Ross Foundation
ROSS FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2025, it awarded grants to organizations working in areas including community services, agriculture, health, animal welfare, and education.
Key facts about Ross Foundation
- EIN
- 48-6125814
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $261,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- Average grant
- $6,868
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (15 of 38, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,330,488
- Primary geography
- Missouri (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing lists Bill Sheets as the contact, states that there is no prescribed form, and reports no restrictions on awards. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ross Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ross Foundation's 38 itemized 2025 grants were Missouri (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (38 grants). 97% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Ross Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 38 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Ross Foundation
- How to evaluate Ross Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$261K
-0.2% YoY
Grant Count
38
+26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-21.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ross Foundation reported a distributable amount of $362K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, United Way of the Plains describes its mission as improving lives and advancing the common good in south central Kansas. The Land Institute says it seeks to develop agriculture that protects soil while promoting a prosperous and enduring community life. PKD Foundation says it funds research, advocates for patients, and builds community for people affected by PKD.
Other supported organizations describe work that includes cancer support (Chix 4 A Cause), providing opportunities for people born with clefts (Smile Train), and promoting health and wellness through care, access, research, and education (Kansas City CARE Clinic).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $261,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $30,000, with a median of $5,000.
Review Cycle
** None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients listed in Missouri. The 2024 organizations described in the available grant information include recipients in Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 38 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,330,488 | $437,417 | $399,380 | $261,000 |
| 2024 | $2,292,451 | $361,471 | $362,976 | $261,650 |
| 2023 | $2,293,956 | $301,560 | $357,586 | $259,500 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,330,488 | $2,292,451 | $2,293,956 |
| Revenue | $437,417 | $361,471 | $301,560 |
| Expenses | $399,380 | $362,976 | $357,586 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $330,165 | $312,313 | $308,543 |
| Net Investment Income | $368,250 | $310,808 | $252,517 |
| Distributable Amount | $361,630 | $320,878 | $311,778 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include The Land Institute ($30,000), United Way of the Plains ($30,000), Unity School of Christianity ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE LAND INSTITUTE Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $30,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF THE PLAINS Kansas City, MO | PROGRAM SERVICES | $30,000 |
| UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $25,000 |
| GIVEWELL Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $20,000 |
| PKD FOUNDATION Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $18,000 |
| CHIX 4 A CAUSE Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| KANSAS HUMANE SOCIETY Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| SMILE TRAIN Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| SECOND HARVEST SANTA CRUZ Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $7,000 |
| INDEPENDENT UNITY Kansas City, MO | OPERATING | $5,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William M. Sheets as secretary-treasurer and foundation manager, Hal Ross as vice president, and Susan R. Sheets as president.
Ross Foundation is led by Susan R. Sheets, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan R. Sheets
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2025)
Hal Ross
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2025)
William M. Sheets
Sec-Treas & Found Manager
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$40K (2020) → $50K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
Contact
Application contact: Bill Sheets
Mailing address: 4741 Central Street Suite 572, Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: (913) 486-2752
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ross Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, United Way of the Plains describes its mission as improving lives and advancing the common good in south central Kansas. The Land Institute says it seeks to develop agriculture that protects soil while promoting a prosperous and enduring community life. PKD Foundation says it funds research, advocates for patients, and builds community for people affected by PKD. Other support…
How do I apply for a grant from Ross Foundation?
The filing lists Bill Sheets as the contact, states that there is no prescribed form, and reports no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Ross Foundation make grants?
All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients listed in Missouri. The 2024 organizations described in the available grant information include recipients in Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, and New York.
What size grants does Ross Foundation award?
In 2025, Ross Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $261K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ross Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Ross Foundation reported a distributable amount of $362K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ross Foundation's EIN?
Ross Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-6125814. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.