Fresh Air Fund

Analysis

Fresh Air Fund is a registered charity in United States, based in New York, NY. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 1933, 93 years ago. Its declared purposes cover recreation and sports, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Fresh Air Fund reported income of $15.0m and spending of $22.7m, spending 151% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $18.4m to $15.0m (-18%), an average of -4.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 35%. Over the whole period it spent 131% of the income it received.

Among 30,892 United States charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, Fresh Air Fund sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile, and in the 95th percentile within NY. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include United States Soccer Foundation Inc ($14.8m), National Strength and Conditioning Association ($15.3m) and Western National Parks Association ($14.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 93% and program service revenue 7.0% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $640k (2.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $7.2m. It paid $608k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $137.6m against liabilities of $1.2m, net assets of $136.4m. It reported 531 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.