American Athletic Conference
501(c)(3) Donations tax-deductible
98% goes to programs $0 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
American Athletic Conference is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Irving, Texas, registered in 1980, with $147,728,348 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A+, and it directs about 98% of spending to programs.
545 E John Carpenter Fwy Ste 300, Irving, TX, 75062 EIN 51-0244593 Since 1980
Revenue (FY2023)
$147.7M
▲ 19.7% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2023)
$137.1M
Net assets
$112.4M
Employees
29
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A+
A+Program efficiency40% of the rating98% to programs · $0 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For American Athletic Conference: 98% to programs · $0 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating10 mo reserves · +7% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For American Athletic Conference: 10 mo reserves · +7% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For American Athletic Conference: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For American Athletic Conference: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The american athletic conference's mission is to provide students with the highest quality education and level of competition. working together with a collective strength and spirit, our universities are committed to our students' health and well-being, and to provide the skills and training essential to empower them in their lives and careers after graduation. we will strive to be a leader in inclusive excellence.as an elite division i conference,we will pursue academic and athletic excellence in the context of our core values of integrity and sportsmanship and in a culture of compliance, by being innovative in our approach, and by engaging constructively with our communities and with our peers in the greater college community.
Contact & location
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $93.8M (FY2013) to $147.7M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $6.6MNet assets $112.4M
Operating margin
7.2%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$119.1M
Total liabilities
$6.6M
Net assets
$112.4M
Salaries & benefits
$7.1M
5% of expenses
Board members
15
15 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $147,728,348▲19.7% | $137,107,826▲12.9% | $112,438,734▲10.4% | $119,076,757▲11.8% | 990 |
| 2022 | $123,403,258▼32.7% | $121,442,621▲6.3% | $101,818,212▲2.0% | $106,501,924▲3.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $183,247,674▲95.0% | $114,204,129▲7.2% | $99,857,575▲224% | $103,011,544▲216% | 990 |
| 2020 | $93,996,015▼15.5% | $106,497,198▲24.0% | $30,814,030▼28.9% | $32,647,115▼28.5% | 990 |
| 2019 | $111,278,729▲52.0% | $85,857,175▲13.9% | $43,315,213▲142% | $45,662,453▲51.2% | 990 |
| 2018 | $73,203,230▼5.9% | $75,406,112▼14.1% | $17,893,660▼11.0% | $30,206,449▲15.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $77,793,750▲4.5% | $87,791,517▲5.1% | $20,096,542▼33.2% | $26,203,573▼27.9% | 990 |
| 2016 | $74,477,525▼6.1% | $83,560,987▼5.1% | $30,094,309▼23.2% | $36,327,767▼10.5% | 990 |
| 2015 | $79,297,490▲12.1% | $88,032,385▲8.4% | $39,177,771▼18.2% | $40,611,670▼17.3% | 990 |
| 2014 | $70,751,815▼24.5% | $81,231,545▼16.5% | $47,912,666▼17.9% | $49,099,242▼17.8% | 990 |
| 2013 | $93,759,442 | $97,268,414▼26.6% | $58,392,396▲25.4% | $59,745,111▲20.0% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $132,531,415▲10.8% | $46,567,476▲356% | $49,776,456▲367% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $119,601,018▲6.7% | $10,209,025▼2.1% | $10,658,351▼3.5% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $112,096,302 | $10,422,724 | $11,046,009 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Michael L Aresco — $2,333,077 (1.70% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael L Aresco | Commissioner,president | 40 | $2,333,077 |
| Donna Demarco Egan | Sr. Assoc. Comm.-coo | 40 | $343,932 |
| Stacy Martin | Sr. Assoc. Comm.-cfo | 40 | $320,661 |
| Ellen M Ferris | Sr. Assoc. Comm.-governance | 40 | $256,667 |
| Karl P Hicks | Assoc. Comm.- Basketball | 40 | $251,190 |
| James R Hixson | Assoc. Comm.- Football | 40 | $238,001 |
| Robert Weygand | Assoc. Comm.-sports Admin | 40 | $170,797 |
| Kauri Black | Assoc. Comm.- Broadcasting & Digital Programming | 40 | $163,187 |
| Bill Hardgrave | Board Memb-univer. of Memp | 2 | — |
| Brad Carson | Board Member-univ of Tulsa | 2 | — |
| Dr Neal Smatresk | Board Member-univ. of North Texas | 2 | — |
| Dr Philip Rogers | Board Member-east Carolina | 2 | — |
| Dr R Gerald Turner | Board Member-s. Methodist | 2 | — |
| Dr Taylor Eighmy | Board Member-univ. of Texas San Antonio | 2 | — |
| Jo-anne Epps | Board Member-temple Univer | 2 | — |
| Michael A Fitts | Board Member-tulane Univer | 2 | — |
| Ray Watts | Board Member-univ of Alabama Birmigham | 2 | — |
| Reginald Desroches | Board Member-rice Univ. | 2 | — |
| Rhea Law | Board Member-univ. of S. F | 2 | — |
| Richard Muma | Board Member-wichita State | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Covington & Burling LLP | Legal Services | $123,663 |
Grants received · $214.1M total
13 grants to American Athletic Conference totaling $214.1M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dallas Foundation | General support | 2024 | $35,000 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Grants | 2023 | $18,931,084 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Grants | 2022 | $16,231,416 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2021 | $15,558,919 |
| The Dallas Foundation | General support | 2021 | $25,000 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2020 | $13,703,549 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2019 | $9,913,799 |
| The Dallas Foundation | General support | 2019 | $8,834 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2018 | $19,655,568 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2017 | $24,876,987 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2016 | $27,540,681 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2015 | $30,086,080 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Scholarships/grants | 2014 | $37,545,402 |
Grants made · $108.9M in FY2023
15 grants totaling $108.9M in FY2023. All grants made by American Athletic Conference →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Memphis Foundation | Funding for athletic program | $11,044,425 |
| The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund | Funding for athletic program | $10,827,951 |
| Southern Methodist University | Funding for athletic program | $10,354,763 |
| University of South Florida | Funding for athletic program | $10,312,559 |
| Temple University-of the Commonwealth System of Higher Educ | Funding for athletic program | $9,680,609 |
| East Carolina University | Funding for athletic program | $9,660,922 |
| University of Tulsa | Funding for athletic program | $9,633,522 |
| Naval Academy Athletic Association | Funding for athletic program | $7,332,463 |
| University of Texas At San Antonio | Funding for athletic program | $4,909,664 |
| William Marsh Rice University | Funding for athletic program | $4,842,965 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Funding for athletic program | $4,310,522 |
| University of Alabama At Birmingham | Funding for athletic program | $4,275,664 |
| University of North Carolina At Charlotte | Funding for athletic program | $4,253,645 |
| University of North Texas | Funding for athletic program | $4,227,243 |
| Wichita State University | Funding for athletic program | $3,258,671 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is American Athletic Conference a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. American Athletic Conference is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 51-0244593, based in Irving, Texas. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is American Athletic Conference's EIN?
- American Athletic Conference's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 51-0244593.
- How much revenue does American Athletic Conference report?
- American Athletic Conference reported $147,728,348 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of American Athletic Conference's spending goes to programs?
- American Athletic Conference spends about 98% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does American Athletic Conference have?
- CharityIndex grades American Athletic Conference A+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does American Athletic Conference's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on American Athletic Conference's latest Form 990 is $2,333,077, paid to Michael L Aresco (Commissioner,president).
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Data for American Athletic Conference (EIN 51-0244593) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.