Ridgefield Fresh Air Association

Private foundation · Grantmaker Ridgefield, CT EIN: 06-6044680

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association is a private foundation based in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Its filing states that donations must benefit children or disabled persons pursuing outdoor camps or outdoor-education camps.

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association at a glance

In short: Ridgefield Fresh Air Association gave $61K across 13 grants in 2026 (avg $5K), mostly in Connecticut. 15% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2026)
$61,000
+20.8% vs 2025
Grants made (2026)
13
+0.0% vs 2025
Average grant
$4,692
+20.8% vs 2025
Median grant
$3,000
Total assets
$355,367
-3.3% vs 2025
New grantees (estimate)
15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2026; small sample)
Primary geography
Connecticut (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Ridgefield Fresh Air Association

How to Apply

The 2025 filing directs applicants to send donation letters to the president and treasurer.

Review Cycle
May 1, as listed on the 2025 filing; that cycle has passed.
Deadline
May 1, as listed on the 2025 filing; that cycle has passed.
Contact

Application contact: Mr David Schneider President Treasu
Mailing address: C/O Fairfield County Bank 94, Danbury Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Phone: (203) 431-7488

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Ridgefield Fresh Air Association funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2026

Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club: $20KRidgefield Boys and Girls Club$20KRVNA Health of Ridgefield: $7KRVNA Health of Ridgefield$7KWoodcock Nature Center: $7KWoodcock Nature Center$7KRedding Boys and Girls Club: $5KRedding Boys and Girls Club$5KWilton Family Y: $5KWilton Family Y$5KA Better Chance Ridgefield: $3KA Better Chance Ridgefield$3KCardinal Sheehan Center: $3KCardinal Sheehan Center$3KMishkam Israel Summer Day Camp: $3KMishkam Israel Summer Day Camp$3KTown of Ridgefield Social Service Department: $3KTown of Ridgefield SocialService Department$3KAbility Beyond: $2KAbility Beyond$2K

The largest 2026 recipient was Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club ($20K). Together the top 10 received $58K.

Grant Size Distribution

77 grants across all recorded years

77<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 77 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 filing states that recipients must be located in Connecticut or contiguous states, or send campers to those states. In 2026, all reported grant dollars went to Connecticut recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

Cities

RidgefieldDanburyWiltonBethelBridgeportRedding RidgeTrumbullWestonMilfordNew HavenNew YorkWest Redding

Is Ridgefield Fresh Air Association open to new grantees?

15%

first-time grantees, 2026

In 2026, 2 of 13 grantees (15%) 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 $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 85% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+2%). Method
  • In 2026 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). 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

$0$20K$40K$60K$80K17 grants2021 17 grants2022 17 grants2023 17 grants2024 13 grants2025 13 grants2026

From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2021) to $65K (2022). In 2026 it made 13 grants totaling $61K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club Ridgefield, CTSupport Summer Camp$20,000
RVNA Health of Ridgefield Ridgefield, CTSupport Summer Camp$7,000
Woodcock Nature Center Wilton, CTSupport Summer Camp$7,000
Redding Boys and Girls Club Redding Ridge, CTSupport Summer Camp$5,000
Wilton Family Y Wilton, CTSupport Summer Camp$5,000
A Better Chance Ridgefield Ridgefield, CTSupport Summer Camp$3,000
Cardinal Sheehan Center Bridgeport, CTSupport Summer Camp$3,000
Mishkam Israel Summer Day Camp Trumbull, CTSupport Summer Camp$3,000
Town of Ridgefield Social Service Department Ridgefield, CTSupport Summer Camp$3,000
Ability Beyond Bethel, CTSupport Summer Camp$2,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2026$355,367$50,319$62,616$61,00013$61,000$7,269$60,754
2025$367,664$52,912$52,064$50,50013$50,500$10,322$60,554
2024$366,816$41,492$64,432$63,00017$63,000$8,333$51,109
2023$389,756$46,128$61,365$60,00017$60,000$2,470$62,819
2022$404,993$43,904$66,290$65,00017$65,000$1,241$62,592
2021$427,379$45,611$46,209$45,00017—$1,250$65,392

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ridgefield Fresh Air Association reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing describes support for outdoor camps and outdoor-education camps benefiting children or disabled persons. The 2026 grants listed were all designated to support summer camp.

One grantee, Woodcock Nature Center, describes its own mission as “to creatively reconnect the community to nature and to one another.”

Grantmaking

In 2026, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $61,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $3,000. All grant dollars were reported for recipients in Connecticut.

The largest reported grants included $20,000 to Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club, $7,000 each to RVNA Health of Ridgefield and Woodcock Nature Center, and $5,000 each to Redding Boys and Girls Club and Wilton Family Y. Each was designated to support summer camp.

The 2025 filing says donation requests should be submitted by letter and include a description of the camp, how the funds will be used, and camp literature. It also says recipients must be located in Connecticut or contiguous states, or send campers there, and that donations must benefit children or disabled persons pursuing outdoor camps or outdoor-education camps.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2026 filing lists David A. Schneider as president and treasurer; Daniel Berta as vice president and secretary; and Paul S. McNamara and John C. Ancona as trustees.

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association is led by David A. Schneider, President & Treasurer since 2026 (on filings since 2021); none of the 4 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.

Officers on the 2026 filing

  • David A. Schneider

    President & Treasurer

    Treasurer → President & Treasurer, 2026

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • John C. Ancona

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Paul S. McNamara

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel Berta

    Vice President & Secretary

    Secretary → Vice President & Secretary, 2026

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Gary C. Smith (2021–2025) — President
  • Former: Ronald Raymond (2021) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Ridgefield Fresh Air Association

How much does Ridgefield Fresh Air Association give each year?

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association gave $61K across 13 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $51K across 13 grants.

What is Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's typical grant size?

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's median grant in 2026 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,692, across 13 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ridgefield Fresh Air Association that year got $5K on average.

Where does Ridgefield Fresh Air Association give grants?

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ridgefield, CT (4 grants), Wilton, CT (2 grants) and Danbury, CT (2 grants).

Does Ridgefield Fresh Air Association give general operating support?

Not in 2026: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Summer Camp" (13 grants).

Who are Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's largest grantees?

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's largest 2026 grantees include Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club ($20,000), RVNA Health of Ridgefield ($7,000) and Woodcock Nature Center ($7,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.

How large is Ridgefield Fresh Air Association?

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association reported $355K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $61K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Ridgefield Fresh Air Association fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing describes support for outdoor camps and outdoor-education camps benefiting children or disabled persons. The 2026 grants listed were all designated to support summer camp. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ridgefield Fresh Air Association?

The 2025 filing directs applicants to send donation letters to the president and treasurer. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's EIN?

Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6044680. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 20, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Ridgefield Fresh Air Association funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ridgefield-fresh-air-association-morg_7dce78dc3ec2455d99d472c013f3c133

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_066044680_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Ridgefield Fresh Air Association funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/ridgefield-fresh-air-association-morg_7dce78dc3ec2455d99d472c013f3c133},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Ridgefield Fresh Air Association's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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