May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation
The May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City, located at Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation and is classified as a private grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.0M
+1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$555K
+39.9% YoY
Grant Count
19
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$29K
+39.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $416K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide giving primarily for:
- The arts
- Education
- Hospitals and health care
- Human services
- Catholic federated giving programs, agencies, and churches
The foundation will consider all religions in its grantmaking, despite its primary focus on Catholic organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 40 grants in 2023, with total giving of $396,980 that year. According to more recent data, total giving reached $555,480 in 2024.
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $7,896,118
- Total Revenues: $878,937
- Total Expenses: $706,954
- Number of Employees: 2
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,973,347
- Total Giving: $555,480
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,973,347 | $7,896,118 | $8,176,456 |
| Revenue | $566,975 | $878,937 | $686,712 |
| Expenses | $874,549 | $706,954 | $804,396 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $754,104 | $589,334 | $696,585 |
| Net Investment Income | $466,994 | $778,232 | $578,786 |
| Distributable Amount | $416,373 | $380,782 | $422,867 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Build on Inc ($105,000), Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation ($100,000), Music That Heals Inc ($72,480).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALFRED E SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| BABE RUTH BASEBALL OF STAMFORD INC STAMFORD, CT | GENERAL | $7,000 |
| BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| BUILD ON INC STAMFORD, CT | ANNUAL APPEAL | $105,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES BROOKLYN & QUEENS BROOKLYN, NY | CATHOLIC RENEWAL | $20,000 |
| FETCH RESCUE INC WESTPORT, CT | GENERAL | $3,000 |
| FUTURES AND OPTIONS INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| FUTURES IN EDUCATION BROOKLYN, NY | SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $15,000 |
| HASSENFELD CHILDRENS HOSPITAL AT NYU LANGONE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| MUSIC THAT HEALS INC NEOPONSIT, NY | TULLY CENTER, QUEENS CENTER, BROOKLYN CALVARY HOSPITAL, & ADAPT SCHOOL | $72,480 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Terri Rohan: President and Chief Executive Officer
- Elisabeth McCarthy: Listed as contact person (Attn Elisabeth McCarthy)
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 212-986-1200
- Email: megritterfdn@aol.com
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TERRI ROHAN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 35 | $127,400 |
| ALEXANDER V ROHAN | VICE PRESIDENT & ASSISTANT TREASURER | 16 | $64,600 |
| ALFIO MANASSERI | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide giving primarily for: • The arts • Education • Hospitals and health care • Human services • Catholic federated giving programs, agencies, and churches The foundation will consider all religions in its grantmaking, despite its primary focus on Catholic organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 40 grants in 2023, with total giving of $396,980 that year. According to more recent data, total giving reached $555,480 in 2024. **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $105,000. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Music That Heals: $72,480 (for Tully Center Concert Series, Queens Center for Progress, and School Music Program) • Good Plus Foundation: $50,000 • Robin Hood Foundation / Tudor Charitable Trust: $35,000 **Primary Funding Areas:** The fou…
Where does May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.
What size grants does May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation award?
In 2024, May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $555K — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $416K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation's EIN?
May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6114269. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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