named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Ambassador Program
Engages former scholarship recipients as peer mentors who support others in recovery and remain active in the foundation’s community networks
Mental Health Scholarships
Offers funding for therapy, outpatient care, trauma treatment, and behavioral healthcare to individuals in need, with an average award of $1,500
No Addiction Stigma Education Program
Conducts education and advocacy initiatives for students, families, and communities nationwide to reduce stigma and support underrepresented populations affected by addiction and mental health issues
Recovery and Sobriety Scholarships
Provides financial support for detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, outpatient care, sober living housing, recovery coaching, and aftercare for individuals seeking addiction recovery
Release Run Club
Endurance and engagement program that builds community through sober activities including marathon teams, running clubs, and basketball tournaments to foster accountability and belonging in recovery
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Mental Health Education and Awareness 1 activity
- Advocating for equitable access to mental health careEngages in advocacy efforts to improve access to mental health services, informed by personal experience navigating the care system, with a focus on equity and systemic change.
-
-
Outpatient Substance Use Treatment 1 activity
- Awarding scholarships for addiction treatment, sober living, and mental health careProvides financial scholarships to individuals to cover costs of residential addiction treatment, sober living housing, recovery coaching, and mental health services including therapy and outpatient care. Since 2021, has awarded $2.5 million in scholarships, with $1.5 million directed to residential treatment, $500,000 to sober living and recovery coaching, and $350,000 to mental health treatment.
-
-
Community Recovery Awareness Events 1 activity
- Engaging individuals in sober recreational and endurance activities to support recoveryOrganizes and supports sober community activities including basketball tournaments, marathon teams, and running clubs, engaging over 12,000 individuals annually in recovery-focused events that promote long-term sobriety and community building.
-
-
Charity Event Organization 1 activity
- Fundraising to support access to addiction recovery servicesConducts fundraising initiatives including t-shirt sales, benefit concerts, and participation in the New York City Marathon to generate financial support for scholarships and recovery programs. Raised $85,000 from a t-shirt fundraiser and over $2.5 million from the NYC Marathon since 2021.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.96M
Contributions & grants$1.96M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.60M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising19%
Salaries & benefits$352K
Grants paid out$536K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$845K
Cash$794K
Investments$2K
Liabilities$103K
Net assets$742K
Liquid reserves6.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +41.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES LERNER | DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT | 40 | $128K |
| MATTHEW STEFANKO | INTERIM ED | 40 | $37K |
board members · 9
- AARON HANCOCK — BOARD DIRECTOR
- ANDREW SCHWARTZ — BOARD DIRECTOR
- BARB BARNHART — BOARD DIRECTOR
- CASSIDY MARA — BOARD DIRECTOR
- DOROTHY DEVLIN — BOARD DIRECTOR
- HILARY PHELPS — BOARD DIRECTOR
- JEFFREY BAUM — SECRETARY & TREASURER
- MATTHEW RINKLIN — CHAIR
- ZAC CLARK — VICE CHAIR
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Caron Treatment Center Partner — Partnered with The Release Recovery Foundation to create the Nic Pagano LGBTQIA+ Scholarship Fund, which is based at Caron Treatment Center.
- DEVLINHAIR Productions and Learning Partner — Co-founded by Dorothy Delvin, who also serves as a board member of The Release Recovery Foundation.
- GCM Grosvenor Partner — Employer of Matt Rinklin, where he serves as Managing Director, potentially informing investment strategies for the foundation.
- Matt Rinklin Partner — Co-founded the Release Recovery Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors.
- NBCUniversal Partner — Employer of a board member involved in shaping media strategy; connection leveraged for potential awareness and partnerships.
- New York Road Runners Partner — Partner organization for the New York City Marathon, with Release Recovery Foundation participating as a Silver Level Charity Partner.
- Oaktree Capital Management Partner — Former employer of Matt Rinklin, where he held a senior leadership role in investment origination and strategic relationships.
- People’s Emergency Center Partner — Barbara Barnhart has served on the board of this organization, which provides shelter and support services to homeless women with children.
- Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Partner — Partnership to organize Team Release for participation in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon as a fundraising and awareness initiative.
- TAO Downtown Partner — Host venue for the annual Release Recovery Foundation Gala
- TCS London Marathon Partner — Partnership to organize Team Release for participation in the TCS London Marathon as a fundraising and awareness initiative.
- The Village Partner — Barbara Barnhart has served on the board of this organization, which provides residential treatment and support services for vulnerable young women.
- Zac Clark Partner — Co-founded the Release Recovery Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors.
- wealth management firm Partner — Andrew Schwartz serves as a finance partner at a wealth management firm, contributing professional expertise to support the foundation's work.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Centered Recovery Approach 182 orgsmethodology: community-centered recoveryBy fostering community engagement, belonging, and peer connection, the organization strengthens sustained sobriety and mental health, because social integration acts as a protective factor against relapse and isolation.shared approach: Peer-Led Support →
- Peer Mentorship and Lived Experience Integration 182 orgsmethodology: peer_mentorshipBy connecting individuals in recovery with peer mentors and incorporating lived experience into advocacy and governance, the organization sustains long-term recovery and reduces stigma, because shared experience builds trust, accountability, and community resilience.shared approach: Peer-Led Support →
- Equity-Focused Integrated Support 72 orgsmethodology: equity-focused_scholarship_distributionBy targeting support to at-risk and marginalized communities—particularly LGBTQIA+ individuals—and addressing intersecting systemic barriers like stigma and discrimination, the organization improves behavioral health outcomes, because addiction recovery is deeply influenced by social determinants and identity-based inequities.shared approach: Community-Led Affirmation →
- Family-Inclusive Recovery Model 24 orgsmethodology: family-inclusive addiction recoveryBy involving families in recovery support, the organization improves outcomes for individuals with addiction, because recovery is strengthened through relational stability and systemic support.shared approach: Integrated Recovery Ecosystem →
- Financial Access and Scholarship Model 16 orgsmethodology: financial_access_modelBy removing financial barriers through scholarships and provider partnerships, the organization enables rapid access to treatment and supports long-term recovery, because economic constraints are a primary obstacle to entering care.shared approach: Financial Access Model →