The National Recreation Foundation (NRF) is a private charitable foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois, dedicated to increasing access and opportunities for young people to play, explore, learn, and grow in the outdoors. Incorporated in 1965, the foundation traces its roots back to the War Camp Community Services established in 1919. NRF operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization focused on youth development through recreation and outdoor education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$52.2M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+30.6% YoY
Grant Count
90
+3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
+26.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, National Recreation Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: National Recreation Foundation is dedicated to increasing access for young people to play, explore, learn, and grow in the outdoors.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Physical activity and outdoor education (at least 80% of Impact and Special Grant dollars)
- Youth development and youth services
- Children and youth programs
- Environmental education
- Public health and physical fitness
- Sports and recreation
- Human services
The foundation emphasizes serving underserved populations, including girls, youth from low-income families, African American and Hispanic youth, American Indian youth, children with physical and developmental disabilities, and youth living in the South.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates four distinct grant programs:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
National focus across the United States, with funding in all 50 states and territories including Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2024): $52.2 million
- Total assets (2023): $50.3 million
Annual Activity:
- Revenue (2024): $2.95 million
- Expenses (2024): $3.9 million
- Total liabilities (2024): $1.86 million
Historical Context: The foundation was officially incorporated in 1965 with initial assets of approximately $5 million. It has grown significantly over its history to become a major funder in youth recreation and outdoor education.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,219,765 | $50,284,380 | $45,854,468 |
| Revenue | $2,953,994 | $2,109,434 | $1,837,910 |
| Expenses | $3,900,585 | $3,521,932 | $2,878,173 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,598,278 | $2,866,831 | $3,035,909 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,592,221 | $992,010 | $652,719 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,476,420 | $2,305,821 | $2,323,577 |
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
243 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Grand Canyon Youth ($105,000), The Aspen Instituteforum for Community Solutions ($100,000), Beyond the Ball ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTEFORUM FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS WASHINGTON, DC | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| BACKYARD BASECAMP INC BALTIMORE, MD | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
| BEYOND THE BALL CHICAGO, IL | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| BRIDGER SKI FOUNDATION BOZEMAN, MT | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| BROTHERS ON THE RISE OAKLAND, CA | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
| BROWN GIRLS CLIMB BROOKLYN, NY | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| CAMPING AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION CINCINNATI, OH | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
| CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY LONG BEACH, CA | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
| CATAMOUNT INSTITUTE COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $21,000 |
| CENTER FOR NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President & CEO: Sophia B. Twichell
- Board of Trustees: Includes notable figures such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOPHIA B TWICHELL | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $250,417 |
| PEGGY BURNET | TRUSTEE/CHAIR (AS OF 11/24) | 2 | — |
| ENDICOTT P DAVISON JR | TRUSTEE/CHAIR (UNTIL 11/24) | 2 | — |
| MYRON F FLOYD | TRUSTEE/SEC'Y; VICE CHAIR(AS OF 11/24) | 1 | — |
| KIM MOORE BAILEY | TRUSTEE/SECRETARY (AS OF 11/24) | 1 | — |
| KAREN A STEWART-RAMOS | TRUSTEE/TREASURER (AS OF 11/24) | 2 | — |
| R THAYER TUTT JR | TRUSTEE/TREASURER RETIRED 11/24 | 2 | — |
| JOSEPH B ANDERSON JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LYNNE M O BRICKNER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ROBERT W CRAWFORD JR | TRUSTEE RETIRED 11/24 | 1 | — |
| GARY HALL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARTIN J LEBLANC | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LILA LEFF | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ELSIE MCCABE THOMPSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN W MCCARTER JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NICHOLAS G PENNIMAN IV | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANDRA RUSH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN D SCOTT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LEE A STOREY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBERT A STUART JR | TRUSTEE RETIRED 11/24 | 1 | — |
| NADJA Y WEST | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DARRYL L TAYLOR | TRUSTEE (UNTIL 03/24) | 1 | — |
| BAKEYAH S NELSON | TRUSTEE (ON LOA AS OF 06/24) | 1 | — |
| J JAMES PEARCE JR | TRUSTEE (UNTIL 06/24) | 1 | — |
| ALFRED A VALENZUELA | TRUSTEE (ON LOA THRU 11/24) | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2023, the National Recreation Foundation expanded its grantee support services by hosting a series of virtual capacity-building workshops and trainings covering strategic planning, evaluation practices, succession planning, workplace culture and retention, and trauma training for youth development staff and volunteers working with indigenous youth. The foundation also established facilitated peer leadership circles for grantees to build peer networks among nonprofit leaders.
National Recreation Foundation Inc - Grant Information ...The foundation has partnered with Sport Court to provide sports floors to grantees, expanding in-kind support beyond traditional grant funding.
National Recreation Foundation Inc - Grant Information ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does National Recreation Foundation fund?
**Mission:** National Recreation Foundation is dedicated to increasing access for young people to play, explore, learn, and grow in the outdoors. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Physical activity and outdoor education (at least 80% of Impact and Special Grant dollars) • Youth development and youth services • Children and youth programs • Environmental education • Public health and physical fitness • Sports and recreation • Human services The foundation emphasizes serving underserved populations, inc…
How do I apply for a grant from National Recreation Foundation?
**Grant Programs:** The foundation operates four distinct grant programs: • **Impact Grants:** Exceeding $100,000 — targeted to high-performing organizations with bold and innovative approaches • **Special Grants:** Varying award levels • **General grants:** Ranging from $15,000 to $100,000+ **Grant Activity:** • Since inception, the foundation has distributed over $19 million to more than 270 grantees across the United States • In 2023, the foundation made 87 grants • Total giving in 2023: $2,…
Where does National Recreation Foundation make grants?
National focus across the United States, with funding in all 50 states and territories including Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, R…
What size grants does National Recreation Foundation award?
In 2024, National Recreation Foundation awarded 90 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is National Recreation Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, National Recreation Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is National Recreation Foundation's EIN?
National Recreation Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6172514. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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