Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is a Form 990 (a public charity) based in McLean, Virginia, formed in 1998. It supports efforts to increase participation in recreational fishing and boating, including outreach, education, and programs for angler and boater recruitment, retention, and reactivation.
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $289,293
- -88.5% vs 2025
- Revenue (2026)
- $1,948,208
- -85.9% vs 2025
- Net investment income (2026)
- $12,842
- -58.5% vs 2025
- Expenses (2026)
- $2,310,877
- -83.2% vs 2025
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1742 Fairview Avenue, Mclean, VA 22101
Phone: (703) 869-2779
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 83 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RBFF’s website describes R3 programs as intended to increase fishing and boating participation across the United States. Its Education Fund guidelines say the fund is available to all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 13 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $17K first-time, $11K 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $216K (2025) to $1.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $216K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Seafwa) Hartwell, GA | R3 Program Development Grants- See Part IV | $50,000 |
| Ohio Department of Natural Resources Columbus, OH | Mobile first catch center grants - see part iv | $26,253 |
| New York State Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Albany, NY | Mobile first catch center grants - see part iv | $21,467 |
| Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tallahassee, FL | Mobile first catch center grants - see part iv | $18,190 |
| The Ike Foundation Elmer, NJ | Mobile first catch center grants - see part iv | $17,138 |
| Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lansing, MI | Mobile first catch center grants - see part iv | $16,408 |
| Colorado Division of Wildlife Denver, CO | George h.w. Bush vamos a pescar education fund grant- see part iv | $12,000 |
| Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, TX | George h.w. Bush vamos a pescar education fund grant- see part iv | $10,000 |
| North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Raleigh, NC | George h.w. Bush vamos a pescar education fund grant - see part iv | $9,275 |
| California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sacramento, CA | George h.w. Bush vamos a pescar education fund grant- see part iv | $8,154 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $289,293 | $1,948,208 | $2,310,877 | — | — | $12,842 |
| 2025 | $2,515,218 | $13,827,555 | $13,734,726 | $216,117 | 14 | $30,910 |
| 2024 | $2,027,714 | $13,785,521 | $13,774,772 | $366,807 | 20 | $25,837 |
| 2023 | $2,384,468 | $14,435,169 | $14,400,219 | $548,611 | 27 | $8,630 |
| 2022 | $1,596,637 | $14,302,457 | $14,307,330 | $421,593 | 22 | $4,247 |
| 2021 | $1,482,536 | $13,100,462 | $13,177,203 | $1,210,578 | 54 | $11,932 |
| 2020 | $1,547,815 | $12,225,501 | $12,452,009 | $250,032 | 18 | $16,361 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
RBFF’s mission is to implement an informed, consensus-based national outreach strategy to increase participation in recreational angling and boating and raise public awareness and appreciation of the need to protect, conserve, and restore aquatic natural resources.
The organization’s website describes state R3 grants for sustainable and replicable state programs focused on increasing fishing license sales and boat registrations. Its George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund provides non-federal funds for state agencies to match and subgrant to local organizations for initiatives engaging families in fishing, boating, and conservation. The First Catch Centers program works with wildlife agencies and nonprofit organizations to offer hands-on fishing and boating activities.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data reports 20 grants totaling $366,807 in 2024 and 14 grants totaling $216,117 in 2025. The corresponding averages were approximately $18,340 and $15,437 per grant. The 2026 filing reports zero grants; it does not provide a grant total for that year.
RBFF’s website says the 2025 State R3 Program Grants supported state R3 initiatives and that proposals were reviewed by RBFF staff and a Proposal Review Working Group. The 2025 cycle is no longer soliciting proposals, and the website said the next RFP would be available in late 2025. The website also states that the current George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund cycle is closed and that the next cycle would be available in Fall 2025. Both dates are past. The First Catch Centers page describes support of up to $25,000 in the first year for a trailer and equipment, and up to $1,500 in the second year for supplies; it directs agencies to the program guide and scoring rubric for application details.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2026 filing include Craig Bonds and Jeff Pontius, both identified as immediate past chair; Joe Lewis, vice chair; Kathy Fennel, treasurer; and Shelley Tubaugh, secretary. The filing also lists Diane Brusoe, Ellen Bradley, Rese Cloyd, Heather Dugan, and Emily Cope as directors.
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation is led by David Chanda, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 33 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
David Chanda
President & CEO
Vice President - Industry & Government Engagement → Vice President - Industry & Government, 2021
Vice President - Industry & Government → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$178K (2020) → $364K (2026)
Rachel Piacenza
Senior Director & Marketing
Senior Director of Marketing → Senior Director, Consumer Marketing & Communications, 2024
Senior Director, Consumer Marketing & Communications → Senior Director & Marketing, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $106K (2026)
Stephanie Hussey
Senior Director & Governmen
State R3 Program Director → Senior Director & Government Engagement, 2023
Senior Director & Government Engagement → Senior Director & Governmen, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$123K (2020) → $103K (2026)
James Strong
Senior Director & Industry
Senior Director & Industry Engagement → Senior Director & Industry, 2026
On filings since 2025
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025) → $117K (2026)
Glenn Hughes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Schlosser
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Hammond
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Smoker
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Regan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Bradley
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Seti
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carly Hysell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Dugan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rese Cloyd
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Ohno
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Billy Pope
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Nussbaum
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Brusoe
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Craven
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Cope
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lenn Scholz
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronnie Green
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Toby O'Rourke
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wayne Hubbard
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Hemenway
Chief Financial Officer
Senior Vice President - Finance & Administrator → Senior Vice President - Finance & Administration, 2024
Senior Vice President - Finance & Administration → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$224K (2020) → $272K (2026)
Stephanie Vatalaro
Chief Operating Officer
Senior Vice President - Marketing & Communiction → Senior Vice President - Marketing & Communications, 2023
Senior Vice President - Marketing & Communications → Chief Operating Officer, 2026
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$151K (2020) → $162K (2026)
Holly Mahla
Senior Manager & Administrator
Senior Manager & Administrator → Senior Manager & Administration, 2024
Senior Manager & Administration → Senior Manager & Administrator, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$105K (2021) → $122K (2026)
Craig Bonds
Immediate Past Chair
Treasurer → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Immediate Past Chair, 2026
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Pontius
Immediate Past Chair
Chairman → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Lewis
Vice Chair
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Fennel
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Guertin
Non-Voting Representative
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Tubaugh
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (31)
- Former: Louis Chemi (2022–2025) — Director
- Former: Wade Middleton (2022–2025) — Director
- Former: Kendra Wecker (2023–2025) — Director
- Former: Rachel Auslander (2023–2025) — Director of Partnerships
- Former: Diane Bristol (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Dirk Hyde (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Bruna Carincotte (2022–2024) — Director of Pr & Communications
- Former: Brad Loveless (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Jenifer Wisniewski (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Barb Gigar (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bobby Wilson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Colleen Callahan (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Eric Sutton (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Frank Peterson (2020–2023) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Jeff Marble (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bob Ziehmer (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Ed Mahoney (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Joey Weller (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Johana Reyes (2021–2022) — Director of Digital Strategy
- Former: Dave Chanda (2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Catherine Sparks (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Dale Barnes (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Libby Yranski (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lou Sandoval (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Maurice Bowen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Thomas Dammrich (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rick Jacobson (2021) — Director
- Former: Carl Blackwell (2020) — Director
- Former: Dan Chesky (2020) — Director
- Former: Joel Wilkinson (2020) — Director
- Former: Mac McKeever (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $364K, to David Chanda (President & CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
How large is Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation?
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation reported $289K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.9M.
What does Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation fund?
RBFF’s mission is to implement an informed, consensus-based national outreach strategy to increase participation in recreational angling and boating and raise public awareness and appreciation of the need to protect, conserve, and restore aquatic natural resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation?
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation make grants?
RBFF’s website describes R3 programs as intended to increase fishing and boating participation across the United States. Its Education Fund guidelines say the fund is available to all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
What is Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation's EIN?
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1915490. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 21, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
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