Ross Family Foundation
The Ross Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Clayton, Missouri. It makes grants to organizations, with 2024 giving concentrated in Missouri and including support for education, health care, the arts, and community organizations.
Ross Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ross Family Foundation gave $4.5M across 73 grants in 2024 (avg $61K), mostly in Missouri. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,478,000
- +165.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 73
- +23.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $61,342
- +114.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $12,000
- Total assets
- $27,331,189
- -6.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (23 of 73, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ross Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing lists no specific application form or materials and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Ross Family Foundation Co Commerce
Mailing address: PO Box 16550, Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: (314) 746-3209
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ross Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was De Smet Jesuit High School ($1.3M). Together the top 10 received $3.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
346 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 310 grants of 346 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri. Florida and Kansas each received 1%; Texas and Indiana each accounted for 0% as reported in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 73 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ross Family Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 73 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $53K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 103% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 197% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2023) to $4.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 73 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| De Smet Jesuit High School St. Louis, MO | General Purpose, the Spartan Fund | $1,285,000 |
| Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation St. Louis, MO | Nancy Fedak Ross, RN Endowment for Nursing Education | $1,000,000 |
| Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation St. Louis, MO | Cancer frontier fund, evelyn's house, nancy ross endowed nursing awards fund, nancy ross chief nursing officer highest priorities fund, nancy ross endowed scholarship in nursing edu | $350,000 |
| St Louis University St. Louis, MO | Men's Soccer, O'Loughlin Family Champions Center | $270,000 |
| St Louis Children's Hospital St. Louis, MO | Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Reseach Center | $250,000 |
| St Louis Symphony Orchestra St. Louis, MO | General Support | $145,000 |
| Stages St Louis Chesterfield, MO | Backstagers, general purpose, director of outreach w/ emphasis on autism | $125,000 |
| Archdiocese of St Louis St. Louis, MO | Annual Catholic Appeal | $100,000 |
| Rung Foundation Inc St. Louis, MO | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Team Activities for Special Kids Inc Fenton, MO | General Purpose | $35,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $27,331,189 | $2,515,901 | $4,487,367 | $4,478,000 | 73 | $4,478,000 | $1,023,843 | $2,273,869 |
| 2023 | $29,316,564 | $870,692 | $1,752,646 | $1,684,850 | 59 | $1,684,850 | $911,694 | $2,042,489 |
| 2022 | $30,186,291 | $7,674,064 | $1,821,129 | $1,804,600 | 68 | $1,804,600 | $4,395,792 | $1,887,576 |
| 2021 | $26,192,713 | $1,296,719 | $2,221,377 | $2,201,550 | 84 | $2,202,050 | $1,284,483 | $2,070,084 |
| 2020 | $27,118,340 | $2,465,087 | $2,465,000 | $2,448,550 | 62 | — | $726,453 | $1,722,251 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ross Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is stated. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation describes its mission as revealing “the healing presence of God” through health care services. Saint Louis University describes its mission as pursuing truth and serving humanity through teaching, research, health care, and community service. Stages St. Louis says it works to advance musical theatre through performance and education, while Team Activities for Special Kids says it enriches the lives of individuals with special needs through athletic, social, fine arts, and day programming.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 73 grants totaling $4,478,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,285,000, with a median grant of $12,000. The largest awards included $1,285,000 to an individual recipient Jesuit High School for general purposes and the Spartan Fund; $1,000,000 to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation for the Nancy Fedak Ross, RN Endowment for Nursing Education; and $350,000 to Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation for several funds and programs, including nursing awards and education.
Other notable 2024 grants included $270,000 to Saint Louis University for men’s soccer and the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center; $250,000 to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for its Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Center; $145,000 to St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for general support; and $125,000 to Stages St. Louis for Backstagers, general purposes, and outreach with an emphasis on autism.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Donald L. Ross, Nancy A. Ross, John L. Ross, Robert M. Ross, and Scott C. Ross as trustees.
Ross Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donald L. Ross
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John L. Ross
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy A. Ross
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert M. Ross
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott C. Ross
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Ross Family Foundation
How much does Ross Family Foundation give each year?
Ross Family Foundation gave $4.5M across 73 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 59 grants.
What is Ross Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ross Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $12,000, and its average grant was $61,342, across 73 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ross Family Foundation that year got $53K on average.
Where does Ross Family Foundation give grants?
Ross Family Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (49 grants), Chesterfield, MO (2 grants) and St Charles, MO (2 grants).
Does Ross Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of Ross Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (57 of 73) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ross Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ross Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include De Smet Jesuit High School ($1,285,000), Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation ($1,000,000) and Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation ($350,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ross Family Foundation?
Ross Family Foundation reported $27.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ross Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is stated. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation describes its mission as revealing “the healing presence of God” through health care services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ross Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ross Family Foundation's EIN?
Ross Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-6432496. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ross Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ross Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ross-family-foundation-morg_7b6ea6ac49d54481baa20f6137433f57
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_466432496_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ross Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ross-family-foundation-morg_7b6ea6ac49d54481baa20f6137433f57},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Ross Family Foundation'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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