The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Henderson, NV EIN: 81-2792819

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.

Key facts about The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation

In short: The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation gave $171K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Nevada. 90% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
81-2792819
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$171,000
Grants made (2025)
12
Average grant
$14,250
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
90% first-time grantees (9 of 10, 2025)
Total assets
$1,986,803
Primary geography
Nevada (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
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. Full details ↓

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.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.0M

+8.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$171K

Grant Count

12

Avg Grant Size

$14K

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.

Is The Ralph and Marlene Ross Foundation open to new grantees?

90%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 9 of 10 grantees (90%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $10K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $10K 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.

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.

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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

7states

Share of all 12 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

HendersonLas VegasCarson CitySanta AnaBerwynNorth Las VegasSalt Lake CitySanta AnnaBoulderCorneliusE FayettevilleFayettevilleLos AngelesMemphisRancho Santa Margarita

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K9 grants20208 grants20216 grants20229 grants20230 grants202412 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $99K (2023) to $171K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $171K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn: $90K across 3 grantsNevada Blind Childrens Fdn$90K · 3 grantsIpof: $20KIpof$20KProf Fire Fighters of NV: $20KProf Fire Fighters of NV$20KIpof Team Vegas: $10KIpof Team Vegas$10KIsaiah House: $10KIsaiah House$10KCef Orange Coast Chapter: $10KCef Orange Coast Chapter$10KNeighborhood Housing Svcs of so NV: $5KNeighborhood Housing Svcs ofso NV$5KOne Tribe Inc: $3KOne Tribe Inc$3KPFFN Benevolent Assn: $3KPFFN Benevolent Assn$3KChildrens Miracle Network: $1KChildrens Miracle Network$1K

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

34<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 35 (97%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn Henderson, NVEducational Support for Blind Children$50,000
Ipof Las Vegas, NVSupport for Injured Police Officers$20,000
Prof Fire Fighters of NV Carson City, NVSupport for Injured Fire Fighters$20,000
Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn Henderson, NVEducational Oppty for Blind Children$20,000
Nevada Blind Childrens Fdn Henderson, NVEducational Matl for Blind Children$20,000
Ipof Team Vegas Henderson, NVDeceased Officer Memorial$10,000
Isaiah House Santa Anna, CAProvide Support for Homeless$10,000
Cef Orange Coast Chapter Rancho Santa Margarita, CAChildrens Ministry$10,000
Neighborhood Housing Svcs of so NV North Las Vegas, NVIndigent Housing Support$5,000
One Tribe Inc Las Vegas, NVPrenatal and Family Support for Needy Mothers$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $1,986,803 $94,892 $194,401 $171,000 across 12 grants
2024 $1,839,085 -$1,002 $15,402 0 grants
2023 $1,783,215 -$43,831 $114,402 $99,000 across 9 grants
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,986,803$1,839,085$1,783,215
Revenue$94,892$-1,002$-43,831
Expenses$194,401$15,402$114,402
Qualifying Distributions$171,000—$99,000
Net Investment Income$96,261$58,055$61,014
Distributable Amount$96,074——

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)

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

James R Michal — Director: $20KJames R MichalDirector$20K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $20K, to James R Michal (Director).

Contact

Mailing address: 2534 Desante Drive, Henderson, NV 89044
Phone: (702) 776-6560

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 $18K 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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