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The Commemorative Air Force
The Commemorative Air Force reported $30.0 million in revenue and $28.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $70.81 went to program services, $8.42 to management and general costs and $20.77 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 52.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $345,901 (PRESIDENT (TERM ENDED IN 2024)). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 43% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $29MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $30MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 20.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.38 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 52.0% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 41.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $345,901 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.21% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 11 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAirshows are premiere aviation events where warbirds (aircraft) gather to reenact historic battles. Additional attractions of these shows include; junior aces kids tent (providing games, arts & crafts and other fun activities for children), famed ghost squadron aircraft displays, special shows for special people on fridays, preceding the regular event, that otherwise might not be able to attend and numerous flying performing acts such as wingwalking and aerobatics.membership dues & anuac fees: membership dues are established & collected to cover normal operating expenses of individual units.…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT (TERM ENDED IN 2024) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $339,501 | $0 | $6,400 | $345,901 |
| SECRETARY/TREASURER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,327 | $0 | $6,500 | $253,827 |
| PRESIDENT (TERM BEGAN IN 2024) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,977 | $0 | $6,284 | $220,261 |
| VP DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $149,006 | $0 | $15,585 | $164,591 |
| VP SAFETY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $139,232 | $0 | $19,500 | $158,732 |
| VP MEMBERSHIP Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,068 | $0 | $6,303 | $141,371 |
| VP EDUCATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,150 | $0 | $8,131 | $133,281 |
| VP MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $109,097 | $0 | $3,347 | $112,444 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Commemorative Air Force (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $820K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b11 · 11 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 550
- Volunteers Part I, line 610,000
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ASSURED PARTNERS AEROSPACE LLC Aviation insurance | $1,930,036 |
| AIRCORPS AVIATION LLC Aircraft repair | $174,819 |
| MARSHERALL PARTNERS It/database management | $123,257 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to The Commemorative Air Force totaling $70,750 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Commemorative Air Force's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Commemorative Air Force, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Commemorative Air Force spent in 2024, $70.81 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of The Commemorative Air Force's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Commemorative Air Force reported that 70.8% of its $28.7 million in expenses went to program services, 8.4% to management and general and 20.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Commemorative Air Force pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Commemorative Air Force reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $345,901, for the role of PRESIDENT (TERM ENDED IN 2024) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Commemorative Air Force get its money?
Of $30.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 52.0% came from contributions and grants (including 1.3% from government grants) and 41.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Commemorative Air Force a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-1484491 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523189349313697 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413129349304231 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303109349302185 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243149349300919 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133159349304788 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013289349300646 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-1484491: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.