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.
Key facts about May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation
- EIN
- 13-6114269
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $555,480
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- Average grant
- $29,236
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (9 of 19, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,973,347
- Primary geography
- New York (72% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation's 19 itemized 2024 grants were New York (72%) and Connecticut (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Stamford, CT (4 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (3 grants). 58% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 19 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 37% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 82% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 181% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation
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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
s:**
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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
Share of all 19 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 recipients include Build on Inc ($105,000), Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation ($100,000), Music That Heals Inc ($72,480).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUILD ON INC Stamford, CT | ANNUAL APPEAL | $105,000 |
| ALFRED E SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION New York, NY | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| MUSIC THAT HEALS INC Neoponsit, NY | TULLY CENTER, QUEENS CENTER, BROOKLYN CALVARY HOSPITAL, & ADAPT SCHOOL | $72,480 |
| HASSENFELD CHILDRENS HOSPITAL AT NYU LANGONE New York, NY | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION New York, NY | GENERAL | $35,000 |
| BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES INC New York, NY | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| ST MARY'S CHURCH Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| STAMFORD HOSPITAL Stamford, CT | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING New York, NY | CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES BROOKLYN & QUEENS Brooklyn, NY | CATHOLIC RENEWAL | $20,000 |
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 IRS 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.