The Ron Russo Foundation
The Ron Russo Foundation is a private foundation based in Canfield, Ohio. It reported giving $12,000 through 11 grants in 2024 to preselected charitable organizations, including Ohio-based recipients and organizations in other states.
Key facts about The Ron Russo Foundation
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.
- EIN
- 82-3509265
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $1,091
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (8 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $45,878
- Primary geography
- Ohio (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$46K
-3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$12K
+52.5% YoY
Grant Count
11
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
+38.6% YoY
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.
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. 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for charitable organizations. Save a Warrior describes its mission as working to end suicide among veterans, active military, and first responders through intensive retreat experiences. Project MKC says it seeks to brighten the lives of children and families by focusing on individual needs with help from volunteers.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $12,000 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $2,250, with a median grant of $1,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Ron Russo Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 12% to Arizona, 8% to Virginia, and 2% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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 $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).
Giving History
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 |
| Mason Bowen Youngstown, OH | Scholarship | $1,000 |
| United Way Youngstown, OH | General | $500 |
| Jay Meatball Catone Foundation Lowellville, OH | General | $500 |
| Purple Cat Boardman, OH | General | $500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $45,878 | $23,898 | $25,564 | $12,000 (11 grants) |
| 2023 | $47,544 | $23,224 | $21,731 | $7,870 (10 grants) |
| 2022 | $46,051 | $23,190 | $21,215 | $9,346 (12 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,878 | $47,544 | $46,051 |
| Revenue | $23,898 | $23,224 | $23,190 |
| Expenses | $25,564 | $21,731 | $21,215 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,000 | $7,870 | $9,346 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,224 | $2,289 | $2,329 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 690 Blueberry Hill, Canfield, OH 44406
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 (4 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. 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 charitable organizations. Save a Warrior describes its mission as working to end suicide among veterans, active military, and first responders through intensive retreat experiences. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ron Russo Foundation?
The foundation 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 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Ron Russo Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ron Russo Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
J Ford Crandall Depository
Diamond, OH
The foundation provides general support to charitable organizations, with recent grants supporting community development, food assistance, vision care, children’s services, and youth sports in Ohio. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $25,000, with a median of $15,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.2M
Grants
21
Total Given
$288K
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports nonprofits in health, education, arts, disaster relief, reforestation, hunger relief, and community equity, with an emphasis on organizations actively supported by Enterprise employees and their families. Its reported grants range widely: 2024 giving averaged about $7,700 across 9,499 grants, while the foundation also offers awards of up to $40,000; it supports communities where Enterprise operates worldwide. Unsolicited requests are accepted at any time, but eligible applications must be submitted by an Enterprise team member or their spouse or domestic partner on behalf of a nonprofit they actively support.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Richard Olivieri Family Foundation
Virginia Beach, VA
Assets
$338K
Grants
4
Total Given
$67K
McBrier Foundation
Erie, PA
Assets
—
Grants
7
Total Given
$38K
Aimee and Lulu Seidel Trust
New Springfield, OH
The trust supports community, education, arts, history, and social-service organizations, with 2025 grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 and a median of $5,000. Applicants must operate in Mahoning County, Ohio, except Westminster College in Pennsylvania; the filing requests a written request to Robert Christian and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
12
Total Given
$64K
Carroll Family Foundation Inc
Greensboro, NC
The Carroll Family Foundation funds education, pediatric liver disease support and research, and community, religious, and arts activities, with grants primarily in North Carolina and some in Florida. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $364,400, with a median of $7,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
13
Total Given
$545K
Friends for Youth Foundation
West Palm Beach, FL
In 2024, the foundation gave $229,293 across 15 grants, supporting education, youth programs, conservation, community activities, food assistance, and addiction recovery; grants ranged from $500 to $76,043, with a median of $10,000. Most funding went to Washington and Virginia, with smaller amounts to Oregon and New Jersey. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
15
Total Given
$229K
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family
Nashville, TN
The Joel C. and Bernice W. Gordon Family Foundation supports religious and community organizations, schools, arts and cultural groups, and other nonprofits in Tennessee. Its 2026 grants ranged from $100 to $48,890, with a median award of $2,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.8M
Grants
19
Total Given
$193K
Angel Corps
Nashville, TN
ANGEL CORPS supports organizations serving underserved communities where Southern Land Company has development projects, especially those benefiting women and children; its 2024 grants went almost entirely to Tennessee. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $250,000, with a median of $2,050. It does not describe an open unsolicited application process: local Southern Land Company employees nominate organizations, and those selected by the board receive a request form.
Assets
$8K
Grants
20
Total Given
$382K
Lavoie Foundation
Barnstead, NH
The Lavoie Foundation supports animal welfare, food assistance, Christian education, scholarships, humanitarian purposes, and individuals, primarily in New Hampshire, with some grants in Connecticut and Washington, D.C. Its 2024 grants ranged from $207 to $21,000, with a median of $2,750. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations; it does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$1.7M
Grants
20
Total Given
$79K
Diane and Dorothy Brooks Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The Diane and Dorothy Brooks Foundation supports a range of charitable purposes, including homelessness services, child advocacy, food security, and health-related work, with most 2024 grant dollars going to California organizations, followed by recipients in New York, New Jersey, and Colorado. Its 2024 grants ranged from $8,000 to $507,500, with a median of $275,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$66.0M
Grants
23
Total Given
$5.8M
Zuschlag Family Foundation
Lafayette, LA
In 2024, the Zuschlag Family Foundation funded religious organizations, education, human services, and community and cultural causes, with most grant dollars going to Louisiana recipients. Grants ranged from $500 to $141,500, with a median of $7,000. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.8M
Grants
26
Total Given
$483K
More Funders in Ohio
The Ron Russo Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?