The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation is a private foundation based in Henderson, Nevada. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations for purposes including educational support for blind children, assistance for injured first responders, and other community needs.
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation gave $171K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Nevada. 80% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $171,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $14,250
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,986,803
- +8.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (8 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Nevada (88% 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 Ralph and Marlene Ross 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: 2534 Desante Drive, Henderson, NV 89044
Phone: (702) 776-6560
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn ($90K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $171K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 35 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Nevada (88%), California (12%), and Utah (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation open to new grantees?
80%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 10 grantees (80%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $50K repeat.
- Giving grew 63% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 178% 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $99K (2023) to $171K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $171K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn Henderson, NV | Educational Support for Blind Children | $50,000 |
| Ipof Las Vegas, NV | Support for Injured Police Officers | $20,000 |
| Prof Fire Fighters of NV Carson City, NV | Support for Injured Fire Fighters | $20,000 |
| Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn Henderson, NV | Educational Oppty for Blind Children | $20,000 |
| Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn Henderson, NV | Educational Matl for Blind Children | $20,000 |
| Ipof Team Vegas Henderson, NV | Deceased Officer Memorial | $10,000 |
| Isaiah House Santa Anna, CA | Provide Support for Homeless | $10,000 |
| CEF Orange Coast Chapter Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | Childrens Ministry | $10,000 |
| Neighborhood Housing Svcs of so NV North Las Vegas, NV | Indigent Housing Support | $5,000 |
| One Tribe Inc Las Vegas, NV | Prenatal and Family Support for Needy Mothers | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,986,803 | $94,892 | $194,401 | $171,000 | 12 | $171,000 | $96,261 | $96,074 |
| 2024 | $1,839,085 | $-1,002 | $15,402 | — | — | — | $58,055 | — |
| 2023 | $1,783,215 | $-43,831 | $114,402 | $99,000 | 9 | $99,000 | $61,014 | — |
| 2022 | $1,720,454 | $-7,740 | $112,900 | $105,000 | 6 | $105,000 | $55,517 | — |
| 2021 | $1,784,261 | $14,975 | $130,887 | $115,000 | 8 | $115,000 | $61,191 | $92,352 |
| 2020 | $1,597,430 | $1,700,000 | $125,000 | $110,000 | 9 | — | $22,430 | $83,634 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation reported a distributable amount of $96K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for blind children’s education, injured police officers and firefighters, homeless people, indigent housing, prenatal and family support, children’s ministry, and children’s health.
Among its grantees, Isaiah House Inc. describes its mission as providing meals and food to individuals and families. Children’s Miracle Network says it works to save children’s lives by raising money for children’s healthcare in local communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $171,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Notable grants included $50,000 to Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn for educational support for blind children; $20,000 to IPOF for injured police officers; and $20,000 to Prof Fire Fighters of NV for injured firefighters. Other grants included $10,000 to Isaiah House for support for homeless people and $1,000 to Children’s Miracle Network for children’s health.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James R. Michal as director.
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation is led by James R. Michal, Director on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James R. Michal
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $20K (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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $20K, to James R Michal (Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation
How much does The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation give each year?
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation gave $171K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,250, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation give grants?
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation gives mostly in Nevada: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Henderson, NV (4 grants), Las Vegas, NV (2 grants) and Carson City, NV (2 grants).
Does The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn ($90,000 across 3 grants), Ipof ($20,000) and Prof Fire Fighters of NV ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation?
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $171K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $96K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for blind children’s education, injured police officers and firefighters, homeless people, indigent housing, prenatal and family support, children’s ministry, and children’s health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ralph and Marlene Ross 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 Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's EIN?
The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2792819. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Ralph and Marlene Ross 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ralph-and-marlene-ross-foundation-morg_cca55e67de9a4f8b85a3065909cd7bfb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_812792819_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ralph-and-marlene-ross-foundation-morg_cca55e67de9a4f8b85a3065909cd7bfb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 The Ralph and Marlene Ross 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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