Ross Stores Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Dublin, California, established in 2014. The foundation is affiliated with Ross Stores, Inc. and operates as a company-sponsored philanthropic organization focused on supporting youth development across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.1M
-3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.1M
+150.0% YoY
Grant Count
114
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+108.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ross Stores Foundation reported a distributable amount of $395K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to build academic achievement and life skills for youth in need. The foundation maintains a broad philanthropic focus without specifying particular subject areas, indicating flexibility in its funding approach while maintaining its core commitment to youth development.
Grantmaking
The foundation welcomes requests for one-year grants in the following amounts: $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000. The foundation will consider funding both general operations/overhead and specific programs. Historical data indicates typical awards have ranged from $29 to $1,240,000, with a median grant of approximately $1,000 and an average award of $20,000.
Grant Range
s and Types
Review Cycle
**Letter of Inquiry Submission Periods (2026):**
How to Apply
The foundation operates a two-staged review process with specific deadlines:
Ready to take the next step with Ross Stores Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports diverse communities across the United States, with funding reaching organizations in at least 40 states. Primary grantmaking is concentrated in California, Georgia, and the District of Columbia, which account for 40% of all grants. The foundation also funds in major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $9.4 million
- Annual Revenue: $4.6 million
- Annual Expenses: $2.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $1 million
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $1.9 million in 2013 to $9.4 million in 2024
Grant Activity:
- Total giving: $5.06 million (historical)
- Annual giving has ranged from $4.4 million (2021) to $1.6 million (2024)
- The foundation has made 473 grants totaling $9.3 million to 345 unique organizations
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,107,527 | $9,424,942 | $7,845,020 |
| Revenue | $4,774,449 | $4,559,672 | $3,688,556 |
| Expenses | $6,930,604 | $2,148,446 | $2,382,850 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,081,957 | $2,977,011 | $3,315,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $372,541 | $307,846 | $91,556 |
| Distributable Amount | $394,956 | $327,476 | $336,449 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ross Stores Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($923,333), American National Red Cross ($800,000), First Book ($344,900).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 VALENCIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | YOUTH PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| A PLACE CALLED HOME LOS ANGELES, CA | YOUTH PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS LOS ANGELES, CA | YOUTH PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| AIM HIGH FOR HIGH SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | YOUTH PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | DISASTER RESPONSE | $800,000 |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC CLEARWATER, FL | MATCHING GIFTS | $118,671 |
| ASPIRE EDUCATION OAKLAND, CA | YOUTH PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| BABY BUGGY AKA GOOD FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | YOUTH PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| BAYVIEW HUNTERS POINT CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY SAN FRANCISCO, CA | YOUTH PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| BEYOND EMANCIPATION OAKLAND, CA | YOUTH PROGRAM | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by four uncompensated directors:
- Michael Hartshorn, Director/President/Chairman
- John Call, Director/Secretary
- William W. Sheehan, Director/Treasurer
- Adam Orvos, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL HARTSHORN | DIR/PRES/CHM | 0.1 | — |
| WILLIAM W SHEEHAN | DIR/TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
| ADAM ORVOS | DIR/SECRETARY (BEGIN 4/24) | 0.1 | — |
| JOHN CALL | DIR/SECRETARY (THRU 4/24) | 0.1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has maintained an active partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In January 2025, Ross Dress for Less renewed and expanded its longstanding partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support youth development. The foundation has also conducted in-store fundraising initiatives in multiple communities, including recent campaigns in Bend, Oregon, and Palm Beach County, Florida, to support local youth programs. Additionally, the foundation celebrated a 10-year anniversary of its "Help Local Kids Thrive" in-store fundraiser partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.
Ross Dress for Less Holds In-Store Fundraiser to Help Local Bend Kids SucceedSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ross Stores Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to build academic achievement and life skills for youth in need. The foundation maintains a broad philanthropic focus without specifying particular subject areas, indicating flexibility in its funding approach while maintaining its core commitment to youth development.
How do I apply for a grant from Ross Stores Foundation?
The foundation welcomes requests for one-year grants in the following amounts: $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000. The foundation will consider funding both general operations/overhead and specific programs. Historical data indicates typical awards have ranged from $29 to $1,240,000, with a median grant of approximately $1,000 and an average award of $20,000. The foundation operates a two-staged review process with specific deadlines: **Letter of Inquiry Submission Periods (2026):** • Cycle 1: Februa…
Where does Ross Stores Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports diverse communities across the United States, with funding reaching organizations in at least 40 states. Primary grantmaking is concentrated in California, Georgia, and the District of Columbia, which account for 40% of all grants. The foundation also funds in major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities.
What size grants does Ross Stores Foundation award?
In 2025, Ross Stores Foundation awarded 114 grants totaling $4.1M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ross Stores Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Ross Stores Foundation reported a distributable amount of $395K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ross Stores Foundation's EIN?
Ross Stores Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3828645. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ross Stores Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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