The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Mount Kisco, NY EIN: 20-1645493

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Mount Kisco, New York. In 2025, it awarded 19 grants totaling $20,550 to organizations including a cancer research institute, educational institutions, arts and media organizations, and community and environmental groups.

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc gave $21K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in New York. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$20,550
-30.3% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
19
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$1,082
-30.3% vs 2024
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$47,975
-1.8% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
21% first-time grantees (4 of 19, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
New York (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc

How to Apply

The 2025 filing lists Nancy and Paul Ross as contacts and says to call for a questionnaire. It states that there are no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Nancy And Paul Ross
Mailing address: 458 Croton Lake Road, Mount Kisco, NY 10549-4232
Phone: (516) 409-5000

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Dana Farber Cancer Institute: $3KDana Farber Cancer Institute$3KWestchester Land Trust: $2KWestchester Land Trust$2KMetropolitan Opera: $2KMetropolitan Opera$2KBarnard College: $2KBarnard College$2KPerlman Music Program: $2KPerlman Music Program$2KAugust West Fdn: $1KAugust West Fdn$1KFresh Air Fund: $1KFresh Air Fund$1KJacob Burns Film Center Inc: $1KJacob Burns Film Center Inc$1KNeighbors Link: $1KNeighbors Link$1KNew York Public Radio: $1KNew York Public Radio$1K

The largest 2025 recipient was Dana Farber Cancer Institute ($3K). Together the top 10 received $16K.

Grant Size Distribution

122 grants across all recorded years

122<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 122 grants of 122 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 24% to recipients in Massachusetts.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkKatonahMount KiscoBedford HillsOssiningBedfordNorthamptonWashingtonPleasantvilleSeafordElmsfordAlexandriaCambridgeBostonIthacaIthacanValhallaBedford HillsnFrankfortKennesaw

Is The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

21%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 4 of 19 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 60% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 964% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K24 grants2020 30 grants2021 28 grants2022 26 grants2023 19 grants2024 19 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21K (2025) to $59K (2021). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $21K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MATo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$3,000
Westchester Land Trust Bedford Hills, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$2,000
Metropolitan Opera New York, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$2,000
Barnard College New York, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$2,000
Perlman Music Program New York, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$2,000
August West Fdn Cambridge, MATo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$1,000
Fresh Air Fund New York, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$1,000
Jacob Burns Film Center Inc Pleasantville, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$1,000
Neighbors Link Mount Kisco, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$1,000
New York Public Radio New York, NYTo Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives$1,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$47,975$20,003$20,569$20,55019$20,550$3$2,132
2024$48,856$24,501$29,609$29,50019$29,500$1$1,853
2023$56,439$26,002$28,666$28,55026$28,550$2$1,664
2022$58,323$55,128$52,325$51,60028$51,600$128$2,191
2021$56,080$55,691$58,624$58,50030$58,500$35,691$2,383
2020$79,856$35,003$33,694$33,50024—$3$2,959

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2025 — 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 statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, the Westchester Land Trust says its primary mission is to conserve, maintain, and enhance the natural environment and resources of Westchester and eastern Putnam counties. Barnard College says it aims to provide a high-quality liberal arts education to promising and high-achieving young women. New York Public Radio describes its mission as making people more curious, open-hearted, and joyful through audio programming rooted in New York.

Other 2025 grantees describe missions including bringing audiences together to experience and learn about film (Jacob Burns Film Center); providing New York City children from low-income families with cultural, recreational, and educational experiences (Fresh Air Fund); and strengthening community integration for immigrants through services such as English-language instruction, workforce development, and legal support (Neighbors Link). Bedford 2030 describes its work as building awareness and providing resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect natural resources.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $20,550. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $3,000, with a median grant of $1,000.

Its largest 2025 grant was $3,000 to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It also awarded $2,000 each to Westchester Land Trust, Metropolitan Opera, Barnard College, and Perlman Music Program. Grants of $1,000 went to August West Fdn, Fresh Air Fund, Jacob Burns Film Center, Neighbors Link, New York Public Radio, and Smith College Fund. Bedford 2030 received $500. The filing gives the stated purpose for these grants as furthering each recipient’s publicly stated objectives.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Paul Ross and Nancy Ross as directors.

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Nancy Ross

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Ross

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

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.

Frequently asked questions about The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc

How much does The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc give each year?

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc gave $21K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $30K across 19 grants.

What is The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,082, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc that year got $1K on average.

Where does The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc give grants?

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Bedford Hills, NY (2 grants), Mount Kisco, NY (2 grants) and Katonah, NY (2 grants).

Does The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Recipients Publicly Stated Objectives" (19 grants).

Who are The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Dana Farber Cancer Institute ($3,000), Westchester Land Trust ($2,000) and Metropolitan Opera ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc?

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc reported $48K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $21K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc fund?

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc?

The 2025 filing lists Nancy and Paul Ross as contacts and says to call for a questionnaire. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1645493. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

The New York Community Trust

New York, NY

The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$3.5B

Grants

2,748

Total Given

$193.8M

Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation Inc

Wilmington, DE

The foundation supports a broad range of charitable work, including social services, climate advocacy, human rights, civil liberties, and humanitarian response, with most 2024 funding going to organizations in New York, followed by California and Washington, DC. Its 2024 median grant was $10,000, though awards ranged from $300 to $771,075. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.

Assets

$125.9M

Grants

227

Total Given

$8.2M

Mutual of America Foundation

New York, NY

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$136K

Grants

539

Total Given

$839K

Strong Foundation of New York

New York, NY

The foundation supports education, arts and culture, community services, food access, and conservation, with most of its 2026 grant dollars going to New York organizations and additional funding in several other states. Grants ranged from $250 to $75,000, with a median of $2,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$5.2M

Grants

131

Total Given

$811K

The Ford Foundation

New York, NY

The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$17.5B

Grants

4,007

Total Given

$844.7M

The Simons Foundation Inc

New York, NY

The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$4.5B

Grants

1,727

Total Given

$272.0M

More Funders in New York

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc'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.

The Nancy and Paul Ross Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?