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Nonprofit · EIN 52-0794368

AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20005

Financials

$4.6M$4.7M2023$6.1M$5.7M2024$6.7M$6.3M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$6,690,753$6,308,727$382,026$34,094,359$1,648,292$32,446,067
December 31, 2024990$6,096,407$5,694,175$402,232$31,213,624$1,260,169$29,953,455
December 31, 2023990$4,576,327$4,743,312-$166,985$29,053,519$857,876$28,195,643
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$3,906,120
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$2,776,858
Royalties
$6,470
Net gain from sales of assets
$1,438,219
Other revenue
$7,775

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$12,000
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$428,867
Other salaries and wages
$982,636
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,876,552
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$7,424
Accounting fees
$35,585
Occupancy
$479
Travel
$53,902
Depreciation
$25,116
Program services (functional)
$5,362,712
Management and general (functional)
$921,552
Fundraising (functional)
$24,463

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$31,213,624
Total assets, end of year
$34,094,359
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,648,292
Net assets, end of year
$32,446,067
Land, buildings and equipment
$40,941
Publicly traded securities
$33,196,830
Net assets without donor restrictions
$25,907,420
Net assets with donor restrictions
$6,538,647
Gross receipts
$9,302,564
Employees
18
Volunteers
40
Year formed
1947
State of legal domicile
DC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHEN-YE DAVID YANG PHDPRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$356,715$72,152
WILLIAM HORREYTECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$184,912$49,344
BRIAN TEFFTPRINCIPAL RESEARCHER
Highest-paid employee
40$152,973$45,212
REBECCA STEINBACHSENIOR RESEARCHER
Highest-paid employee
40$138,032$55,991
ALICIA ROMORESEARCH AND PROGRAM MANAGER
Highest-paid employee
40$132,464$25,534
LINDSAY ARNOLDSENIOR RESEARCHER
Highest-paid employee
40$119,663$26,907
MARK H SHAWCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
TONY SPADAVICE CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SHOHREH ABEDITRUSTEE (THRU 05/2025)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KAREN BIANCHINITRUSTEE (THRU 02/2025)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATRINA BRADLEYTRUSTEE (THRU 02/2025)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PAULA COLLINSTRUSTEE (THRU 05/2025)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERIC CYRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HEATHER DRAKETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARTA GENOVESETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
12 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
SIEWHIANG MCCREIGHTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHAEL MOHAMEDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
JAMES PHELPSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
LINCOLN TOMLINTRUSTEE (THRU 03/2025)
Trustee or director
1$0
LAURA ZEIGLERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
NARDA ZUNIGATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
LARITZA CARLINGASST TREASURER (THRU 12/2025)
Officer
2$0
LEAH CHELIASST SECRETARY
Officer
2$0
HEATHER DRAKESECRETARY (THRU 05/2025)
Officer
2$0
JILL INGRASSIACORPORATE LIAISON
Officer
2$0
ERICA LOIACONOTREASURER
Officer
2$0
DIEGO PUIGSECRETARY
Officer
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 21 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHEN-YE DAVID YANG PHDPRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$329,942$64,409
WILLIAM HORREYTECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$168,810$45,384
BRIAN TEFFTPRINCIPAL RESEARCHER
Highest-paid employee
40$145,793$28,073
REBECCA STEINBACHSENIOR RESEARCHER
Highest-paid employee
40$108,991$43,207
MARK H SHAWCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
TONY SPADAVICE CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
TOM WIEDEMANNVICE CHAIRMAN (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JAMES PHELPSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
HEATHER DRAKESECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SHOHREH ABEDITRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GREG BACKLEYTRUSTEE (THRU 05/2024)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KAREN BIANCHINITRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATRINA BRADLEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PAULA COLLINSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARTA GENOVESETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LEE MCALLISTERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LINCOLN TOMLINTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JILL INGRASSIAASST SECRETARY
Officer
2$0$0
KATHLEEN BOWERASST SECRETARY (THRU 07/2024)
Officer
2$0$0
ERICA LOIACONOASST TREASURER
Officer
2$0$0
JASON HOSAFLOOKASST TREASURER (THRU 05/2024)
Officer
2$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 19 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHEN-YE DAVID YANG PHDPRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$316,218$51,905
WILLIAM HORREYTECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$162,003$39,467
BRIAN TEFFTPRINCIPAL RESEARCHER
Highest-paid employee
40$138,158$22,737
REBECCA STEINBACHSENIOR RESEARCHER
Highest-paid employee
40$104,393$33,897
TOM WIEDEMANNVICE CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JAMES PHELPSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
HEATHER DRAKESECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
MARK H SHAWCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TONY BUZZELLITRUSTEE (THRU 05/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PAULA COLLINSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SHOHREH ABEDITRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATHY SIECKTRUSTEE (THRU 05/2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TONY SPADATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GREG BACKLEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATRINA BRADLEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARTA GENOVESETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LEE MCALLISTERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATHLEEN BOWERASST SECRETARY
Officer
3$0$0
JASON HOSAFLOOKASST TREASURER
Officer
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
607 14TH STREET NW 701, WASHINGTON, DC 20005-2000
In care of
% REBECA TORRES
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
CHEN-YE DAVID YANG PHD, 607 14TH STREET NW 701, WASHINGTON, DC 20005
Signed the 990
CHEN-YE DAVID YANG PHD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(202) 638-5944
Return prepared by
RSM US LLP

Mission

THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY'S MISSION IS TO SAVE LIVES AND REDUCE INJURIES THROUGH RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CRASHES, AND EDUCATION ABOUT PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING RISKS ON THE ROAD.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • RESEARCH: IN 2025, AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY (THE FOUNDATION) PUBLISHED 17 NEW TRAFFIC SAFETY REPORTS, INITIATED 7 NEW TRAFFIC SAFETY RESEARCH CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS, BEGAN 6 IN-HOUSE STUDIES, AND CONTINUED WORK ON 21 TRAFFIC SAFETY RESEARCH PROJECTS INITIATED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.THE FOUNDATION FUNDED, MANAGED, AND/OR PERFORMED RESEARCH IN 2025, DETAILED IN THE FOLLOWING REPORTS (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER BY DATE OF PUBLICATION): PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES ON URBAN ARTERIAL ROADS AT NIGHT: AN IN-DEPTH CRASH ANALYSIS AND THREE CASE STUDIES; DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF MESSAGING TO DETER CANNABIS-IMPAIRED DRIVING; EXAMINATION OF CANNABIS USERS' PERCEPTIONS AND SELF-REPORTED BEHAVIORS TO INFORM MESSAGING TO DETER IMPAIRED DRIVING; ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG OLDER DRIVERS: AAA LONGROAD STUDY; A RANDOMIZED FIELD TRIAL OF SMARTPHONE-BASED FEEDBACK DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE SAFE DRIVING: COMPARING FOCUSED AND SELF-CHOSEN GOALS TO STANDARD USAGE-BASED INSURANCE MESSAGING; ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VEHICLE LIGHTING: REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND STATE REGULATIONS; INCREASING THE USE OF SMARTPHONE-LIMITING TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT DISTRACTED DRIVING; EFFECTS OF TRAINING CONTENT AND APPROACH ON DRIVERS' UNDERSTANDING OF AND PERFORMANCE WITH ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS; DRIVING WITH PARTIAL DRIVING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS: DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE TRAINING THAT DRIVERS WILL USE; AGGRESSIVE DRIVING AND ROAD RAGE; EXAMINING TRAFFIC SAFETY ACROSS COMMUNITIES: A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND CASE STUDIES IN ARIZONA, MARYLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, AND OREGON; SOCIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE FACTORS SHAPING ROAD SAFETY: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF CRASHES IN OHIO, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON; SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER LAWS: INVESTIGATING FACTORS INFLUENCING DRIVERS' BEHAVIOR AND COMPLIANCE; SUMMARY OF LONGROAD RESEARCH ON OLDER DRIVERS FROM THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY: 2017-2025; THE SAFETY IMPACT OF ROAD DEBRIS: UPDATED PREVALENCES OF CRASHES, INJURIES, AND DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2018-2023; 2024 TRAFFIC SAFETY CULTURE INDEX; AND AMERICAN DRIVING SURVEY: 2024.FOUNDATION RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE USED TO SUPPORT NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, SUCH AS NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK AND DROWSY DRIVING PREVENTION WEEK. THEY ARE ALSO USED TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND SUPPORT ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF AAA AND OTHER TRAFFIC SAFETY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. FOUNDATION RESEARCH FINDINGS ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY HAVE BEEN CITED IN NUMEROUS STATE AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT PLANS, OUTLINING NEEDED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. ALL THESE EFFORTS ARE ULTIMATELY DESIGNED TO INFLUENCE AND AFFECT REAL WORLD IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAFFIC SAFETY. FOUNDATION RESEARCH HAS ALSO SUPPORTED OUR NUMEROUS PARTNERSHIPS IN THE TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY COMMUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION CO-SPONSORED A RESEARCH PROJECT WITH VIRGINIA TECH TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE TO ASSESS THE PREVALENCES OF TASK ENGAGEMENT AND DROWSINESS IN DRIVERS WHEN USING CERTAIN AUTOMATED SYSTEMS COMPARED TO SITUATIONS WHERE THE SAME SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE BUT NOT ACTIVE. THIS WORK ALSO EXAMINED THE ROLE OF DISTRACTION AND DROWSINESS IN CRASHES AND NEAR-CRASH SITUATIONS.FINALLY, IN 2025, THE FOUNDATION INITIATED RESEARCH PROJECTS WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING GOALS: EXAMINING THE RANGE OF AMERICAN'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS SPEEDING AND RELATED COUNTERMEASURES; INVESTIGATING THE PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF VARIOUS DISTRACTED DRIVING BEHAVIORS; UNDERSTANDING HOW INDIVIDUAL, INTERPERSONAL, SOCIAL, AND CONTEXTUAL FACTORS INFLUENCE THE DECISION TO DRIVE WHILE IMPAIRED; CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING A ROADSIDE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM; UPDATING AND EXTENDING FOUNDATION'S PREVIOUS RESEARCH ON WRONG-WAY CRASHES; PROVIDING UPDATED STATISTICS ON FATAL HIT-AND-RUN CRASHES; EXAMINING THE NATURE OF DRIVING DONE BY NOVICE DRIVING; MEASURING THE PREVALENCE OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS IN-VEHICLE DRUNK DRIVING TECHNOLOGY; ASSESSING THE AWARENESS OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARD SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER LAWS; ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF SECONDARY TASK ENGAGEMENT AND DROWSINESS IN DRIVERS WHEN USING L2 AUTOMATED SYSTEMS; EXAMINING THE PRE-CRASH CONDITIONS LEADING TO PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES; PROVIDING GUIDANCE CONCERNING THE IDEAL WORK LIGHT PROPERTIES AND BEST PRACTICES REGARDING THEIR PLACEMENT AND USE; IDENTIFYING COST-EFFECTIVE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS; AND THE LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH ON AGING DRIVERS (LONGROAD) STUDY.
    Expenses $5,089,868
  • EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ALL RESEARCH REPORTS AND FINDINGS PRODUCED BY THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY (THE FOUNDATION) ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION PRODUCES COMPLEMENTARY MATERIALS FOR EACH PROJECT SO THAT VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE CAN FIND KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM EACH STUDY. THESE MAY INCLUDE REPORT SUMMARIES, INFOGRAPHICS, ETC. THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED OUTREACH THROUGH CONFERENCES, FORUMS, AND WORKSHOPS TO A RANGE OF AUDIENCES INCLUDING TECHNICAL EXPERTS, KEY STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH THE GOAL OF EFFECTING REAL-WORLD IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAFFIC SAFETY. IN 2025, THE FOUNDATION RESEARCH FINDINGS WERE PRESENTED AT NUMEROUS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS INCLUDING: THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING; 2025 U.S. SAFE SYSTEM ACADEMY; INTERNATIONAL TASKFORCE ON VEHICLE-HIGHWAY AUTOMATION MEETING; 2025 CONFERENCE OF AAA INDEPENDENT CLUBS; MOBILITY INNOVATION WEEK JAPAN 2025; AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH ANNUAL CONFERENCE; SPEED MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COOP MEETING; AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPO; FHWA SAFETY SERVICE PATROL WORKSHOP; HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING; AND LIFESAVERS CONFERENCE. THE FOUNDATION'S PRESENCE AT THESE CONFERENCES HELPED SPREAD THE FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH AND MISSION TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HAD AN EXHIBIT BOOTH AT THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING IN 2025.IN ADDITION TO THESE EXTERNALLY HOSTED EVENTS, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED ITS SECOND SAFE MOBILITY CONFERENCE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN. THIS THREE-DAY EVENT WAS CONVENED TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS FROM INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT, SHARE INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFY CHALLENGES, SOLUTIONS, AND BEST PRACTICES GEARED TOWARD ACHIEVING SAFER MOBILITY FOR ALL ROAD USERS. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF HIGH-QUALITY AND DIVERSE WORKSHOPS, TECHNICAL SESSIONS, AND PLENARY SESSIONS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO STRIVES TO PUBLISH MUCH OF OUR RESEARCH IN LEADING PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL JOURNALS TO ENSURE THAT OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE SHARED WITH THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AND POLICYMAKERS. IN 2025, RESEARCH PERFORMED AND/OR FUNDED BY THE FOUNDATION WAS PUBLISHED IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS INCLUDING: HUMAN FACTORS JOURNAL, SLEEP JOURNAL, JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND JOURNAL OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY.
    Expenses $272,844 · grants $12,000 · revenue $1,305

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
52-0794368
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1970
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$34,094,359
Income (IRS master file)
$9,302,564

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$6,690,753$6,308,727$34,094,359XML
990December 2024$6,096,407$5,694,175$31,213,624XML
990December 2023$4,576,327$4,743,312$29,053,519XML
990December 2022$5,652,477$5,331,587$26,518,472IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-0794368).

Questions about AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY

What is the EIN of AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY is 52-0794368.
Is AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1970.
Are donations to AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names CHEN-YE DAVID YANG PHD.
Who are the officers and directors of AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 27 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $356,715 (CHEN-YE DAVID YANG PHD, PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $6,690,753, expenses of $6,308,727 and total assets of $34,094,359 at year end.

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