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AOPA Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator

Highly respected nonprofit evaluator issues 4-star rating for financial health, accountability, transparency

Charity Navigator, the world’s largest guide for philanthropic decision making, evaluates a sizable portion of the more than 1.5 million U.S. charities. In its in-depth, data-driven, and objective analysis, the organization singled out the AOPA Foundation for its best practices and for exceeding nonprofit industry standards.

Photo by Mike Fizer.

The primary goal of the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is to enable opportunities of growth for AOPA members and the entire general aviation community.

Contributions to the foundation support important programs that membership dues don’t cover, including the AOPA Air Safety Institute and the You Can Fly program. The foundation also provides flight training scholarships to encourage students to achieve their aviation goals.

“Our mission is to ensure that AOPA programs continue to protect and enhance our passion to fly,” said Melissa Rudinger, executive director of the AOPA Foundation. “In doing so, we are strongly committed to the most principled and transparent practices. This prestigious rating from Charity Navigator reflects what our donors expect from us every day.”

The AOPA Foundation joined other well-known organizations that have received the highest rating from Charity Navigator, including the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and United Way Worldwide.

“The AOPA Foundation’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating.”

The AOPA Foundation invites those with a vested interest in the future of GA to support its mission. If you are interested in supporting the AOPA Foundation and its valuable programs, please learn about the various ways to give.

Alyssa J. Miller

Eric Blinderman

Senior Director of Communications
Eric Blinderman is AOPA’s Senior Director of Communications. Eric joined AOPA in 2020 after several years at leading marketing/communications agencies in New York and is looking forward to putting his newly minted private pilot certificate to work.
Topics: AOPA Foundation, AOPA Air Safety Institute

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