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AMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION INC

EIN 83-3365782 JANESVILLE, WI

Revenue 2024
$767,869
Expenses 2024
$1,437,616

Program services were 71.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
R19
Classification
1000
Street
101 S MAIN ST STE 300

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

IN AMERICA, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR BIRTH SHOULD NOT DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF YOUR LIFE. THE AMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE POLICIES AND PEOPLE WHO EVERY DAY GIVE MEANING TO THIS CONVICTION.THE FOUNDATION WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF GRASSROOTS, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EFFORTS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY AND NATIONAL POLICYMAKERS WHO CAN IMPLEMENT CHANGE. THE FOUNDATION TAKES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING REAL-WORLD INITIATIVES THAT ARE ACHIEVING RESULTS, ARMING POLICYMAKERS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THE EFFORTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND LINKING PRACTITIONERS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REPLICATE THOSE SUCCESS STORIES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN NEED.THE AMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS THE BOTTOM-UP DYNAMISM OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES THAT TRULY MAKES AMERICA A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROMOTE POLICIES AND PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR BIRTH SHOULD NOT DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF YOUR LIFE AND WORKS TO EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS AS WELL AS CONNECT PRACTITIONERS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS.

  • IN AMERICA, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR BIRTH SHOULD NOT DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF YOUR LIFE. THE FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE POLICIES AND PEOPLE WHO EVERY DAY GIVE MEANING TO THIS CONVICTION. THE FOUNDATION WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF GRASSROOTS, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EFFORTS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY AND NATIONAL POLICYMAKERS WHO CAN IMPLEMENT CHANGE. THE FOUNDATION TAKES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING REAL-WORLD INITIATIVES THAT ARE ACHIEVING RESULTS, ARMING POLICYMAKERS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THE EFFORTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND LINKING PRACTITIONERS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REPLICATE THOSE SUCCESS STORIES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN NEED. THE AMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO EXPANDING THE ADOPTION AND USE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC POLICIES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES AND EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION HAS PROMOTED EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE SCOPE OF EVIDENCE BASED PUBLIC POLICIES VIA IN-PERSON EVENTS, VIRTUAL GATHERINGS, AND WRITTEN PRODUCTS. THE AMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SHINING A LIGHT ON IDEAS SOLUTIONS THAT FIGHT POVERTY, PROMOTE UPWARD MOBILITY, AND GROW THE ECONOMY. THE FOUNDATION HAS DONE THIS BY UTILIZING SPEAKER PAUL RYAN'S PUBLIC PROFILE TO ENSURE THAT THE LAWS THAT WERE THE HALLMARK OF HIS CAREER ARE PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED AND EXECUTED. THE AMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH ACADEMIC PARTNERS AND RESEARCHERS TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS' INITIATIVES AND SUCCESSES ARE VALIDATED BY DATA AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. IT BRINGS POLICYMAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EXPLAINS FIRST-HAND WHY THESE PROGRAMS ARE ACHIEVING RESULTS, WHAT EVIDENCE VALIDATES THEIR SUCCESS, AND HOW THESE SOLUTIONS CAN BE SCALED AND REPLICATED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

    Expenses $1,032,381 · Grants $350,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • PAUL RYAN

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JONATHAN BURKS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ASHLEE STRONG

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CASEY HIGGINS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DERRICK DOCKERY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JAKE KASTAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ANDREW SPETH

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $322,009
    From this org
    $276,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,009
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $276,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,040
    Nontaxable benefits
    $34,969
    Filer's total
    $322,009

  • KEVIN SEIFERT

    VICE PRESIDENT/SENIOR ADVISOR

    Total calculated
    $213,347
    From this org
    $194,763
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,584
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $194,763
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,304
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,280
    Filer's total
    $213,347

  • SUSAN JACOBSON

    TREASURER/DIR. OF ADMINISTRATION

    Total calculated
    $42,622
    From this org
    $30,254
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,368
    Hours/week
    25

  • PATRICIA GUSE

    SECRETARY/DIR. OF OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $89,871
    From this org
    $86,832
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,039
    Hours/week
    40

  • EDWARD MCCANN

    VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY & PROGRAMS

    Total calculated
    $168,811
    From this org
    $162,318
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,493
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $162,318
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,493
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $168,811

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $767,869
    Expenses
    $1,437,616
    Contributions
    $94,661
    Grants paid
    $350,000
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $1,672,433
    Expenses
    $1,587,824
    Contributions
    $1,395,563
    Grants paid
    $494,546
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $597,542
    Expenses
    $1,515,653
    Contributions
    $903,902
    Grants paid
    $325,000

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,815,471
    Expenses
    $1,205,923
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,348,955

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $845,383
    Expenses
    $1,176,475
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,374,306

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $8,693,083
    Expenses
    $632,506
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,392,580

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.