American Camping Association Inc
The American Camp Association (ACA) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Martinsville, Indiana. Founded in 1910, ACA serves as the key resource for the camp industry, supporting camps, enhancing youth development, and promoting quality standards for camp experiences across the United States. The organization impacts approximately 20,175 camps nationwide and serves as a central hub for camp professionals, parents, and families seeking camp experiences.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$63.7M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$960K
+118.8% YoY
Grant Count
32
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
+146.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ACA is dedicated to unleashing the life-changing power of camp and unlocking a future where all children thrive. The organization's primary focus areas include:
Camp and Youth Development Education: Providing professional development and educational resources to camp professionals through conferences, regional events, online courses, webinars, and certificates of added qualification. In 2024-2025, more than 12,000 learners participated in ACA's educational offerings.
Accreditation: Operating a voluntary accreditation process through which nearly 2,700 camps have chosen to participate, communicating to parents that a camp has voluntarily met quality standards.
Professional Development: Offering training and enrichment opportunities for camp staff and professionals. ACA's annual national conference attracts over 2,100 attendees; the 2025 conference in Dallas drew this attendance level.
Research and Resources: Conducting research programs at the national level and providing tools for the camp industry, including a directory of camps and job listings.
Character Development: Supporting camps in implementing character-building programs and initiatives.
Grantmaking
ACA administers grants through its grantmaking activities with total giving of $2,695,280. The organization focuses on grants for:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ACA's grantmaking priorities include California, New York, and New Jersey, though the organization's reach extends nationally across all 50 states through its camp directory and professional development offerings.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
American Camping Association Inc (2025)
- Total Assets: $63,668,985
- Total Revenues: $16,504,617
- Total Expenses: $15,993,848
- Number of Employees: 60
American Camping Foundation (2025)
- Total Assets: $6,636,726
- Total Revenues: $528,751
- Total Expenses: $157,007
The American Camping Association maintains a Four-Star rating with a 100% score based on accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $63,668,985 | $61,321,805 | $14,811,383 |
| Revenue | $16,504,617 | $58,454,496 | $10,778,325 |
| Expenses | $15,993,848 | $13,110,540 | $10,890,135 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,272,651 | $1,278,205 | $252,495 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from American Camping Association Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco ($93,000), Fiver Children's Foundation ($62,500), Guided Discoveries ($62,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Acta Non Verba Oakland, CA | Councilor in Training Program | $40,500 |
| Barbara C Harris Center Greefield, NH | Councilor in Training Program | $25,500 |
| B'nai B'rith Camp Portland, OR | Councilor in Training Program | $25,500 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Councilor in Training Program | $93,000 |
| Butler University Indianapolis, IN | Councilor in Training Program | $40,500 |
| Camp Common Ground (Operator) Oakland, AK | Program Development | $5,000 |
| Camp Fire Alaska Council Anchorage, AK | Councilor in Training Program | $25,500 |
| Camp Fire Long Beach Long Beach, CA | Camp School Partnership | $25,000 |
| Camp for all Kids Chicago, IL | Councilor in Training Program | $25,500 |
| Camp Hazen YMCA Chester, CT | Councilor in Training Program | $25,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The American Camping Foundation Board (2024-2025) includes:
- Anne Derber, Chair
- Scott Brody
- Meg Clark
- Sterling Leija
- Will Pierce
- Andy Shlensky
- Tony Stein
- Steve Suddeth
- Liz Fogel, Chair, ACA Board of Directors
- Don Cheley, Emeritus member
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Shlensky | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Elizabeth Kelder | Member-at-Large (New Partial Year) | 1 | — |
| Lizabeth Fogel | Board Chair (Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Patrick D'Amelio | Vice Chair (New Partial Year) | 1 | — |
| Steve Baskin | Board Chair( New Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Aaron Dworkin | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Adam Boyd | Board Member (New Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Alex Mircheff | Board Member (New Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Anthony Stein | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Brian Levy | Board Member (New Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Dan Mathews | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Dayna Hardin | Vice Chair (Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Deborah Clair | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Elizabeth Bagley | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Elizabeth Sosnow | Board Member | 2 | — |
| John Miller | Board Member (New Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Ju'Riese Colon | Board Member (Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| LeeKeshia Williams | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Rafael Alvarado | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Sarah Horner Fish | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Scott Brody | Board Member (Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Sheely Mauck | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Suzanne Le Menestrel | Board Member (Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Will Pierce | Board Member (New Partial Year) | 2 | — |
| Christa Cassidy M | Chief Financial Officer | 39 | $180,983 |
| Henry DeHart Jr | Interim President/Chief Executive Officer | 39 | $183,741 |
| Thomas Rosenberg | President/Chief Executive Officer (Partial Year) | 39 | $271,740 |
| Kelley Freridge | Chief Marketing Officer (Partial Year) | 40 | $125,623 |
| Laurie Pearson | Sr. Director of Innovation & Learning | 40 | $122,919 |
| Marna Redding | Chief Development Officer | 40 | $142,865 |
| Thomas Schenk | Director of Information Technology | 40 | $113,391 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Strategic Partnership (February 2026)**: ACA announced a partnership with Harmony Academy at National University to expand access to evidence-informed educational resources that strengthen relationships, belonging, and well-being in camp communities.
**Character at Camp Initiative**: ACA selected 77 camps to receive grant funding through this program.
American Camp Association Selects 77 Camps to Receive Grant Funding as a**Major Grant Received**: The Pony Barnes Foundation invested $685,000 in ACA to support the power of camp.
Pony Barnes Foundation Invests in the Power of Camp with $685,000 Grant to**Disaster Preparedness Grant**: ACA received $400,000 to strengthen disaster preparedness and response capabilities at camps.
American Camp Association Receives $400,000 Grant to Strengthen Disaster**Leadership Development Funding**: ACA was awarded $2.25 million to create, improve, and expand leadership pathways for young people of diverse backgrounds.
American Camp Association Awarded $2.25 Million to Create, Improve, and Expand**Bookstore Launch**: ACA launched a new online bookstore in partnership with Trellis Press, LLC, featuring titles that reflect ACA's values and lift camp professionals' voices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does American Camping Association Inc fund?
ACA is dedicated to unleashing the life-changing power of camp and unlocking a future where all children thrive. The organization's primary focus areas include: • **Camp and Youth Development Education**: Providing professional development and educational resources to camp professionals through conferences, regional events, online courses, webinars, and certificates of added qualification. In 2024-2025, more than 12,000 learners participated in ACA's educational offerings. • **Accreditation**: …
How do I apply for a grant from American Camping Association Inc?
ACA administers grants through its grantmaking activities with total giving of $2,695,280. The organization focuses on grants for: • **Character at Camp Initiative**: ACA selected 77 camps to receive grant funding as part of this initiative. • **Camper Scholarships**: Providing financial assistance to persons unable to otherwise attend camp experiences, with emphasis on facilitating interaction among persons from different social, economic, racial, national, and cultural backgrounds. • **Educat…
Where does American Camping Association Inc make grants?
ACA's grantmaking priorities include California, New York, and New Jersey, though the organization's reach extends nationally across all 50 states through its camp directory and professional development offerings.
What size grants does American Camping Association Inc award?
In 2025, American Camping Association Inc awarded 32 grants totaling $960K — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is American Camping Association Inc's EIN?
American Camping Association Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-0962419. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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