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.
Key facts about The Ross Family Foundation
In short: The Ross Family Foundation gave $239K across 109 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 24-6017499
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $238,933
- Grants made (2025)
- 109
- Average grant
- $2,192
- Median grant
- $900
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (7 of 107, 2025)
- Total assets
- $3,324,916
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Contact James A Ross by letter. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
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
$3.3M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$239K
+12.6% YoY
Grant Count
109
+5.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+6.4% YoY
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.
Is The Ross Family Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 107 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 86% 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.
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.
Review Cycle
** None.
Ready to take the next step with The Ross Family Foundation?
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 all 109 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
538 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $238,933 | 109 |
| 2024 | $212,183 | 103 |
| 2023 | $236,315 | 116 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,324,916 | $3,105,983 | $3,124,101 |
| Revenue | $503,742 | $231,148 | $163,832 |
| Expenses | $281,809 | $249,766 | $275,982 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $249,929 | $222,608 | $246,700 |
| Net Investment Income | $398,401 | $124,661 | $127,698 |
| Distributable Amount | $288,724 | $265,550 | $239,523 |
Data update history
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)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- 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)
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
Contact
Application contact: James A Ross
Mailing address: 100 Old Windmill Road, Waverly Township, PA 18411-2322
Phone: (570) 587-4023
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).
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. 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 miss…
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.
Here's the math on researching The Ross Family Foundation by hand.
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 funded public health, contraceptive care, heart health, school nursing, children’s services, and mental health support, with 2021 grants ranging from $5,000 to $1 million and a median of $40,000. Its 2021 giving was concentrated in Washington, DC, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, and Texas. The foundation says there are no restrictions on who may apply; applications use its forms and materials, and deadlines vary.
Assets
$16.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The foundation funds health initiatives to expand healthcare access and strengthen health systems, with priorities including cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation. Its 2024 grants had a median of $134,090, though awards ranged widely; its stated focus geographies are Brazil, India, ten Sub-Saharan African countries, and the United States. It invites organizations to inquire about its grantmaking process, with application materials available upon request and no deadline listed.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
McKesson Foundation supports healthcare access across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on cancer, healthcare workforce training, and emergency response, especially for vulnerable communities; local priorities include Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Memphis, Montreal, Richmond, and Toronto. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $2.47 million, with a median of $100,000. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its current website describes online applications: up to $25,000 year-round and larger requests from February 1 through April 30.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide supports community-focused work in health, youth opportunity, financial security, resilience, disaster recovery, education, and human services, including local United Way organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675, and went to recipients across multiple U.S. states; it describes its broader reach as global. No application process for unsolicited grant requests is specified.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
The Philadelphia Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Foundation funds nonprofits working to strengthen Greater Philadelphia, including efforts to advance economic mobility and support vulnerable residents, with grants spanning a range of community needs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$704.6M
Grants
715
Total Given
$39.1M
The William Penn Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
The William Penn Foundation funds arts and culture, children and families, civic engagement, the environment and public spaces, and workforce training across the Philadelphia region. Its 2024 grants ranged from $45 to $7.78 million, with a median of $50,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through a limited open-application process, though it recommends applying through a relevant RFP when available.
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
1,027
Total Given
$148.8M
Ge Aerospace Foundation
Norwalk, CT
The GE Aerospace Foundation supports engineering education, workforce development, military and veterans causes, and disaster relief in communities where GE Aerospace employees live and work around the world. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10 to nearly $6 million, with a median of $429; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
American Express Foundation
New York, NY
American Express Foundation supports nonprofits working on small-business recovery, disaster relief, education and workforce development, leadership, and community needs, with grants to organizations in the U.S. and internationally. Giving varies widely: 2024 grants ranged from $1 to $3.45 million, with a median of $40. The filing lists application materials but does not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$48.9M
Grants
1,495
Total Given
$23.2M
The Cigna Group Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
The Cigna Group Foundation funds nonprofits addressing community health, especially youth and veteran mental health, health equity, and disaster relief, in communities across the U.S. and globally. Current program awards are generally $100,000–$250,000, depending on the focus area. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Chubb Charitable Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
The Chubb Charitable Foundation supports youth development through education, mentorship, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and community programs, as well as organizations working in areas such as humanitarian aid, health, and disability services. Its 2024 grants ranged from $50 to $1 million, with a median of $200; funding was concentrated in New York, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The foundation directs applicants to its proposal guidelines and states that it does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$74.9M
Grants
3,719
Total Given
$6.3M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
The Verizon Foundation funds digital inclusion, climate protection, human prosperity, K–12 literacy and STEM, and domestic violence education and prevention, with an emphasis on underserved and diverse communities. It gives nationally, with priority in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia, and also supports work in India and Israel; 2024 grants ranged from $25 to $1 million, with a $500 median. It does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are by invitation only.
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
More Funders in Pennsylvania
The Ross Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?