The Campership Fund concentrates its giving almost exclusively on providing camperships—financial aid to cover overnight summer camp tuition—for established residential camps. Nearly all dollars are channeled to a small set of repeat grantees through multiple grants, indicating a programmatic focus on widening access to camp experiences rather than supporting capital or general operations. The foundation appears to prioritize direct tuition assistance for campers with financial need across similar types of camps.
Highly concentrated: a small number of large grants to a few repeat grantees focused on tuition support rather than one-off or widely distributed grantmaking.
The Campership Fund directs almost all of its grantmaking to camperships, with awards paid directly to camps to cover tuition for campers who demonstrate financial need. Its recent grants show a narrow programmatic pattern: the largest payments repeatedly go to established residential camps rather than to capital projects or broad operating support. Cedars Camps in Lebanon, Missouri received $442,216 in 2025 and $457,742 in 2024 for camp tuition for campers from financially needy families, while Camps Newfound Owatonna in Harrison, Maine received $387,809 in 2025 for the same purpose. Similar support appears across other residential camps, including Adventure Unlimited in Buena Vista, Colorado and Camps Leelanau Kohahna in Maple City, Michigan. The fund also supports Christian Science camp attendance through its named campership programs, including campership grants for children, adults, and families. Recent grant descriptions repeatedly emphasize tuition assistance and financial need, showing a consistent preference for underwriting access to camp participation rather than funding camps more broadly. The grant list includes both U.S. and Canadian recipients, but the underlying structure remains the same: direct fee relief tied to camp enrollment.
A central theme in The Campership Fund’s giving is tuition assistance for residential summer camps. Cedars Camps in Lebanon, Missouri received $398,173 in 2023 for camp tuition for campers of financially needy families, and the same purpose returned in 2024 and 2025. The fund also backs long-running camp access at Camps Newfound Owatonna in Harrison, Maine, with awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for camp tuition based on financial need. Another recurring area is support for Adventure Unlimited in Buena Vista, Colorado, where grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 served the same tuition-assistance purpose. The portfolio also reaches specialized camp settings such as CherishAbility in Portland, Oregon and Discovery Bound in Greenwood Village, Colorado, both funded for camper tuition based on financial needs.
Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $31,078, a median of $74,197, and a p75 of $232,636, which shows a wide spread from smaller tuition awards to large camp-wide allocations. The pattern is highly recurring: the same camps appear across multiple years, often with repeated grants for the same tuition-assistance purpose. The foundation funds individuals through camperships, but the recent grant list shows awards routed directly to camps. Program materials say awards are based on demonstrated financial need and are paid to the camp of choice. Unsolicited applications are accepted through the campership programs.
$1.4M
$2M
$2.3M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $31K and $233K, with a median of $74K.
25th Percentile
$31K
Median
$74K
75th Percentile
$233K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MI.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Campership Fund.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 28 | $4.6M | 90.3% |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | $61K |
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Notable grantees: Cedars Camps, Camps Newfound Owatonna, Adventure Unlimited, Camps Leelanau Kohahna
Grantmaking is national, with the heaviest concentration in Michigan by grant count. Recent recipients are spread across the U.S., including Lebanon, Missouri; Harrison, Maine; Buena Vista, Colorado; Maple City, Michigan; Hughesville, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Queen Creek, Arizona; and Seattle, Washington. Canadian recipients also appear, including Bowen Island in British Columbia. The recipient-country mix in the recent grants list is 90.3% U.S. and 9.7% Canada.
It mainly supports camperships: tuition assistance for individuals attending residential summer camps. Recent grant descriptions repeatedly say awards are paid directly to camps for campers based on financial need or for campers from financially needy families.
Both, in different ways. The organization funds individuals through camperships, but the recent grants are paid directly to camps, such as awards for camper tuition at residential camps in Missouri, Maine, Colorado, and Michigan.
The grant-size distribution is broad: p25 is $31,078, median is $74,197, and p75 is $232,636. That range suggests the fund makes both smaller tuition payments and larger awards to camp programs.
Michigan is the top state by grant count. Recent Michigan-linked grants include Camps Leelanau Kohahna in Maple City, showing the state’s strong presence in the fund’s recent grant list.
Yes. The campership programs state that unsolicited applications are accepted, and awards are determined based on demonstrated financial need and paid directly to the camp of choice.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars Camps | Lebanon, MO | $442,216 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| Camps Newfound Owatonna | Harrison, ME | $387,809 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| Adventure Unlimited | Buena Vista, CO | $243,039 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| Camps Leelanau Kohahna | Maple City, MI | $212,925 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| Crystal Lake Camps | Hughesville, PA | $63,774 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| CherishAbility | Portland, OR | $41,694 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| Discovery Bound | Greenwood Village, CO | $30,068 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| Camp Bow-Isle | Bowen Island | $23,390 | 2025 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs. |
| Cedars Camps | Lebanon, MO | $457,742 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camps Newfound Owatonna | Harrison, ME | $320,828 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Adventure Unlimited | Buena Vista, CO | $260,701 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camps Leelanau Kohahna | Maple City, MI | $216,647 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Crystal Lake Camps | Hughesville, PA | $46,161 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Rainbow Valley Resource Network | Queen Creek, AZ | $41,038 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camp Bow-Isle | Bowen Island | $28,666 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Discovery Bound | Greenwood Village, CO | $13,915 | 2024 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Cedars Camps | Lebanon, MO | $398,173 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camps Newfound Owatonna | Harrison, ME | $327,740 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Adventure Unlimited | Buena Vista, CO | $248,624 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camps Leelanau Kohahna | Maple City, MI | $185,810 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Adventure Unlimited | Buena Vista, CO | $137,853 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Cedars Camps | Lebanon, MO | $132,593 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camps Newfound Owatonna | Harrison, ME | $98,130 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camps Leelanau Kohahna | Maple City, MI | $74,197 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Crystal Lake Camps | Hughesville, PA | $39,205 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Rainbow Valley Resource Network | Queen Creek, AZ | $34,440 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Friends of Camp Bow-Isle | Seattle, WA | $31,291 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Rainbow Valley Resource Network | Queen Creek, AZ | $30,864 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Discovery Bound | Greenwood Village, CO | $24,790 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Camp Bow-Isle | Bowen Island, BC | $8,655 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
| Crystal Lake Camps | Hughesville, PA | $7,895 | 2023 | Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families |
Cedars Camps
$442,216Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
Camps Newfound Owatonna
$387,809Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
Adventure Unlimited
$243,039Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
Camps Leelanau Kohahna
$212,925Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
Crystal Lake Camps
$63,774Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
CherishAbility
$41,694Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
Discovery Bound
$30,068Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
Camp Bow-Isle
$23,390Pay Camp tuition for Campers based on financial needs.
Cedars Camps
$457,742Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camps Newfound Owatonna
$320,828Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Adventure Unlimited
$260,701Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camps Leelanau Kohahna
$216,647Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Crystal Lake Camps
$46,161Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Rainbow Valley Resource Network
$41,038Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camp Bow-Isle
$28,666Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Discovery Bound
$13,915Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Cedars Camps
$398,173Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camps Newfound Owatonna
$327,740Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Adventure Unlimited
$248,624Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camps Leelanau Kohahna
$185,810Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Adventure Unlimited
$137,853Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Cedars Camps
$132,593Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camps Newfound Owatonna
$98,130Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camps Leelanau Kohahna
$74,197Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Crystal Lake Camps
$39,205Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Rainbow Valley Resource Network
$34,440Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Friends of Camp Bow-Isle
$31,291Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Rainbow Valley Resource Network
$30,864Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Discovery Bound
$24,790Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Camp Bow-Isle
$8,655Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families
Crystal Lake Camps
$7,895Pay Camp tuition for Campers of Financially Needy Families