Mark and Cynthia Ross Family
The Mark and Cynthia Ross Family is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In its 2026 filing, it reported 34 grants totaling $160,423 to charitable organizations, including organizations focused on education, youth services, community programs, arts and history, and conservation.
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family at a glance
In short: Mark and Cynthia Ross Family gave $160K across 34 grants in 2026 (avg $5K), mostly in Massachusetts. 47% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $160,423
- +10.7% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 34
- +36.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $4,718
- -18.6% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $2,821,219
- +1.3% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (16 of 34, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (67% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mark and Cynthia Ross Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Tag Assoc 810 Seventh Ave 7Fl, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 275-1500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mark and Cynthia Ross Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Tufts University ($25K). Together the top 10 received $109K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 110 grants of 110 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2026, Massachusetts received 67% of grant dollars, Puerto Rico 14%, Montana 6%, California 4%, and New York 3%. These figures describe the distribution of grants by recipient state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mark and Cynthia Ross Family open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 16 of 34 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 38% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 146% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2021) to $160K (2026). In 2026 it made 34 grants totaling $160K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tufts University Medford, MA | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| Plummer Youth Promise Salem, MA | Charitable Contribution | $15,000 |
| Root NS Salem, MA | Charitable Contribution | $15,000 |
| Cape Ann Museum Gloucester, MA | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library Dorado, PR | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Yellowstone Club Community Foundation Bozeman, MT | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Essex County Community Foundation Beverly, MA | Charitable Contribution | $7,500 |
| Plenitud PR Las Marias, PR | Charitable Contribution | $6,000 |
| Brookwood School Manchester, MA | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Empower Africa Inc New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $2,821,219 | $203,203 | $167,824 | $160,423 | 34 | $160,875 | $242,637 | $169,426 |
| 2025 | $2,785,491 | $213,335 | $148,063 | $144,960 | 25 | $145,550 | $284,071 | $155,812 |
| 2024 | $2,716,798 | $416,794 | $95,551 | $91,626 | 30 | $91,626 | $66,977 | $132,139 |
| 2023 | $2,396,346 | $78,740 | $67,076 | $65,320 | 9 | $65,320 | $255,739 | $98,331 |
| 2022 | $2,385,771 | $2,374,458 | $39,928 | $39,080 | 12 | $39,130 | $117,196 | $43,323 |
| 2021 | $50,578 | $-16,261 | $33,743 | $31,940 | 15 | — | $747 | $3,362 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mark and Cynthia Ross Family reported a distributable amount of $169K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address a range of community needs. For example, Plummer Youth Promise works to improve outcomes for young people in or at risk of entering state care, while ROOT NS provides food-service training and employment to help young adults build independence. LEAP for Education provides academic, postsecondary, and career services to underserved students in grades 6–16.
Other 2026 recipients include the Jane Stern Dorado Community Library, which describes its work as providing library access and educational and cultural programs; Cape Ann Museum, which focuses on Cape Ann history and art; and Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, which supports nonprofit organizations promoting community service, education, and conservation in its region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 34 grants totaling $160,423. Grant amounts ranged from $25 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. Its largest grants included $25,000 to Tufts University; $15,000 each to Plummer Youth Promise and ROOT NS; and $10,000 each to Cape Ann Museum, the Jane Stern Dorado Community Library, and Yellowstone Club Community Foundation. All were listed as charitable contributions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Mark E Ross and Cynthia C Ross as trustees.
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's 2026 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Cynthia C. Ross
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Mark E. Ross
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Mark and Cynthia Ross Family
How much does Mark and Cynthia Ross Family give each year?
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family gave $160K across 34 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $145K across 25 grants.
What is Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's typical grant size?
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's median grant in 2026 was $2,500, and its average grant was $4,718, across 34 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mark and Cynthia Ross Family that year got $4K on average.
Where does Mark and Cynthia Ross Family give grants?
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family gives mostly in Massachusetts: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Puerto Rico (14%) and Montana (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Salem, MA (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Gloucester, MA (2 grants) and Beverly, MA (2 grants).
Who are Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's largest grantees?
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's largest 2026 grantees include Tufts University ($25,000), Plummer Youth Promise ($15,000) and Root NS ($15,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Mark and Cynthia Ross Family?
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $161K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $169K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Mark and Cynthia Ross Family fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address a range of community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mark and Cynthia Ross Family?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's EIN?
Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7117871. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Does Mark and Cynthia Ross Family accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mark and Cynthia Ross Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mark-and-cynthia-ross-family-morg_f568b5775b654209b1980ebb2c8bfff2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_137117871_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mark and Cynthia Ross Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mark-and-cynthia-ross-family-morg_f568b5775b654209b1980ebb2c8bfff2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Mark and Cynthia Ross Family's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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