Camp encourages achievement and builds the self-esteem, confidence and courage needed to become leaders. It also promotes healthy lifestyles, fitness and activity.
American Camping Association Inc. gives most often for counselor-in-training work and camp-school partnerships, with grants reaching camps, youth-serving nonprofits, and education partners across the United States. Its recent awards show a strong emphasis on building leadership pathways for teens and young people who may later serve as camp staff or counselors. The largest recent grant listed is $93,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco for a Councilor in Training Program, and the same organization also appears in the prior year with support for Councilor in Training Program and Camp/School Partnerships. The foundation also funds capacity-building efforts that connect camps with schools. Guided Discoveries received $62,500 for Camp School Partnership, while Fiver Children's Foundation received the same amount for the same purpose. Other awards support structured training, program development, and technical assistance for camps and related partners. Across the recent-grants list, the pattern is clear: American Camping Association Inc. uses grantmaking to strengthen camp-based leadership development, expand access to camp experiences, and support programs that help camps collaborate with schools and other community organizations.
Counselor-in-training programs are a core part of the foundation’s recent giving. Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco received $93,000 for its Councilor in Training Program, and Acta Non Verba received $40,500 for the same purpose. Several smaller grants followed that same theme, including support for teen trainee pipelines at organizations such as Maven Youth and Girl Scouts - Greater Atlanta. Camp-school partnership development is another visible area. Guided Discoveries received $62,500 for Camp School Partnership, Fiver Children's Foundation received $62,500 for Camp School Partnership, and Princeton Blairstown Center received $40,000 for Camp School Partnership. The foundation also backs youth development through camp access and camp quality work, including a Send a Child to Camp Fund and grants tied to character development, research, and innovative special projects.
The typical grant size is $7,500 at the 25th percentile, $12,500 at the median, and $15,595 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list also shows a cluster of larger awards for defined programs, including multiple five-figure grants and several awards at $25,500 for counselor-in-training support. A few recipients appear in more than one year, including Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Central Illinois EastersealsTimber Pointe Outdoor Center, which suggests some recurring relationships rather than one-time support only. American Camping Association Inc. is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including the Character at Camp planning, network, and implementation grants.
$960K
$63.7M
$16.5M
$16M
Most grants fall between $8K and $16K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$16K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Grantmaking is national and every recent grant in the dataset goes to a U.S. recipient. California appears most often among recipient locations, including San Francisco, San Clemente, Oakland, Long Beach, and other sites in the state. New York also shows up repeatedly through recipients in New York City and Brooklyn. Other named recipient locations include San Antonio, Princeton, Chicago, Seattle, and Anchorage. The foundation’s headquarters is in Martinsville, Indiana, but only 3% of grants go to recipients in Indiana.
The recent-grants list is dominated by counselor-in-training programs and camp-school partnerships. Those show up in large awards such as $93,000 for Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco’s Councilor in Training Program and $62,500 each for Camp School Partnership at Guided Discoveries and Fiver Children's Foundation.
Typical grant size is $7,500 at the 25th percentile, $12,500 at the median, and $15,595 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list also includes larger program awards, such as $93,000 and several grants in the $40,000 to $62,500 range.
Yes. One active program is the Send a Child to Camp Fund, which provides camp experiences for children who otherwise could not attend. The site notes donor giving examples such as $35 for one day or $500 for one week.
Yes. The Character at Camp Grant Program has planning, network, and implementation grants, and each of those active program descriptions says it accepts unsolicited applications. The implementation grants are for organizations with a specific character proposal and sufficient capacity to begin in 2026.
Recent grants are nationwide within the United States, with recipient locations including San Francisco, New York, Oakland, Princeton, San Antonio, Chicago, Seattle, and Anchorage. California appears most often among recipient locations, while Indiana accounts for 3% of grants to recipients in the home state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $93,000 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Fiver Children's Foundation | New York, NY | $62,500 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Guided Discoveries | San Clemente, CA | $62,500 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Mt Tremper Outdoor Ministries | Ctr Tuftonboro, NH | $52,500 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Butler University | Indianapolis, IN | $40,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Piers Park Sailing Center | East Boston, ME | $40,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Acta Non Verba | Oakland, CA | $40,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Princeton Blairstown Center | Princeton, NJ | $40,000 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Maven Youth | San Antonio, TX | $35,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Camp Fire Alaska Council | Anchorage, AK | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| B'nai B'rith Camp | Portland, OR | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Wa-Ya Outdoor Institute | Tumwater, WA | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Barbara C Harris Center | Greefield, NH | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Camp Hazen YMCA | Chester, CT | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| No Limits Foundation | Wales, ME | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Girl Scouts - Greater Atlanta | Mableton, GA | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Camp for all Kids | Chicago, IL | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Live Oak Wilderness Camp | New Orleans, LA | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Central Illinois EastersealsTimber Pointe Outdoor Center | Hudson, IL | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Teton Valley Ranch Camp | Jackson, WY | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| YWCA Vermont Camp Hochelaga | South Hero, VT | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| University of Montana | Missiula, MT | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Fresh Air Fund | New York, NY | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| The HEART Center | Glendale, AZ | $25,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Camp Fire Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Collegiate Edu-Nation | Roscoe, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Never a Loss of Vision | Tucson, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Trail Blazers | Brooklyn, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Frost Valley YMCA | Claryville, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Hands in 4 Youth | West Milford, NJ | $12,500 | 2025 | Camp School Partnership |
| Happiness is Camping | Hardwick, NJ | $7,500 | 2025 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Camp Common Ground (Operator) | Oakland, AK | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Development |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $43,700 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program & Camp/School Partnerships |
| Central Illinois EastersealsTimber Pointe Outdoor Center | Hudson, IL | $27,000 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Trail Blazers | Brooklyn, NY | $25,300 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program & Camp/School Partnerships |
| YMCA of Greater Seattle | Seattle, WA | $25,000 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Tampa Metro YMCA | Tampa, FL | $18,900 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| East Side Neighborhood ServiceCamp Bovey | Minneapolis, MN | $15,840 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute - PARI | Rosman, NC | $14,500 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| YMCA Camp Santa Maria | Lafayette, CO | $14,300 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Primitive Pursuits 4-H Acres Day Camp and Primitive Pursuits - Arnot Fores t | Ithaca, NY | $13,700 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Butler University | Indianapolis, IN | $12,500 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Mt Tremper Outdoor Ministries | Ctr Tuftonboro, NH | $12,500 | 2024 | Camp School Partnerships |
| Frost Valley YMCA | Claryville, NY | $12,500 | 2024 | Camp School Partnerships |
| Guided Discoveries | San Clemente, CA | $12,500 | 2024 | Camp School Partnerships |
| Piers Park Sailing Center | East Boston, MA | $12,500 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Fiver Children's Foundation | New York, NY | $12,500 | 2024 | Camp School Partnerships |
| Acta Non Verba | Oakland, CA | $12,500 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
| Hands in 4 Youth | West Milford, NJ | $12,500 | 2024 | Camp School Partnerships |
| MGH Aspire | Boston, MA | $10,535 | 2024 | Councilor in Training Program |
Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco
$93,000Councilor in Training Program
Fiver Children's Foundation
$62,500Camp School Partnership
Guided Discoveries
$62,500Camp School Partnership
Mt Tremper Outdoor Ministries
$52,500Camp School Partnership
Butler University
$40,500Councilor in Training Program
Piers Park Sailing Center
$40,500Councilor in Training Program
Acta Non Verba
$40,500Councilor in Training Program
Princeton Blairstown Center
$40,000Camp School Partnership
Maven Youth
$35,500Councilor in Training Program
Camp Fire Alaska Council
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
B'nai B'rith Camp
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Wa-Ya Outdoor Institute
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Barbara C Harris Center
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Camp Hazen YMCA
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
No Limits Foundation
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Girl Scouts - Greater Atlanta
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Camp for all Kids
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Live Oak Wilderness Camp
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Central Illinois EastersealsTimber Pointe Outdoor Center
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Teton Valley Ranch Camp
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
YWCA Vermont Camp Hochelaga
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
University of Montana
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Fresh Air Fund
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
The HEART Center
$25,500Councilor in Training Program
Camp Fire Long Beach
$25,000Camp School Partnership
Collegiate Edu-Nation
$20,000Camp School Partnership
Never a Loss of Vision
$15,000Camp School Partnership
Trail Blazers
$12,500Camp School Partnership
Frost Valley YMCA
$12,500Camp School Partnership
Hands in 4 Youth
$12,500Camp School Partnership
Happiness is Camping
$7,500Councilor in Training Program
Camp Common Ground (Operator)
$5,000Program Development
Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco
$43,700Councilor in Training Program & Camp/School Partnerships
Central Illinois EastersealsTimber Pointe Outdoor Center
$27,000Councilor in Training Program
Trail Blazers
$25,300Councilor in Training Program & Camp/School Partnerships
YMCA of Greater Seattle
$25,000Councilor in Training Program
Tampa Metro YMCA
$18,900Councilor in Training Program
East Side Neighborhood ServiceCamp Bovey
$15,840Councilor in Training Program
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute - PARI
$14,500Councilor in Training Program
YMCA Camp Santa Maria
$14,300Councilor in Training Program
Primitive Pursuits 4-H Acres Day Camp and Primitive Pursuits - Arnot Fores t
$13,700Councilor in Training Program
Butler University
$12,500Councilor in Training Program
Mt Tremper Outdoor Ministries
$12,500Camp School Partnerships
Frost Valley YMCA
$12,500Camp School Partnerships
Guided Discoveries
$12,500Camp School Partnerships
Piers Park Sailing Center
$12,500Councilor in Training Program
Fiver Children's Foundation
$12,500Camp School Partnerships
Acta Non Verba
$12,500Councilor in Training Program
Hands in 4 Youth
$12,500Camp School Partnerships
MGH Aspire
$10,535Councilor in Training Program
Current and upcoming funding from American Camping Association that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to day and overnight camps seeking funding to build or grow character development programs.
Deadline: Wave 2 is now open; specific deadline not provided in the scraped content.
Who can apply: Available to day and overnight camps seeking funding to build or grow character development programs.
Deadline: Wave 2 is now open; no specific closing date was visible in the provided content.
Who can apply: Open to day and overnight camps seeking funding to build or expand character development programs.
Deadline: Wave 2 is now open.
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