Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn
The Helen and Ritter Shumway Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. It supports conservation and historic preservation in Rochester, New York, and nearby areas, as well as charities and causes valued by Helen S. Mayer and her brother, Ritter Shumway.
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn at a glance
In short: Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn gave $570K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in New York. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $570,250
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,933
- +11.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $6,866,079
- +1.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; its filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 653067, Dallas, TX 75265-3067
Phone: (888) 866-3275
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn
Who Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Antique Boat Museum ($50K). Together the top 10 received $343K.
Grant Size Distribution
140 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 140 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it supports conservation and historic preservation in Rochester, New York, and nearby areas. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in several states; the largest share of grant dollars went to New York recipients (66%), followed by Vermont, Tennessee, and Massachusetts (7% each), and Ohio (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $406K (2020) to $570K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $570K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Antique Boat Museum Clayton, NY | Unrestricted General | $50,000 |
| Shelburne Museum Shelburne, VT | Unrestricted General | $40,000 |
| Save the River Clayton, NY | Unrestricted General | $40,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc Memphis, TN | Unrestricted General | $40,000 |
| Historic Deerfield Inc Deerfield, MA | Unrestricted General | $37,500 |
| Humane Society of Rochester & Monroe Fairport, NY | Unrestricted General | $35,000 |
| Adirondack Mountain Club Inc Queensbury, NY | Unrestricted General | $30,000 |
| Great Lakes Historical Society Vermilion, OH | Unrestricted General | $25,000 |
| Winterthur Museum Winterthur, NY | Unrestricted General | $25,000 |
| Coral Restoration Key Largo, FL | Unrestricted General | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,866,079 | $746,200 | $682,841 | $570,250 | 26 | $636,088 | $704,764 | $658,211 |
| 2024 | $6,753,329 | $545,416 | $622,966 | $532,500 | 27 | $573,919 | $510,772 | $612,365 |
| 2023 | $6,798,518 | $745,496 | $529,047 | $513,500 | 26 | $516,591 | $636,386 | $540,924 |
| 2022 | $6,578,507 | $650,682 | $659,563 | $555,000 | 32 | $606,762 | $613,957 | $558,219 |
| 2021 | $6,587,976 | $716,741 | $545,458 | $456,000 | 29 | — | $676,108 | $613,444 |
| 2020 | $6,417,788 | $306,954 | $504,220 | $406,000 | 29 | — | $269,634 | $503,024 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated focus includes conservation and historic preservation in Rochester and surrounding areas, and support for charities and causes Helen S. Mayer and Ritter Shumway valued. Its grant program says it seeks to positively impact traditionally underserved people in its communities and considers requests for general operating and program support. Endowment campaigns and capital projects are typically not accepted.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. Ducks Unlimited describes its mission as conserving, restoring, and managing wetlands and associated habitats for waterfowl, wildlife, and people. Save the River says it works to protect the ecological integrity of the St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education, and research. Shelburne Museum describes its mission as providing an educational museum experience, while Historic Deerfield focuses on experiences with the stories, cultures, and material worlds of people who have made New England home. The Adirondack Mountain Club describes its work as conservation, preservation, and responsible recreational use of New York State forest preserves, parks, wild lands, and waters. Other 2025 grantees included Hillside Children’s Center, which provides services to children and families, and Abilis, which supports and advocates for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $570,250. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $20,000. The largest listed awards included $50,000 to Antique Boat Museum; $40,000 each to Shelburne Museum, Save the River, and Ducks Unlimited; and $37,500 to Historic Deerfield. These grants were designated for unrestricted general support. Other listed awards included $35,000 to the Humane Society of Rochester & Monroe, $30,000 to the Adirondack Mountain Club, and $25,000 each to the Great Lakes Historical Society and Winterthur Museum.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its grant-program description says it considers requests for general operating and program support and typically does not accept requests for endowment campaigns or capital projects. No application materials or deadline are stated.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bank of America as trustee, Frank R. Shumway III as co-trustee, and Paul C. Lambert, Esq., as co-trustee.
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frank R. Shumway III
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$15K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Paul C. Lambert Esq.
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$15K (2020) → $13K (2025)
Bank Of America
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$60K (2022) → $74K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bank Of America N A (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $74K, to Bank of America (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn
How much does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn give each year?
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn gave $570K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $533K across 27 grants.
What is Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's typical grant size?
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $21,933, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn that year got $14K on average.
Where does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn give grants?
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn gives mostly in New York: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Vermont (7%) and Tennessee (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (8 grants), Clayton, NY (2 grants), Rocester, NY (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's largest grantees?
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's largest 2025 grantees include Antique Boat Museum ($50,000), Shelburne Museum ($40,000) and Save the River ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn?
Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn reported $6.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $636K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $658K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn fund?
The foundation’s stated focus includes conservation and historic preservation in Rochester and surrounding areas, and support for charities and causes Helen S. Mayer and Ritter Shumway valued. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; its filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helen-and-ritter-shumway-fdn-morg_d10cd298c63c4d7db98b48be18c89864
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_166538147_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helen-and-ritter-shumway-fdn-morg_d10cd298c63c4d7db98b48be18c89864},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Helen and Ritter Shumway Fdn's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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