The Helen and Ritter Shumway Foundation is an independent private foundation established in 2002 in Connecticut and currently based in Dallas, Texas. The foundation was created by Helen S. Mayer to honor the legacy of her brother, Ritter Shumway, and to support causes they both valued during their lifetimes. Bank of America's New York office manages the foundation and serves as co-trustee alongside Paul Lambert and Frank R. Shumway III.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.9M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$570K
+7.1% YoY
Grant Count
26
-3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
+11.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn reported a distributable amount of $658K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on supporting conservation and historic preservation in Rochester, New York and its surrounding areas. The foundation seeks to positively impact the lives of traditionally underserved communities within its service areas.
Primary funding areas include:
- Conservation and historic preservation
- Community improvement and capacity building
- Environmental causes
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
The foundation considers grant requests for general operating support and program support, though applications for endowment campaigns or capital projects are typically not accepted.
Grantmaking
The foundation has supported organizations including Junior Achievement of Rochester, Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse, National Nature Conservancy, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, and Seneca Park Zoo. The foundation has also provided support to organizations in the greater Northeast region.
Grant Range
$22,000
Average Grant
$22,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Rochester, New York and its surrounding areas. Secondary funding activity has been documented in New York, Vermont, and Tennessee, with some support extending to the greater Northeast region of the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Assets & Giving (2025):
- Total assets: $6,866,079
- Total giving: $570,250
- Annual revenue: $746,200
- Net investment income: $704,764
- Distributable amount: $658,211
Three-Year Financial Comparison:
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,866,079 | $6,753,329 | $6,798,518 |
| Revenue | $746,200 | $545,416 | $745,496 |
| Expenses | $682,841 | $622,966 | $529,047 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $636,088 | $573,919 | $516,591 |
| Net Investment Income | $704,764 | $510,772 | $636,386 |
Trend Analysis: The foundation has demonstrated consistent growth, with assets increasing 1.7% year-over-year and annual giving increasing 7.1% from 2024 to 2025. Average grant size increased 11.2% during this period.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,866,079 | $6,753,329 | $6,798,518 |
| Revenue | $746,200 | $545,416 | $745,496 |
| Expenses | $682,841 | $622,966 | $529,047 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $636,088 | $573,919 | $516,591 |
| Net Investment Income | $704,764 | $510,772 | $636,386 |
| Distributable Amount | $658,211 | $612,365 | $540,924 |
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
140 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Antique Boat Museum ($50,000), Shelburne Museum ($40,000), Save the River ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CORAL RESTORATION KEY LARGO, FL | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $20,000 |
| SHELBURNE MUSEUM SHELBURNE, VT | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $40,000 |
| SPENCE SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $12,500 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF ROCHESTER ROCHESTER, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $10,000 |
| GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE & MUSEUM MUMFORD, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $20,000 |
| BRADDOCK BAY BIRD OBSERVATORY ROCHESTER, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $5,000 |
| ABILIS INC GREENWICH, CT | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $20,000 |
| HERRESHOFF MARINE MUSEUM BRISTOL, RI | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $10,000 |
| SAVE THE RIVER CLAYTON, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $40,000 |
| SENECA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY ROCESTER, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Helen S. Mayer – Founder
- Paul Lambert – Co-trustee
- Frank R. Shumway III – Co-trustee
- Bank of America – Co-trustee and foundation manager
Historical Context: Ritter Shumway (Helen's brother) was a manufacturer, sportsman, philanthropist, and Presbyterian minister who died in 1992. He was a Rochester native who joined Ritter Company, a medical equipment manufacturer founded by his grandfather. He was active in the figure skating community and served as president of the U.S. Figure Skating Association in 1961.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANK OF AMERICA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $74,156 |
| FRANK R SHUMWAY III | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MR PAUL C LAMBERT ESQ | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,687 |
Contact Information
- Phone: 888-866-3275
- Email: ny.grantmaking@bofa.com
- Mailing Address: PO Box 653067, Dallas, TX 75265-3067
- Website: www.bankofamerica.com/philanthropic/foundation
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn fund?
The foundation's mission centers on supporting conservation and historic preservation in Rochester, New York and its surrounding areas. The foundation seeks to positively impact the lives of traditionally underserved communities within its service areas. Primary funding areas include: • Conservation and historic preservation • Community improvement and capacity building • Environmental causes • Education • Human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking The foundation considers gran…
How do I apply for a grant from Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Average grant size: $22,000 • Typical award range: $5,000–$50,000 • Number of grants annually: 26 (as of 2025) **Recent Activity:** • 2025: $570,250 in total giving across 26 grants • 2024: $573,919 in qualifying distributions across 27 grants • 2023: $516,591 in qualifying distributions **Historical Grantees:** The foundation has supported organizations including Junior Achievement of Rochester, Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse, National Nature Conservancy, Goodwill of…
Where does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Rochester, New York and its surrounding areas. Secondary funding activity has been documented in New York, Vermont, and Tennessee, with some support extending to the greater Northeast region of the United States.
What size grants does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn award?
In 2025, Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn awarded 26 grants totaling $570K — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn reported a distributable amount of $658K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's EIN?
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6538147. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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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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