National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is a public charity based in Ashburn, Virginia, that supports the parks and recreation field through grants and programs, professional development, advocacy, research and other resources. It describes its network as more than 60,000 park and recreation professionals and advocates.
Key facts about National Recreation and Park Association
In short: National Recreation and Park Association gave $1.6M across 81 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), top state North Carolina. 57% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 13-5563001
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,611,132
- Grants made (2025)
- 81
- Average grant
- $19,891
- Median grant
- $18,893
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (46 of 81, 2025)
- Total assets
- $27,806,818
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (11% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 deadlines are August 2 for the 10-Minute Walk Campaign – Grants and Technical Assistance and September…
- Next open deadline
- September 30, 2026 (Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$27.8M
+3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-29.6% YoY
Grant Count
81
+1.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-30.5% YoY
Is National Recreation and Park Association open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 46 of 81 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $26K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
NRPA’s mission is “to advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.” Its stated pillars are health and well-being, equity, and environmental resilience.
NRPA’s initiatives include park access, youth sports, community wellness hubs, healthy food access and nutrition security, and sustainability in parks. Its grants and related programs support work such as improving access to parks, creating opportunities for play and physical activity, and educating communities about pollinators.
Grantees in 2025 included organizations with varied missions. For example, CAN PLAY says it removes barriers to play by bringing adapted, no-cost recreation programs to communities. Positive Coaching Alliance says it works to ensure every child, regardless of social or economic circumstance, has access to a positive youth sports experience. King County Play Equity Coalition describes itself as a network working to change systems and center physical activity in health and youth development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, NRPA reported 81 grants totaling $1,611,132. Awards ranged from $6,000 to $84,515, with a median of $18,893. The listed largest grants were for program support. They included $84,515 to Mount Airy Parks and Recreation in North Carolina, $50,738 to the City of Auburn in Maine, and $47,362 to the Town of Warren in Rhode Island.
Review Cycle
The listed 2026 deadlines are August 2 for the 10-Minute Walk Campaign – Grants and Technical Assistance and September 30 for Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz. NRPA also lists an October 5, 2026 application deadline for its Humana Healthy Aging in Parks opportunity, which supports up to five park and recreation agencies in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Louisville, Kentucky.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from National Recreation and Park Association
Meet Me at the Park - Play Space Grants
National Recreation and Park Association
Amount
$30,000 per grant
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz
National Recreation and Park Association
Amount
One of three $1,000 prizes or prize packs
Deadline
September 30, 2026
Sustainability in Practice
National Recreation and Park Association
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with National Recreation and Park Association?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NRPA describes its work as serving communities across the United States. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest listed state shares were North Carolina and California at 11% each, followed by Maine at 7%, and Tennessee and Maryland at 5% each. Individual programs may have narrower geographic eligibility.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 81 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2025) to $4.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 81 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mount Airy Parks and Recreation ($85K). Together the top 10 received $447K.
Grant Size Distribution
329 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 271 grants of 329 (82%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Airy Parks and Recreation Mount Airy, NC | Program Support | $84,515 |
| City of Auburn Auburn, ME | Program Support | $50,738 |
| Town of Warren Warren, RI | Program Support | $47,362 |
| Calvert County Parks and Recreation Prince Frederick, MD | Program Support | $45,554 |
| Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition Elizabethton, TN | Program Support | $42,905 |
| Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Beaverton, OR | Program Support | $41,568 |
| Northeast Opportunities for Wellness Inc Putnam, CT | Program Support | $35,155 |
| Asheville Parks and Recreation Asheville, NC | Program Support | $34,728 |
| City of Monroe Monroe, MI | Program Support | $32,396 |
| Western Wellness Foundation Dickinson, ND | Program Support | $32,068 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,806,818 | $24,296,620 | $23,142,963 | $1,611,132 (81 grants) |
| 2024 | $26,857,425 | $24,736,989 | $21,943,369 | $2,289,008 (80 grants) |
| 2023 | $24,572,227 | $20,842,167 | $19,928,136 | $1,840,030 (42 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,806,818 | $26,857,425 | $24,572,227 |
| Revenue | $24,296,620 | $24,736,989 | $20,842,167 |
| Expenses | $23,142,963 | $21,943,369 | $19,928,136 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,553,582 | $1,847,895 | $1,614,506 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kristine Stratton as president and CEO; Jesus Aguirre as chair; Carolyn McKnight Fredd CPRP as past chair; Susie Kuruvilla as treasurer; and Joshua Medeiros as secretary. Listed directors include Kathy Abbott, Rebecca Armstrong, Samuel Assefa, Rick Atkins and Anthony-Paul AP Diaz.
National Recreation and Park Association is led by Kristine Stratton, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 11 of 39 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kristine Stratton
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
38 hrs/week
$161K (2020) → $398K (2025)
Jesus S. Aguirre
Chair
Treasurer → Director, 2021
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Mancuso
Senior Director
On filings since 2024
38 hrs/week
$139K (2024) → $145K (2025)
Aja Jenkins - Senior
Director of People & Culture
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$138K (2025)
Allison Colman
Senior Director of Programs
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$129K (2025)
Amanda Hersey - Senior
Director of Conferences
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$136K (2025)
Joanna Lombard
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jose Felix Diaz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Wu
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Abbott
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica H. Vinluan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susie Kuruvilla
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arnold Randall
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lakita Frazier
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mollie Marsh-Heine
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Armstrong
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony-Paul Ap Diaz
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Page
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Breece Robertson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Prue
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Ott Lovell
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Ginsburg
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Atkins
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samuel Assefa
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Johnson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany White-Lapierre
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christian Gabriel
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hashim Taylor
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linden Weiswerda
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shonnda Smith
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Milewski
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kellie May
Chief Partnership Officer
Vice President of Programs → Chief Partnership Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
38 hrs/week
$143K (2021) → $192K (2025)
Autumn Saxton
Chief Education & Equity Officer
Vice President of Education & Chief Equity Officer → Chief Education & Equity Officer, 2023
On filings since 2022
38 hrs/week
$158K (2022) → $186K (2025)
Candice Carnage - Chief
Financial & Operating Officer
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$225K (2025)
Clarissa Garcia - Chief
Communications & Engagement Officer
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$208K (2025)
Garrett Warfield-Chief Research
Impact Officer
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$27K (2025)
Julie Boland - Vp Credential
Membership Operations
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$165K (2025)
Joshua Medeiros
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn McKnight Fredd Cprp
Past Chair
Chair → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (31)
- Former: Julie Boland (2020–2024) — Vice President of Credentialing & Membership Ope
- Former: Kevin Roth (2020–2024) — Vice President of Research
- Former: Nonet T. Sykes (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Victor Brandon Dover (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Xavier D. Urrutia (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Angelou Exeilo (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Candice Carnage (2023–2024) — Chief Financial & Operating Officer
- Former: Aja Jenkins (2024) — Senior Director of People & Culture
- Former: Amanda Hersey (2024) — Senior Director of Conferences
- Former: Clarissa Garcia (2024) — Chief Communications & Engagement Officer
- Former: Gina Mullins-Cohen (2020–2023) — Special Projects Lead
- Former: Greg A. Weitzel (2020–2023) — Director -
- Former: Michael Abbate (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard B. Gulley (2020–2023) — Director -
- Former: Carolyn McKnight Fredd (2022–2023) — Chair
- Former: Elvis Cordova (2022–2023) — Vice President Public Policy
- Former: Brenda Camacho (2020–2022) — CFO -
- Former: Jack Kardys (2020–2022) — Past Chair -
- Former: Michael P. Kelly (2020–2022) — Chair -
- Former: Carolyn McKnight (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Wenner (2020–2021) — Director of Information Technology
- Former: Lakita Watson (2021) — Director
- Former: Barbara Tulipane (2020) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Hayden Brooks (2020) — Director
- Former: Herman Parker (2020) — Director
- Former: Ian Proud (2020) — Director
- Former: Josue Medeiros (2020) — Director
- Former: Karen Bates Kress (2020) — Director
- Former: Kevin Coyle (2020) — Director
- Former: Kong Chang (2020) — Director
- Former: Richard Dolesh (2020) — Strategic Advisor
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 $398K, to Kristine Stratton (President & CEO). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd, Ashburn, VA 20148-4501
Phone: (703) 858-0784
Website: https://nrpa.org
Frequently asked questions about National Recreation and Park Association
How much does National Recreation and Park Association give each year?
National Recreation and Park Association gave $1.6M across 81 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 80 grants.
What is National Recreation and Park Association's typical grant size?
National Recreation and Park Association's median grant in 2025 was $18,893, and its average grant was $19,891, across 81 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from National Recreation and Park Association that year got $14K on average.
Where does National Recreation and Park Association give grants?
National Recreation and Park Association's top state is North Carolina, with 11% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (11%) and Maine (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Las Vegas, NV (2 grants).
Does National Recreation and Park Association give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 81 grants with a stated purpose on National Recreation and Park Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (81 grants).
Who are National Recreation and Park Association's largest grantees?
National Recreation and Park Association's largest 2025 grantees include Mount Airy Parks and Recreation ($84,515), City of Auburn ($50,738) and Town of Warren ($47,362), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Recreation and Park Association?
National Recreation and Park Association reported $27.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $24.3M.
What does National Recreation and Park Association fund?
NRPA’s mission is “to advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.” Its stated pillars are health and well-being, equity, and environmental resilience. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Recreation and Park Association?
National Recreation and Park Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nrpa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is National Recreation and Park Association's EIN?
National Recreation and Park Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5563001. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching National Recreation and Park Association by hand.
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