The “charity” side of the ARRL is primarily handled by the ARRL Foundation, a separate, independent 501(c)(3) organization established in 1973.
While the ARRL (the national association for Amateur Radio) manages advocacy and operational services, the ARRL Foundation is the arm dedicated to charitable, educational, and scientific support for the amateur radio community.
What the ARRL Foundation Does
The Foundation is funded entirely by donations from radio amateurs and supporters. Its primary activities include:
Scholarships: The Foundation manages over 150 different scholarships for licensed amateur radio operators pursuing higher education. These range from $500 to $25,000 and support students across various fields of study, often with a focus on STEM.
Grants: They provide financial grants to amateur radio organizations (clubs and groups) for projects that promote education, licensing, and amateur radio activities. Youth-based initiatives are a high priority for these grants.
Special Funds: The Foundation manages specific funds tailored to support youth incentives (like the Victor C. Clark Youth Incentive Program) and educational activities (such as the Alfred E. Friend, Jr., W4CF, Educational Activities Fund)
Other ARRL Funds
Beyond the Foundation, the ARRL (as an organization) also maintains several specific “Funds” that members and clubs can contribute to. These are focused on sustaining specific services:
If you are looking to support the community, you can donate directly to the ARRL Foundation for scholarships and youth grants, or choose a specific ARRL Fund based on which area of amateur radio—like education, history, or spectrum protection—you want to support.
You can make donations to the ARRL and the ARRL Foundation through a few different methods, depending on whether you are supporting the organization’s general funds or specific programs.
Where and How to Donate
Online Donations: You can make secure online donations for most ARRL funds (such as the Diamond Club, Spectrum Defense, Education & Technology, and W1AW Endowment) directly through the ARRL Donate Page.
Donations by Mail: If you are donating to the ARRL Foundation or prefer to send a check for an ARRL Fund, you should print and complete the appropriate donation form from the ARRL website and mail it to:
ARRL / ARRL Foundation
> 225 Main Street
> Newington, CT 06111-1494
Corporate Matching: Many employers will match your charitable contributions. Check with your company’s Human Resources department to see if they have a matching gift program; if they do, you can submit the necessary forms to the ARRL Development office at the address above.
Donations of Equipment: The ARRL Lab accepts donations of used amateur radio equipment and test gear. The proceeds from these items help fund their educational and preservation programs. You can find more information on this process on the ARRL News/Donations page.
Key Contact Information
If you have questions about a specific gift, memorial contributions, or how to set up an endowment or scholarship, you can reach the ARRL Development Office directly:
Phone: 860-594-0291 (Weekdays, 8 am – 5 pm ET)
Email: development@arrl.org or foundation@arrl.org
Note: Both the ARRL and the ARRL Foundation are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, so your contributions are generally tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you are making a memorial gift, be sure to include the name and call sign of the individual you are honoring, along with contact information for their family so the ARRL can notify them of your generosity.