Fresh Air Fund
Fresh Air Fund reported $21.2 million in revenue and $23.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $75.65 went to program services, $8.59 to management and general costs and $15.76 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 82.0% of the total. Government grants made up 10.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $376,082 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 64% between FY2020 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $24MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $21M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$71.32 $15M
- Government grants$9.87 $2.1M
- Program service revenue$6.56 $1.4M
- Investment income$12.25 $2.6M
Other revenue was negative: −$217K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.6% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 15.8% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.21 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 82.0% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 10.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.6% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $376,082 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.59% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 17 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 73.0 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 31 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe Fresh Air Fund's camping programs take place year-round on the fund's sharpe reservation and during the summer at harriman state park. In the summer, 3,500 new york city children learn and grow through immersive outdoor experiences. Campers swim and row boats on the lake, stargaze, hike nature trails and learn about animals and where their food comes from at the camp farm and nutrition center. Campers return home with more confidence, new skills and new friends. During the school year, campers are invited to participate in year-round leadership and educational program through tutoring and…
The Fresh Air Fund's sharpe reservation in fishkill, ny, has over 2,000 acres of beautiful land with lakes, ponds, streams and hiking trails through the woods. During the school year, over 10,000 people from community and school groups in the tristate region participate in our environmental educational programs. We offer student, and community group hands-on, interactive, experience to learn about the the environment and explore nature. Groups visit the sharpe environmental center, the gustafson planetarium, our high and low ropes courses, and the numerous nature trails across the…
Approximately 2,000 Fresh Air children visit rual, suburban and small-town communities along the east coast and southern canada, called friendly towns, during the summer. During the one or two week visits with volunteer host families, children and their hosts form bonds of friendship by sharing personal, day-to-day experiences. Children travel to a new place, develop independence, make new friends, learn new skills, and gain a new perspective, all while making memories and having fun. Every host family goes through a rigorous screening process including a home visit, interview, references and…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $335,905 | $0 | $40,177 | $376,082 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $257,374 | $0 | $48,093 | $305,467 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $250,399 | $0 | $41,977 | $292,376 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $245,384 | $0 | $46,494 | $291,878 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER (OUTGOING) Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $242,162 | $0 | $20,204 | $262,366 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $192,148 | $0 | $22,771 | $214,919 |
| DIRECTOR OF IT (OUTGOING) Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $180,708 | $0 | $10,268 | $190,976 |
17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Fresh Air Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $682K (Part IX, line 5).
5 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b31 · 31 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5649
- Volunteers Part I, line 631
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LORI SEADER Development consultant | $171,786 |
| OLIVE BRANH CONSULTING LTD Capital projects consultant | $163,000 |
| MOMENTUM COMMUNICATIONS GROUP Public relations consultant | $130,800 |
| MIXED COMPANY TK LLC Fundraising consultant | $117,072 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
207 private foundations reported grants to Fresh Air Fund totaling $1.8M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Fresh Air Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Fresh Air Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Fresh Air Fund spent in 2024, $75.65 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Greater Midland Community CtrsMidland, MI · revenue $21M · programs 79.2% · 2025
- USA CyclingColorado Springs, CO · revenue $21M · programs 85.0% · FY2025
- USA FootballIndianapolis, IN · revenue $21M · programs 84.3% · 2025
- Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028Los Angeles, CA · revenue $21M · programs 47.0% · 2024
- United States Ski Team FoundationPark City, UT · revenue $21M · programs 86.2% · FY2025
All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Fresh Air Fund's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Fresh Air Fund reported that 75.6% of its $23.6 million in expenses went to program services, 8.6% to management and general and 15.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Fresh Air Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Fresh Air Fund reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $376,082, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Fresh Air Fund get its money?
Of $21.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 82.0% came from contributions and grants (including 10.0% from government grants) and 6.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Fresh Air Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-1656653 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202512889349303256 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202432899349302923 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313079349302106 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223219349301607 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202112369349301411 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-1656653: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.