The Howard Ross Family Foundation
The Howard Ross Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It reported 12 grants totaling $15,000 in 2024, with all listed grant purposes described as “General Purposes.”
The Howard Ross Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Howard Ross Family Foundation gave $15K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in New York. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,000
- -6.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,250
- +40.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $213
- Total assets
- $334,742
- +4.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (73% 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 The Howard Ross Family Foundation
- 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: 225 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 828-9600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Howard Ross Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Friendship Circle International ($9K). Together the top 10 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 114 grants of 114 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 23% to recipients in Illinois, and 4% to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Howard Ross Family Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $115; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $150 first-time, $250 repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% 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 (2020–2024). 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 $13K (2021) to $18K (2022). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friendship Circle International Brooklyn, NY | General Purposes | $8,800 |
| Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Naperville, IL | General Purposes | $2,275 |
| Chevra Meznos Brooklyn, NY | General Purposes | $2,000 |
| Susan G Komen Foundation Dallas, TX | General Purposes | $650 |
| Jewish Sacred Society Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $250 |
| PlayThinks Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $250 |
| Friedman Place Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $175 |
| Chicago Botanical Garden Glencoe, IL | General Purposes | $155 |
| Congregation KINS Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $150 |
| (Congregation) Beis Medrash Mikor Hachaim Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $150 |
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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 | $334,742 | $13,916 | $22,746 | $15,000 | 12 | $15,000 | $43,857 | $15,561 |
| 2023 | $321,943 | $13,712 | $20,070 | $16,000 | 18 | — | $11,047 | $15,111 |
| 2022 | $293,039 | $12,551 | $26,473 | $17,500 | 23 | $17,500 | $15,678 | $16,030 |
| 2021 | $370,707 | $11,665 | $17,523 | $13,000 | 28 | — | $9,103 | $17,404 |
| 2020 | $325,738 | $12,083 | $17,920 | $16,000 | 33 | — | $10,163 | $12,996 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Howard Ross Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16K 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to charitable organizations including Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, whose mission is to create educational opportunities and programs for individuals with autism, and PlayThinks, whose mission is to enhance the learning experience for people of all ages and experiences. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $15,000. Grant amounts ranged from $45 to $8,800, and the median grant was $212. Its largest grants included $8,800 to Friendship Circle International, $2,275 to Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, $2,000 to Chevra Meznos, and $650 to Susan G Komen Foundation. All were listed for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bonnie Ross as president, Vicki Ross as vice-president, and Jay L Dolgin as treasurer/secretary.
The Howard Ross Family Foundation is led by Bonnie Ross, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bonnie Ross
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay L Dolgin
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vicki Ross
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 The Howard Ross Family Foundation
How much does The Howard Ross Family Foundation give each year?
The Howard Ross Family Foundation gave $15K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $16K across 18 grants.
What is The Howard Ross Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Howard Ross Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $213, and its average grant was $1,250, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Howard Ross Family Foundation that year got $115 on average.
Where does The Howard Ross Family Foundation give grants?
The Howard Ross Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (3 grants).
Does The Howard Ross Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Howard Ross Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Howard Ross Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Howard Ross Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Friendship Circle International ($8,800), Turning Pointe Autism Foundation ($2,275) and Chevra Meznos ($2,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Howard Ross Family Foundation?
The Howard Ross Family Foundation reported $335K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $16K (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 The Howard Ross Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Howard Ross Family Foundation?
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 The Howard Ross Family Foundation's EIN?
The Howard Ross Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3557182. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Howard Ross Family Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Howard 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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