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Nonprofit · EIN 34-1265325

ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY

Also known as AHEAD

Tax-exempt · HUNTERSVILLE, NC 28078

Financials

$4M$4.2M2022$4.5M$4.6M2023$5.1M$5.3M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
September 30, 2025990$5,077,637$5,282,960-$205,323$1,614,904$585,837$1,029,067
September 30, 2024990$4,516,286$4,563,330-$47,044$1,952,244$685,660$1,266,584
September 30, 2023990$4,045,765$4,179,393-$133,628$1,601,444$398,254$1,203,190
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$2,205,039
of which government grants
$474,191
Membership dues
$1,372,167
Program service revenue
$2,689,712
Investment income
$104,196
Net gain from sales of assets
$84,073
Other revenue
$78,690

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$506,911
Other salaries and wages
$1,224,788
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$2,311,098
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$12,981
Occupancy
$72,955
Travel
$120,133
Depreciation
$2,137
Program services (functional)
$2,340,368
Management and general (functional)
$2,942,592

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$1,952,244
Total assets, end of year
$1,614,904
Total liabilities, end of year
$585,837
Net assets, end of year
$1,029,067
Land, buildings and equipment
$2,290
Publicly traded securities
$727,083
Net assets without donor restrictions
$1,029,067
Gross receipts
$5,977,350
Employees
10
Year formed
1978
State of legal domicile
NC

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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
STEPHAN J SMITHExecutive Dir.
Trustee or director
65$220,391
ELISA LAIRD-METKEDEPUTY CFO
Trustee or director
45$157,833
OAHN HUYNHCFO
Trustee or director
45$128,687
RJ KIGOREDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
JILL SIEBEN-SCHNEIDERTreasurer
Trustee or director
0$0
Katy WashingtonPresident
Trustee or director
0$0
CHARNESSA WARRENDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
KAELA PARKSDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
CRYSTAL HILLPres Elect
Trustee or director
0$0
DORIS PIERCESecretary
Trustee or director
0$0
KAREN ANDREWSDIRECTOR AT LG
Trustee or director
0$0
BREE CALLAHANDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
SPENCER SCRUGGSDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
LIZ THOMPSONDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
MARIA SCHIANODirector
Trustee or director
0$0
3 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
MARY LEE VANCEDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
EDINA RUTLANDDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
DR FERANMI OKANLAMIDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 16 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
STEPHAN J SMITHExecutive Dir.
Trustee or director
65$214,502
ELISA LAIRD-METKEDEPUTY CFO
Trustee or director
45$143,658
OAHN HUYNHCFO
Trustee or director
45$123,495
JILL SIEBEN-SCHNEIDERTreasurer
Trustee or director
0$0
KATY WASHINGTONPresident
Trustee or director
0$0
CHARNESSA WARRENDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
KAELA PARKSDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
CRYSTAL HILLPres Elect
Trustee or director
0$0
DORIS PIERCESecretary
Trustee or director
0$0
KAREN ANDREWSDIRECTOR AT LG
Trustee or director
0$0
BREE CALLAHANDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
SPENCER SCRUGGSDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
LIZ THOMPSONDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
MARIA SCHIANODirector
Trustee or director
0$0
MARY LEE VANCEDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
EDINA RUTLANDDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 17 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
STEPHAN SMITHExecutive Dir.
Trustee or director
65$237,493
ELISA LAIRD-METKEDirector
Trustee or director
0$130,000
OAHN HUYNHCFO
Trustee or director
45$117,335
KRISTIE ORRPresident
Trustee or director
0$0
CHRISTOPHER STONEDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
KATY WASHINGTONSecretary
Trustee or director
0$0
ENJIE HALLDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
AMANDA KRAUSPRES ELECT
Trustee or director
0$0
CRYSTAL HILLDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
GAEIR DIETRICHDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
KAREN ANDREWSDIRECTOR AT LG
Trustee or director
0$0
DONNA JOHNSONDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
LINDA NISSENBAUMDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
DARSHAN SHAHDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
ADAM CRAWFORDDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
JEN DUGGERDirector
Trustee or director
0$0
MICHELLE RIGLERDirector
Trustee or director
0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
16810 KENTON DR STE 220, HUNTERSVILLE, NC 28078-4845
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
STEPHAN J SMITH, 16810 Kenton Drive 220, Huntersville, NC 28078
Signed the 990
Stephan J Smith, Executive Director
Phone
(704) 947-7779
Return prepared by
MCCAFFERTY & COMPANY PC

Mission

AHEAD is a non-profit organization of professionals committed to promoting a full participation in higher education for persons with disabilities, and to providing vital resources for promoting excellence through education, communication, and training.

990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • Hold an annual conference to bring together professionals in the fields of higher education and disability for a week of information sharing, networking, and theoretical and practical training.
    Expenses $1,362,560 · revenue $2,081,468
  • Hold seminars to provide top-quality training opportunities to individuals who work with disabled students in higher education.
    Expenses $621,035 · revenue $470,491
  • AHEAD was awarded a grant from The RWJ Foundation in support of the Disability Inclusion Intitiative under the US Disability Rights program.
    Expenses $194,427 · revenue $166,667
  • AHEAD was awarded a grant from The Ford Foundation in support of the Disability Inclusion Intitiative under the US Disability Rights program.
    Expenses $125,980 · revenue $150,000
  • AHEAD provides educational publications and other materials to the members.
    Expenses $36,366 · revenue $17,411

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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025September 30, 2026February 16, 2027Not due yet
2024September 30, 2025February 17, 2026990 on file
2023September 30, 2024February 18, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
34-1265325
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1980
Accounting year ends
September
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P030)
Assets (IRS master file)
$1,614,904
Income (IRS master file)
$5,977,350

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990September 2025$5,077,637$5,282,960$1,614,904IRS
990September 2024$4,516,286$4,563,330$1,952,244XML
990September 2023$4,045,765$4,179,393$1,601,444XML
990September 2022$3,202,543$3,119,143$1,614,411IRS
990September 2021–––IRS
990September 2020–––IRS
990September 2019–––IRS
990September 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 34-1265325).

Questions about ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY

What is the EIN of ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY is 34-1265325.
Is ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1980.
Are donations to ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY 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 ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
Who is the principal officer of ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names STEPHAN J SMITH.
Who are the officers and directors of ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 18 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $220,391 (STEPHAN J SMITH, Executive Dir.).
How much revenue does ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITY have?
On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,077,637, expenses of $5,282,960 and total assets of $1,614,904 at year end.

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