1,935,532
    2020 Jun Form 990 $13,952,131 $12,085,763 $21,016,604 $10,313,336 Y $2,859,404 $8,827,593 $215,429 $1,575,051 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $12,622,581 $12,247,708 $18,665,370 $10,171,145 Y $2,593,370 $7,907,238 $220,495 $1,480,497 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $13,132,825 $12,266,875 $18,178,498 $10,388,580 Y $3,443,398 $7,662,835 $204,126 $1,256,442 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $11,648,975 $10,930,633 $18,432,868 $12,258,637 Y $2,819,731 $7,030,977 $210,826 $1,208,111 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $10,882,486 $10,681,186 $16,461,750 $11,542,165 Y $1,760,512 $7,436,639 $194,086 $992,324 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $11,030,800 $10,614,563 $16,146,628 $11,104,463 Y $2,728,409 $6,548,454 $191,093 $998,520 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $9,610,048 $9,398,283 $14,123,518 $8,678,749 Y $1,938,502 $6,456,228 $174,161 $590,018 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $10,385,290 $10,114,592 $13,400,704 $8,264,680 Y $3,064,128 $6,012,861 $167,487 $766,531 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $10,832,885 $10,252,393 $12,998,417 $8,071,933 Y $3,413,902 $6,397,664 $201,346 $671,534 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $8,827,665 $7,875,627 $12,196,019 $7,943,409 Y $1,232,993 $6,767,313 $212,070 $626,026 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    AASA, the School Superintendents Association

    1615 DUKE ST
    ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-3406