The May Ellen & Gerald Riter Foundation concentrates philanthropic support on child- and family-focused health and youth development in the New York/tri-state area, with a secondary interest in arts-in-health (music therapy) and faith-based charity. Grants are sizable and targeted, frequently directed to hospitals, university medical centers, and youth education/service organizations; a small number of repeat grantees receive a large share of funding.
A repeated pattern in the May Ellen & Gerald Ritter Foundation C/o Gordon Herlands & Randoplh LLP’s grantmaking is its support for child- and family-focused health work, especially through hospitals and medical centers in New York and Connecticut. In 2025, it awarded $50,000 to Hassenfeld Childrens Hospital at NYU Langone for general support, and in 2023 it gave $50,000 to Stamford Hospital for the Women and Babies Campaign. Those gifts sit alongside continued backing for youth-serving organizations, including $105,000 to Build on Inc for an annual appeal in 2025 and $35,000 to Robin Hood Foundation in the same year. The foundation also funds music therapy and arts-in-health efforts, such as grants to Music That Heals Inc for hospital and school-based programs. Its grant list shows a mix of targeted institutional support, annual appeals, and scholarship-related funding, with several recipients appearing across multiple years. Faith-based charity is another visible thread, including grants to Catholic organizations in New York and Brooklyn. The overall picture is of a regional funder making deliberate, medium-sized grants to organizations serving children, families, patients, and students.
Children’s and maternal health are central to this foundation’s giving. It awarded $50,000 to Stamford Hospital for the Women and Babies Campaign and $50,000 to Hassenfeld Childrens Hospital at NYU Langone for general support. Child welfare also appears in grants to The New York Foundling for its child abuse prevention program, including awards in 2023 and 2025. Youth development is another clear line of support. The foundation gave $105,000 to Build on Inc for an annual appeal in 2025 and $25,000 to Stamford Peace Youth Foundation Inc in 2023. Education and student support show up through a $30,000 gift to Pace University for the Dan Mulholland Endowment Fund and a $15,000 grant to Futures in Education for its scholarship fund. Its arts-in-health giving includes Music That Heals Inc, which received $72,480 in 2025 for programs at Tully Center, Queens Center, Brooklyn Calvary Hospital, and ADAPT School.
Typical grant size sits in a fairly tight band: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. The top of the recent list shows a small number of larger targeted grants, including awards above $50,000, but most grants cluster near the median. The pattern also points to repeat support: Music That Heals Inc, Build on Inc, Stamford Hospital, The New York Foundling, Birch Family Services Inc, Pace University, and Catholic charities each appear more than once across the recent grants list. The foundation makes grants directly and funds individuals, but the available data does not show a program-related-investment activity. The grant list includes annual appeals, general support, scholarship funding, and named program funds.
$1.1M
$8M
$567K
$875K
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 62% of grants go to recipients in CT.
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Relatively concentrated giving: a small number of large grants (many $50k–$165k), repeated support to several core organizations, and a geographic focus on New York/tri-state medical and youth service institutions.
Notable grantees: Build On Inc, Music That Heals Inc, NYU Langone (including Hassenfeld Children's Hospital), Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, Stamford Hospital
Grantmaking is regional, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Connecticut is the top state by grant count, with Stamford showing up often through Build on Inc, Stamford Hospital, Stamford Peace Youth Foundation Inc, and the Stamford Police Foundation. New York is also a major destination, especially New York City and Brooklyn. Other recipient locations include Newtown, CT; Sparkill, NY; Merion Station, PA; Warren, NJ; and Neponsit, NY. The foundation gives 62% of its grants to recipients in New York, its HQ state.
Its recent grants favor hospitals and medical centers, youth-serving nonprofits, Catholic charities, scholarship funds, and arts-in-health programs. Named recipients include Stamford Hospital, Hassenfeld Childrens Hospital at NYU Langone, Build on Inc, Futures in Education, and Music That Heals Inc.
Recent grants are usually in the $10,000 to $25,000 range. The 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000, which shows a tight distribution around mid-five-figure and low-five-figure awards.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent list, including Music That Heals Inc, Build on Inc, Stamford Hospital, The New York Foundling, Birch Family Services Inc, Pace University, and Catholic charities. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships with a small set of organizations.
Connecticut is the top state by grant count, with frequent awards to organizations in Stamford and other Connecticut locations. New York also receives a large share of grants, and 62% of grants go to recipients in New York, the foundation’s HQ state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUILD ON INC | STAMFORD, CT | $105,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL APPEAL |
| ALFRED E SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MUSIC THAT HEALS INC | NEOPONSIT, NY | $72,480 | 2025 | TULLY CENTER, QUEENS CENTER, BROOKLYN CALVARY HOSPITAL, & ADAPT SCHOOL |
| HASSENFELD CHILDRENS HOSPITAL AT NYU LANGONE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| STAMFORD HOSPITAL | STAMFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM |
| ST MARY'S CHURCH | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES BROOKLYN & QUEENS | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | CATHOLIC RENEWAL |
| FUTURES IN EDUCATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| FUTURES AND OPTIONS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PACE UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | WOMEN'S LACROSSE |
| STAMFORD POLICE FOUNDATION | STAMFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BABE RUTH BASEBALL OF STAMFORD INC | STAMFORD, CT | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NORWICH UNIVERSITY | NORTHFIELD, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | BRIAN R BILL SCHOLARSHIP |
| NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION PS 72 | BRONX, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | ROBOTICS STEM PROGRAM |
| FETCH RESCUE INC | WESTPORT, CT | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ROADSIDE RESCUE NETWORK | MERION, MS | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MUSIC THAT HEALS INC | NEPONSIT, NY | $70,480 | 2023 | BRONX CALVARY HOSPITAL ADAPT SCHOOL |
| BUILD ON INC | STAMFORD, CT | $60,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NYU LANGONE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| STAMFORD HOSPITAL | STAMFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2023 | WOMEN AND BABIES CAMPAIGN |
| PACE UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | DAN MULHOLLAND ENDOWMENT FUND |
| STAMFORD PEACE YOUTH FOUNDATION INC | STAMFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM |
| RISE AT WARREN | WARREN, NJ | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ST THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE | SPARKILL, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM |
| SANDY HOOK PROMISE FOUNDATION | NEWTOWN, CT | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY | MERION STATION, PA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ST FRANCIS FOOD PANTRIES AND SHELTERS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| WATER TRUST | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CITIZEN COMMITTEE FOR NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NORWICH UNIVERSITY | NORTHFIELD, VT | $5,000 | 2023 | BRIAN BILL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| THE HONORABLE TINA BROZMAN FDTN INC | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2023 | TINA'S WISH |
BUILD ON INC
$105,000ANNUAL APPEAL
ALFRED E SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL
MUSIC THAT HEALS INC
$72,480TULLY CENTER, QUEENS CENTER, BROOKLYN CALVARY HOSPITAL, & ADAPT SCHOOL
HASSENFELD CHILDRENS HOSPITAL AT NYU LANGONE
$50,000GENERAL
ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION
$35,000GENERAL
BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES INC
$30,000GENERAL
STAMFORD HOSPITAL
$25,000GENERAL
THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING
$25,000CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM
ST MARY'S CHURCH
$25,000GENERAL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES BROOKLYN & QUEENS
$20,000CATHOLIC RENEWAL
FUTURES IN EDUCATION
$15,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
FUTURES AND OPTIONS INC
$10,000GENERAL
PACE UNIVERSITY
$10,000WOMEN'S LACROSSE
STAMFORD POLICE FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
BABE RUTH BASEBALL OF STAMFORD INC
$7,000GENERAL
NORWICH UNIVERSITY
$5,000BRIAN R BILL SCHOLARSHIP
NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION PS 72
$5,000ROBOTICS STEM PROGRAM
FETCH RESCUE INC
$3,000GENERAL
ROADSIDE RESCUE NETWORK
$3,000GENERAL
MUSIC THAT HEALS INC
$70,480BRONX CALVARY HOSPITAL ADAPT SCHOOL
BUILD ON INC
$60,000GENERAL
NYU LANGONE
$50,000GENERAL
STAMFORD HOSPITAL
$50,000WOMEN AND BABIES CAMPAIGN
PACE UNIVERSITY
$30,000DAN MULHOLLAND ENDOWMENT FUND
STAMFORD PEACE YOUTH FOUNDATION INC
$25,000GENERAL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK
$25,000GENERAL
THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING
$25,000CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM
RISE AT WARREN
$20,000GENERAL
ST THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE
$20,000EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM
SANDY HOOK PROMISE FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL
SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY
$20,000GENERAL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS
$15,000GENERAL
BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES INC
$15,000GENERAL
ST FRANCIS FOOD PANTRIES AND SHELTERS INC
$15,000GENERAL
WATER TRUST
$10,000GENERAL
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$5,000GENERAL
NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION
$5,000GENERAL
CITIZEN COMMITTEE FOR NYC
$5,000GENERAL
NORWICH UNIVERSITY
$5,000BRIAN BILL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
THE HONORABLE TINA BROZMAN FDTN INC
$5,000TINA'S WISH