Albanian American Development Foundation

The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created in 2009 by the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF) with the support of USAID and the U.S. government. AAEF itself was established under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989, and the SEED Act required a legacy organization to carry the fund's mission forward using proceeds from its liquidated investments. AADF is that legacy organization.

Incorporated in Delaware, AADF maintains offices in New York and in Tirana, Albania. Its New York mailing address is 780 Third Avenue, 46th Floor, and it operates under EIN 27-2782213, with an IRS ruling year of 2011. The foundation reports roughly $9.3 million in annual revenue on its Form 990, and donations are tax-deductible.

AADF's stated mission is to facilitate the development of a sustainable private-sector economy and a democratic society in Albania, and to contribute to stability in Southeastern Europe. It describes itself as a direct implementation organization, meaning it runs its own programs on the ground rather than acting solely as a grantmaker. Its work concentrates on four areas: education and leadership, entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, and eco-tourism.

Governed by a Board of Trustees, AADF sits at an unusual intersection of the Albanian-American world. It is funded by U.S.-origin capital, headquartered in New York, and active across Albania, and the U.S. Embassy in Tirana has publicly recognized its role, including at the commemoration of 100 years of U.S.-Albanian relations.