The Ross Family Foundation
The Ross Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, established in 1954 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation operates as a family foundation with no employees, focusing its philanthropic efforts on education, human services, and community support primarily across Pennsylvania, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$212K
-10.2% YoY
Grant Count
103
-11.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ross Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- General purposes grants to nonprofits and community organizations
- Education — including support for law schools and graduate schools of education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Specialized initiatives including nutrition/food security and disaster relief
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$100–$35,000
Average Grant
amount varies by program
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,105,983
- Total Revenues: $231,148
- Total Expenses: $249,766
- Total Liabilities: $4,500
- Total Giving: $212,183
- Giving Rate: 7.8%
Historical Context (2023):
- Total Assets: $3,124,101
- Total Giving: $246,700
- Total Expenses: $275,982
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,105,983 | $3,124,101 | $3,234,051 |
| Revenue | $231,148 | $163,832 | $380,129 |
| Expenses | $249,766 | $275,982 | $245,724 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $222,608 | $246,700 | $215,339 |
| Net Investment Income | $124,661 | $127,698 | $342,943 |
| Distributable Amount | $265,550 | $239,523 | $242,206 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include First United Methodust Church of Germantown ($18,000), Covenant Presbyterian Church ($13,000), Columbia University ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Abington Community Library Clarks Summit, PA | For general purposes | $1,600 |
| Allied Services Foundation Scranton, PA | For general purposes | $1,500 |
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | For general purposes | $575 |
| American Numismatic Assn Colorado Springs, CO | For general purposes | $800 |
| Anthracite Heritage Museum Scranton, PA | For general purposes | $800 |
| Appalachian Trail Conservancy Harpers Ferry, WV | For general purposes | $200 |
| Arcadia Chorale Chinchilla, PA | For general purposes | $1,048 |
| Archaeological Institute of America Boston, MA | For general purposes | $300 |
| Arden Theater Philadelphia, PA | For general purposes | $500 |
| Asbury United Methodist Church Scranton, PA | For general purposes | $1,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James A Ross — President (4 hours/week, $11,033 compensation)
- Daniel R Ross — Secretary-Treasurer (2 hours/week, $4,869 compensation)
- Holly R Ross — Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (0.5 hours/week)
- Eric D Ross — Director (0.1 hours/week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James A Ross | President | 4 | $11,609 |
| Daniel R Ross | Secy-Treasurer | 2 | $4,621 |
| Holly R Ross | Asst.Sec-Treas. | 0.5 | — |
| Eric D Ross | Director | 0.1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1 Summit Street, Philadelphia, PA 19118-2832
- Phone: 215-247-3550
- EIN: 24-6017499
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ross Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • **General purposes** grants to nonprofits and community organizations • **Education** — including support for law schools and graduate schools of education • **Human Services** • **Philanthropy and voluntarism** • **Specialized initiatives** including nutrition/food security and disaster relief
How do I apply for a grant from The Ross Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $100–$35,000 • Median grant amount: $1,930 • Average grant amount varies by program **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Made 103 grants totaling approximately $212,183 • Notable recent grants include: • United Way of Lackawanna Wayne and Pike Counties: $24,000 (General Purposes) • Quintessence Theatre Group: $20,000 (General Purposes) • Covenant Presbyterian Church of Scranton, PA: $13,000 (General Purposes) **Grant Programs:** • For General Pur…
Where does The Ross Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Pennsylvania • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does The Ross Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ross Family Foundation awarded 103 grants totaling $212K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ross Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ross Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ross Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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