The Ross Family Foundation
The Ross Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2025, it made 109 grants totaling $238,933, supporting organizations including educational institutions, churches, United Ways, public media, and community and conservation organizations.
The Ross Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ross Family Foundation gave $239K across 109 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $238,933
- +12.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 109
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,192
- +6.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $900
- Total assets
- $3,324,916
- +7.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (6 of 107, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ross Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact James A Ross by letter. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing states that awards are mainly for the Greater Scranton area.
- Contact
Application contact: James A Ross
Mailing address: 100 Old Windmill Road, Waverly Township, PA 18411-2322
Phone: (570) 587-4023
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ross Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Way Lackawanna & Wayne Counties ($26K). Together the top 10 received $123K.
Grant Size Distribution
538 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 538 grants of 538 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 8% to New York, 6% to Massachusetts, 4% to Colorado, and 1% to the District of Columbia. The foundation’s filing describes its awards as mainly for the Greater Scranton area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 109 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ross Family Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 107 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $425 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $195K (2021) to $239K (2025). In 2025 it made 109 grants totaling $239K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Lackawanna & Wayne Counties Scranton, PA | For general purposes | $25,500 |
| First United Methodust Church of Germantown Philadelphia, PA | For general purposes | $18,000 |
| WVIA Public TV & Radio Pittston, PA | For general purposes | $15,000 |
| Covenant Presbyterian Church Scranton, PA | For general purposes | $13,000 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | For general purposes | $10,000 |
| Keystone College LaPlume, PA | For general purposes | $10,000 |
| Philharmonic Society of NE PA Wilkes-Barre, PA | $5,000 for general purposes; $5,000 for Young Peoples Concerts | $10,000 |
| United Way of SE PA Philadelphia, PA | For general purposes | $7,500 |
| Planned Parenthood of Northeast PA Reading, PA | For general purposes | $6,500 |
| Johnson College Scranton, PA | For general purposes | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ross Family 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 | $3,324,916 | $503,742 | $281,809 | $238,933 | 109 | $249,929 | $398,401 | $288,724 |
| 2024 | $3,105,983 | $231,148 | $249,766 | $212,183 | 103 | $222,608 | $124,661 | $265,550 |
| 2023 | $3,124,101 | $163,832 | $275,982 | $236,315 | 116 | $246,700 | $127,698 | $239,523 |
| 2022 | $3,234,051 | $380,129 | $245,724 | $205,193 | 100 | $215,339 | $342,943 | $242,206 |
| 2021 | $3,100,046 | $330,354 | $245,249 | $194,984 | 110 | $206,423 | $295,067 | $272,565 |
| 2020 | $3,013,442 | $456,300 | $260,173 | $225,575 | 103 | — | $373,385 | $215,176 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ross Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $289K 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 show support for organizations working in areas such as education, religious life, public media, community services, and conservation.
Examples of grantees’ own stated missions include Keystone College, which says it educates students in a liberal arts tradition and fosters a global perspective, and Johnson College, which says it provides hands-on learning to prepare graduates for careers. Countryside Conservancy says its mission is to promote the preservation of natural resources for the public’s benefit. These are the grantees’ missions, not statements of the foundation’s own purpose.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 109 grants totaling $238,933 in 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $25,500, with a median of $900. The largest awards included $25,500 to United Way Lackawanna & Wayne Counties, $18,000 to First United Methodist Church of Germantown, and $15,000 to WVIA Public TV & Radio; each was listed for general purposes. Other notable awards included $13,000 to Covenant Presbyterian Church and $10,000 each to Columbia University and Keystone College.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James A Ross as President, Daniel R Ross as Secretary-Treasurer, Holly R Ross as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, and Eric D Ross as Director.
The Ross Family Foundation is led by James A Ross, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James A Ross
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $13K (2025)
Eric D Ross
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel R Ross
Secy-Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Holly R Ross
Asst.sec-Treas.
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $13K, to James A Ross (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ross Family Foundation
How much does The Ross Family Foundation give each year?
The Ross Family Foundation gave $239K across 109 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $212K across 103 grants.
What is The Ross Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ross Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $900, and its average grant was $2,192, across 109 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ross Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Ross Family Foundation give grants?
The Ross Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (8%) and Massachusetts (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Scranton, PA (25 grants), Philadelphia, PA (20 grants), New York, NY (10 grants) and Washington, DC (7 grants).
Does The Ross Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 93% of The Ross Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (101 of 109) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ross Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ross Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Way Lackawanna & Wayne Counties ($25,500), First United Methodust Church of Germantown ($19,500 across 2 grants) and WVIA Public TV & Radio ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ross Family Foundation?
The Ross Family Foundation reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $250K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $289K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Ross Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as education, religious life, public media, community services, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ross Family Foundation?
Contact James A Ross by letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ross Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ross Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 24-6017499. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 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 May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Ross Family Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ross Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
The Philadelphia Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Foundation supports economic mobility and other community needs through grants to nonprofits, including workforce development, direct services, and initiatives addressing urgent regional challenges. In 2024, its median grant was $25,500, and its primary service area is Greater Philadelphia; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$704.6M
Grants
715
Total Given
$39.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Pennsylvania
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ross Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ross-family-foundation-morg_5cb9b99f42084fe1bb470eed538d5dd0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_246017499_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ross Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ross-family-foundation-morg_5cb9b99f42084fe1bb470eed538d5dd0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Ross Family 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.
The Ross Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?