Americas Automotive Trust

Tacoma, WA · Founded 2016

Preserves America's automotive heritage through museum support, education, restoration programs, and historic vehicle recognition

Primary audience
Museums & Enthusiasts
Work area
Heritage Preservation
Topic
Automotive History
Contact
Chery Phillips
Website Contact

About Organization

Americas Automotive Trust promotes and secures America's automotive heritage through support of cultural institutions, educational programs, and restoration initiatives. Based in Tacoma, WA, the organization operates with 37 volunteers and generated $3.5 million in revenue in 2024. Founded in 2016, the trust supports museums, scholarship programs for restoration skills, and recognition systems for historically significant automobiles.

What They Focus On

Cultural Preservation

Supporting museums and institutions that display automotive history and document the cultural impact of automobiles on American society

Skills Development

Funding educational programs and scholarships ensuring craftspeople maintain expertise needed to restore and preserve historic vehicles

Heritage Recognition

Creating standards and programs identifying historically significant automobiles and encouraging their active use in communities nationwide

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$3.5M

+20.2% vs 2023

Expenses (2024)

$1.6M

-57.6% vs 2023

Assets (2024)

$2.2M

+138.3% vs 2023

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2024 $3,547,980 $1,619,476 $2,241,690 0
2023 $2,952,548 $3,816,945 $940,832 0
2022 $2,081,279 $2,463,827 $749,223 0
2021 $2,292,379 $2,068,668 $1,289,541 0
2020 $1,867,825 $1,613,956 $1,132,322 0
2019 $1,794,259 $2,232,740 $632,294 0
2018 $2,627,700 $2,490,556 $828,210 0

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Support Institutions

    Provide grants and operational support to museums and cultural institutions preserving automotive history

  • 02

    Educate Craftspeople

    Fund scholarship programs training technicians in restoration and maintenance of historic vehicles

  • 03

    Recognize Heritage

    Establish standards and systems for identifying automobiles with historical and cultural significance

  • 04

    Engage Communities

    Organize events and programs encouraging public use and appreciation of historic automobiles

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Americas Automotive Trust

Museum Support

Provides funding and resources to cultural institutions displaying automotive history and the cultural significance of automobiles

Education & Scholarships

Supports educational programs and scholarships to develop skills needed for maintenance and restoration of historic automobiles

Historic Vehicle Recognition

Establishes and maintains a system for identifying and recognizing historically significant automobiles in America

Community Engagement

Creates active programs encouraging utilization of historic automobiles and engaging communities that support automotive heritage

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Americas Automotive Trust.

Chery Phillips

Chery Phillips

Director of Human Resources
20 hrs/week
Compensation: $119,053
Nick Ellis

Nick Ellis

Executive Director, RPM Foundation
1 hrs/week
Sandy Colt

Sandy Colt

Controller
20 hrs/week
Compensation: $135,178
Rob Reed

Rob Reed

ACM Facilities Manager
Joe Jacuzzi

Joe Jacuzzi

Chief Executive Officer
Christina Hannan

Christina Hannan

VP of Finance & Operations
Jake Welk

Jake Welk

Marketing & Communications Director
Kathy King

Kathy King

Membership & Database Manager
Lacey Fry

Lacey Fry

Corporate, Foundations, & Grants Officer
Kelsey Cross

Kelsey Cross

ACM Education Manager
Jenni Collins

Jenni Collins

ACM Events Manager
Justin Collins

Justin Collins

ACM Guest Services Manager
BC

B Corry McFarland

Past Chairman (Emeritus)
1 hrs/week
GY

Gary Yamamoto

VP of Finance (left July 2024)
10 hrs/week
MT

Michael Towers

Chairman
1 hrs/week
DL

David L Madeira

Vice Chair & CEO,AAT

Milestones

2016

Organization Founded

2016

Americas Automotive Trust established in Tacoma to preserve automotive heritage

2018

Tax-Exempt Status Granted

2018

Received IRS 501(c)(3) recognition enabling grant-making and educational programs

2018

Peak Initial Funding

2018

Achieved $2.6 million in revenue supporting museum and education initiatives

2024

Record Revenue Growth

2024

Revenue reached $3.5 million marking highest fundraising year in organization history

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

DL
David L Madeira Vice Chair & CEO,AAT 39.4 hrs/week · $338,750
AR
Al Ruozzi Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
AG
Alan Granberg Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
BW
Bruce Wanta Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
DB
Dale Bloomquist Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
DC
Doug Clark Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
DL
Doug LeMay Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
DW
Drew Weyerhaeuser Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
EB
Ed Brooks Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
EW
Ed Welburn Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
FC
Frank Chang Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
GG
Gary Gartner Vice Chair (retired Sept 2024) 0.50 hrs/week
GI
George Ingle Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
GG
Gerald Greenfield Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
JG
James Gary May Board Member 0.5 hrs/week
JW
James Will Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
JW
Jason Wenig Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
JB
John Barline Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
JS
Jonathan Shaw Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
KF
Keith Flickinger Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
MS
Manfred Scharmach Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
MH
McKeel Hagerty Board Member 0.5 hrs/week
MH
Michael Holmes Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
MJ
Michael J Phillips Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
NL
Nancy LeMay Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
NB
Nicola Bulgari Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
PR
Pat Riley Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
PS
Paul Sabatini Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
RA
Rod Alberts Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
SB
Sam Baker Jr Secretary 0.50 hrs/week
SB
Sandra Button Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
SB
Steve Boone Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
SS
Steve Saleen Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
TG
T G Mittler Board Member 0.50 hrs/week
TH
Tom Hedges Board Member (Emeritus) 0.50 hrs/week
TC
Trevor Cobb Treasurer 0.5 hrs/week
WW
William Weyerhaeuser Vice Chair 0.50 hrs/week
BC
B Corry McFarland Past Chairman (Emeritus)
MT
Michael Towers Chairman
Joe Jacuzzi
Joe Jacuzzi Cheif Executive Officer
Christina Hannan
Christina Hannan VP of Finance & Operations
Nick Ellis
Nick Ellis Executive Director, RPM Foundation
Sandy Colt
Sandy Colt Controller
Jake Welk
Jake Welk Marketing & Communications Director
Chery Phillips
Chery Phillips Director of Human Resources
Kathy King
Kathy King Membership & Database Manager
Lacey Fry
Lacey Fry Corporate, Foundations, & Grants Officer
Rob Reed
Rob Reed ACM Facilities Manager
Kelsey Cross
Kelsey Cross ACM Education Manager
Jenni Collins
Jenni Collins ACM Events Manager
Justin Collins
Justin Collins ACM Guest Services Manager

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$695K

Highest Paid

$366K

David L Madeira

Compensated Officers

6

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
David L Madeira Vice Chair & CEO,Aat $338,750 $26,972 $365,722 39.4
Sandy Colt Controller $135,178 $17,130 $152,308 2
Chery Phillips HR Director $119,053 $10,231 $129,284 2
Gary Yamamoto VP Of Finance (Left July 2024) $0 $16,712 $16,712 1
Rob Reed Facilities Manager $0 $15,517 $15,517 —
Nick Ellis EXEC Director, Rpm $0 $15,488 $15,488 0.5

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$35K Grants Received
$1.5M Grants Given
3 Organizations

Top Funders

1 total
FI
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
$35K

Top Grantees

2 total
LA
LeMay - America's Car Museum Tacoma, WA · 2 grants
$1.3M
RF
RPM Foundation Tacoma, WA · 2 grants
$162K
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund LeMay - America's Car Museum RPM Foundation
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund LeMay - America's Car Museum RPM Foundation

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Related Organizations

4 affiliated entities reported on IRS Form 990 Schedule R

4

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

4
LeMay Americas Car Museum
Tacoma, WA
Operates car museum
501(c) 501(c)(3)
RPM Foundation
Tacoma, WA
Education
501(c) 501(c)(3)
LeMay Dome Parking Association
Tacoma, WA
Operates parking lots surrounding
501(c) 501(c)(3)
Harold E Lemay Museum
Tacoma, WA
Owns building leased by museum
501(c) 501(c)(3)

Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule R (Related Organizations and Unrelated Partnerships)

Contact

Get in touch with Americas Automotive Trust

Phone

(253) 779-8490

Social

Visit Website
2702 East D Street Tacoma, WA 98421