AMERICAN EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION
Cite this
Plain text AMERICAN EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2022–2024. https://strategystudio.org/org/863676032. Retrieved 2026-10-20.
APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). AMERICAN EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2022–2024]. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/863676032
MLA “AMERICAN EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2022–2024, https://strategystudio.org/org/863676032. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-20; covers tax years 2022–2024. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.
2024 · Form 990EZ · revenue $105K · expenses $310K · assets $196K
- EIN
- 86-3676032
- Address
- 1390 CHAIN BRIDGE RD STE 515, MCLEAN, VA 22101-3904
- NTEE code
- W05
- Subsection
- 501(c)(3)
- Ruling year
- 2022
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
THE AMERICAN EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWS CONTENT AND ANALYSIS BY EMERGING CONSERVATIVE ENTREPRENEURS AND ESTABLISHED CENTER-RIGHT MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
None of the 9 people listed on these returns reported compensation from the organization. They are listed below.
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
9 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Lundeen | CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| William Desteph | DIRECTOR | 2022-2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Seth Paxton | DIRECTOR | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Molly Vinesett | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Luke Ragland | DIRECTOR | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Jessica Curtis (former) | VICE PRESIDENT | 2022-2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 4 |
| Troy Coleman (former) | DIRECTOR | 2022-2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| David A Avella (former) | PRESIDENT | 2022-2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Melodie A Johnson (former) | TREASURER | 2022-2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2024 · 5 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL LUNDEEN | CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| WILLIAM DESTEPH | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| SETH PAXTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| MOLLY VINESETT | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| LUKE RAGLAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2023 · 5 people listed · none paid · 0 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TROY COLEMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| WILLIAM DESTEPH | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| DAVID A AVELLA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| JESSICA CURTIS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 4 |
| MELODIE A JOHNSON | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2022 · 5 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TROY COLEMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| WILLIAM DESTEPH | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| DAVID A AVELLA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| JESSICA CURTIS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 4 |
| MELODIE A JOHNSON | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
2024 · 1 contractor · $100K
| Name | Location | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPITAL RESULTS LLC | ARLINGTON, VA | DIGITAL CONSULTING | $100,121 |
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $105,000 | $310,246 | $195,524 | $195,524 | $105,000 | - | - | - | - |
| 2023 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $285,000 | $2,048 | $400,770 | $400,770 | $285,000 | $0 | $0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $141,000 | $25,637 | $117,818 | $117,818 | $141,000 | - | - | - | - |
Funders of this organization
4 grantors reported grants to this organization, $67,500 in all, tax years 2021 to 2025. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMBAT HATE FOUNDATION | Public charity | Fuzzy filed as “AMERICAN EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION” | 2025 | 1 | $25,000 | 2025 | $25,000 | show |
| BARNES FAMILY FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “AMERICAN EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION” | 2022 | 1 | $25,000 | 2022 | $25,000 | show |
| CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS | Public charity | Exact | 2021 | 1 | $12,500 | 2021 | $12,500 | show |
| MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC | DAF sponsor | Fuzzy filed as “American Excellence Foundation” | 2022 | 1 | $5,000 | 2022 | $5,000 | show |
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE AMERICAN CAUSE | VA | W05 | $132,746 | $67,853 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x, same state |
| CENTER FOR FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY FOUNDATION | VA | W05 | $190,416 | $134,466 | Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x, same state |
| RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS INITIATIVE | VA | W05 | $204,285 | $128,087 | President | $118,450 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x, same state |
| IAM FOUNDATION | AZ | W05 | $176,430 | $93,426 | Director, Vice President | $36,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ASIAN AMERICAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION | WA | W05 | $106,978 | $109,658 | President, Director of Board | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| GOVERN FOR CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION | CA | W05 | $69,833 | $61,963 | Pres/Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NEW MAJORITY FOUNDATION | CA | W05 | $110,552 | $91,772 | Chairman | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEATING REFRIGERATING & A-C ENGINEERS | FL | W05 | $87,507 | $70,141 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| FORWARD MOTION SOCIAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE | CA | W05 | $197,712 | $236,860 | Chairman | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| MISSISSIPPI CIVIL DEFENSE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION INC | MS | W05 | $139,965 | $133,111 | ASSOC SEC/TREASURER | $2,400 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ADVANCE OAKLAND | MI | W05 | $69,175 | $63,475 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON INITIATIVE INC | DC | W05 | $192,686 | $172,342 | Director President Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| AMERICAN RESEARCH AND POLICY INSITUTE | DC | W05 | $130,946 | $127,701 | Executive Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| EXPAND DEMOCRACY INC | MD | W05 | $79,162 | $70,247 | Senior Fellow | $58,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NORTHWEST HOSPITAL ALLIANCE | ID | W05 | $163,659 | $282,819 | Executive Dir. | $184,302 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC | IL | W05 | $100,000 | $1,252,146 | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | $481,084 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| AMERICAN TAX POLICY INSTITUTE | NY | W05 | $65,574 | $83,532 | TRUSTEE | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| WAY TO FREEDOM | TX | W05 | $166,825 | $158,382 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT INSTITUTE | OH | W05 | $86,249 | $98,751 | DIRECTOR | $4,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT INC | MA | W05 | $55,760 | $62,723 | President | $1,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| METRO JUSTICE INC | NY | W05 | $62,617 | $60,989 | Lead Organizer | $14,117 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ONE LA-IAF | CA | W05 | $111,408 | $63,060 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| RURAL NEBRASKA HEALTHCARE NETWORK | NE | W05 | $90,986 | $857,625 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| OMEGA LABS INC | NC | W05 | $170,000 | $0 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| STAR FEDERATION | NV | W05 | $80,704 | $5,060 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2024 · Form 990EZ · $310,246 spent · pay $0 · grants $100,000 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees to independent contractors | $204,455 | 65.9% | |
| Grants and similar amounts paid | $100,000 | 32.2% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $5,791 | 1.9% | |
| Total | $310,246 | 100% |
2023 · Form 990 · $2,048 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees: accounting | $2,048 | - | $2,048 | - | 100.0% | |
| Total | $2,048 | 100% |
2022 · Form 990EZ · $25,637 spent · pay $0 · grants $25,000 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants and similar amounts paid | $25,000 | 97.5% | |
| Other expenses (detail on Schedule O) | $637 | 2.5% | |
| Total | $25,637 | 100% |