The Ron Russo Foundation
The Ron Russo Foundation is a private foundation based in Canfield, Ohio. Its 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations; its reported grants that year included organizations in Ohio and other states, as well as an individual scholarship recipient.
The Ron Russo Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ron Russo Foundation gave $12K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Ohio. 80% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,000
- +52.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,091
- +38.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $45,878
- -3.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (8 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (77% 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 Ron Russo Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states in its 2024 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 690 Blueberry Hill, Canfield, OH 44406
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ron Russo Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Second Harvest Food Bank ($2K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars were reported as 77% to Ohio recipients, 12% to Arizona, 8% to Virginia, and 2% to California. The listed grants show support for recipients in those states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ron Russo Foundation open to new grantees?
80%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 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 $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 10% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 540% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2023) to $12K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $12K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Second Harvest Food Bank Youngstown, OH | General | $2,250 |
| Save a Warrior Columbus, OH | General | $2,000 |
| Project MKC Youngstown, OH | General | $1,500 |
| Make a Wish Phoenix, AZ | General | $1,500 |
| Meals on Wheels Arlington, VA | General | $1,000 |
| Autism Society Canfield, OH | General | $1,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $1,000 |
| United Way Youngstown, OH | General | $500 |
| Jay Meatball Catone Foundation Lowellville, OH | General | $500 |
| Purple Cat Boardman, OH | General | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $45,878 | $23,898 | $25,564 | $12,000 | 11 | $12,000 | $2,224 |
| 2023 | $47,544 | $23,224 | $21,731 | $7,870 | 10 | $7,870 | $2,289 |
| 2022 | $46,051 | $23,190 | $21,215 | $9,346 | 12 | $9,346 | $2,329 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ron Russo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations serving children and families and for an organization working with veterans, active military members, and first responders. Project MKC describes its mission as making the lives of children and their families brighter by focusing on individual needs with volunteer help. Save A Warrior says it works to address suicide among veterans, active military members, and first responders through intensive retreat experiences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $12,000. Grants ranged from $250 to $2,250, with a median of $1,000. Among the largest grants were $2,250 to Second Harvest Food Bank in Youngstown, Ohio; $2,000 to Save A Warrior in Columbus, Ohio; and $1,500 each to Project MKC in Youngstown, Ohio, and Make-A-Wish in Phoenix, Arizona. The filing also lists a $1,000 scholarship grant to an individual recipient.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Margaret DeNiro as chairperson, Rocco Russo as co-chairperson, Marie Rupert as secretary, and Melissa Ervin as treasurer.
The Ron Russo Foundation is led by Margaret Deniro, Chairperson since 2023 (on filings since 2022); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margaret Deniro
Chairperson
President → Chairperson, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rocco Russo
Co-Chairperson
Vice President → Co-Chairperson, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marie Rupert
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Ervin
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Melissa Russo (2023) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 Ron Russo Foundation
How much does The Ron Russo Foundation give each year?
The Ron Russo Foundation gave $12K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8K across 10 grants.
What is The Ron Russo Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ron Russo Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,091, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ron Russo Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Ron Russo Foundation give grants?
The Ron Russo Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arizona (13%) and Virginia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Youngstown, OH (3 grants).
Does The Ron Russo Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 91% of The Ron Russo Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ron Russo Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ron Russo Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Second Harvest Food Bank ($2,250), Save a Warrior ($2,000) and Project MKC ($1,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ron Russo Foundation?
The Ron Russo Foundation reported $46K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ron Russo Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations serving children and families and for an organization working with veterans, active military members, and first responders. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ron Russo Foundation?
The foundation states in its 2024 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ron Russo Foundation's EIN?
The Ron Russo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3509265. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Does The Ron Russo 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work The Ron Russo Foundation funds
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Figures come from The Ron Russo 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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