AEC Trust is a private foundation established in 1981 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. It operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization classified as a private independent foundation. The trust manages substantial assets and distributes grants across multiple funding areas and geographic regions throughout the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$24.1M

+553.1% YoY

Grant Count

142

-6.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$170K

+594.5% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary purpose is to support:

  • Arts and culture
  • Education (with emphasis on educational support for pre-selected schools)
  • Environment
  • Women's issues
  • Health and AIDS-related services
  • Social and human services
  • Science and STEM education

Grantmaking

The foundation provides support for capital funding, program funding, operating funds, and emergency funds.

Grant Range

$4,650–$16,039,759

Average Grant

amount: $94,000

Grant Types

**

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation provides funding in:

  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • Additional support in various U.S. cities and regions

Grant Distribution by State

24states
+16 more states

Cities

ACWORTHAMHERSTATLANTAAURORAAUSTINBAILEYBEAUMONTBEVERLY HILLSBOISEBOSTONBOULDERBROOKHAVENBROOMFIELDCALABASASCARRBOROCHATTANOOGACLARKSTONCOLLEGE PARKCOLORADO SPGSCOLUMBUS

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 2024:

  • Total Assets: $36,814,610
  • Total Revenue: $12,901,971
  • Total Expenses: $24,460,841
  • Net Income: -$11,558,870
  • Total Liabilities: $0

As of December 2023:

  • Total Assets: $48,373,480 (ledger value)
  • Income: $30,863,386

Historical Data (December 2022):

  • Assets: $31.1 million
  • Revenue: $5.3 million
  • Investments: $30.7 million
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.1201920202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$6M$12M$18M$24M108 grants2019143 grants2020132 grants2021137 grants2022151 grants2023142 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

DANCE ALIVE INC$250KAMALGAMATED CHARITABLE F…$100KAUDUBON SOCIETY OF RHODE…$100KCENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOP…$75KCORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY…$75KATLANTA COMMUNITY SUPPOR…$50KATLANTA FULTON COUNTY PR…$50KAUDIO INFORMATION NETWOR…$30KCHEF ANN FOUNDATION$30KCHRIS 180 INC$25K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

222<$50K21$50–100K6$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dance Alive Inc ($250,000), Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc ($100,000), Audubon Society of Rhode Island ($100,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
350 COLORADO BOULDER, COAdvocating for climate justice in Boulder Colorado$10,000
A HOME FOR EVERYONE IN DEKALB INC DECATUR, GADeKalb Advocacy and Solutions for Homelessness (DASH)$10,000
ACTORS EXPRESS INC ATLANTA, GAActor's Express Mainstage Programming$15,000
AGAPE COMMUNITY CENTER INC ATLANTA, GAAgape Year-round Academic and Enrichment Program for Underserved Youth$20,000
AGE WISE COLORADO INC DENVER, COContinue Our Successful Expansion in Boulder County$10,000
AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DCHurricane Helene Response$100,000
ANIMAL RESCUE OF THE ROCKIES AURORA, COAnimal Rescue of the Rockies Veterinary and Spay Neuter Programs$10,000
ART PAPERS INC ATLANTA, GAArt Papers Fire Ecology - The Atlanta Arts Ecosystem$5,000
ASCENSA HEALTH INC ATLANTA, GAResidential Treatment for Substance Use and Co-occurring Mental Health Disorders$10,000
ATLANTA COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROJECT INC ATLANTA, GAACSP General Operating Support$50,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Trustee:

  • CIBC National Trust Company (serves as trustee with compensation of $211,022)

Advisory Board/Key Personnel:

  • David H Cofrin
  • Edith Dee Cofrin
  • Whit Mansfield (Trustee for CIBC)

The Cofrin family members serve on the advisory board and are not compensated for their roles.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

CIBC NATIONAL TRUST …Trustee$285K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CIBC NATIONAL TRUST COMPANYTrustee1$285,476
David H CofrinAdvisory Board Member1
Edith Dee CofrinAdvisory Board Chair1
Mary Ann P CofrinAdvisory Board Member1
Paige CofrinAdvisory Board Member1

Contact Information

  • Phone: 800-839-1754
  • Website: www.fsrequests.com/aec
  • Address: Foundation Source, 501 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does AEC Trust fund?

The foundation's primary purpose is to support: • Arts and culture • Education (with emphasis on educational support for pre-selected schools) • Environment • Women's issues • Health and AIDS-related services • Social and human services • Science and STEM education

How do I apply for a grant from AEC Trust?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 143 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $3,939,650 • Typical grant range: $4,650–$16,039,759 • Average grant amount: $94,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • The Homestead Foundation: $16,039,759 (Expenditure Responsibility Grant) • Wagmore Foundation Agency: $4,131,710 (Expenditure Responsibility Grant) • Dance Alive: $250,000 (Capital Campaign) **Grant Types:** The foundation provides support for capital funding, program funding, operating funds, and emergency…

Where does AEC Trust make grants?

The foundation provides funding in: • Colorado • Florida • Georgia • Massachusetts • Rhode Island • Additional support in various U.S. cities and regions

What size grants does AEC Trust award?

In 2024, AEC Trust awarded 142 grants totaling $24.1M — an average of about $170K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is AEC Trust's EIN?

AEC Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6725987. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in AEC Trust's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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