The Ross Foundation Inc
The Ross Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. It supports nonprofit organizations working to create lasting impact in the Mid-Ohio Valley Region, with interests including education, community development, arts, disabilities, and animals.
The Ross Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Ross Foundation Inc gave $5.4M across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $244K), mostly in West Virginia. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,370,000
- -32.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $244,091
- -38.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $38,140,698
- -1.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (5 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (99% 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 Ross Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Set up an account through the online application system and complete the application for the current cycle. The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation has two grant cycles per year.
- Deadline
- The foundation has two grant cycles per year.
- Contact
Application contact: Apply Online At Grantstherossfounda
Mailing address: 711 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: (304) 865-5372
Website: https://therossfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ross Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was West Virginia University at Parkersburg ($4.8M). Together the top 10 received $5.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 106 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Wood, Ritchie, Doddridge, Pleasants, and Jackson Counties in West Virginia as its geographic focus. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ross Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 20 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $356K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 141% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 274% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2020) to $8.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $5.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV | Funds for the wvup itc initiative to purchase and renovation the old ovu campus for a technology center | $4,800,000 |
| Childrens Museum of the Mov Inc Parkerburg, WV | Financial support for the renovations and operations of the children's museum. | $405,000 |
| Downtown PKB Parkerburg, WV | Funds for Operating & Business Support | $50,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg Parkerburg, WV | Financial support for the organization as part of the kids golf classic. | $15,000 |
| Broadway Cares-Equity Fights AIDS Inc New York, NY | Annual Support for the Program | $15,000 |
| Adopt a Golden Atlanta Inc Atlanta, GA | Operating Support for the Organization | $10,000 |
| Nationwide Childrens Hospital Foundation Columbus, OH | Funds for center for colorectal & pelvic reconstruction (CCPR) program and general funds | $10,000 |
| Camden Clark Foundation Parkersburg, WV | Operating Support for the Organization | $7,000 |
| Linder Center of Hope Mason, OH | Operating Support for the Organization | $6,750 |
| Philanthropy West Virginia Inc Morgantown, WV | Operating Support for the Organization | $5,750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,140,698 | $2,176,897 | $5,678,063 | $5,370,000 | 22 | $5,632,640 | $1,859,229 | $2,053,358 |
| 2023 | $38,643,273 | $4,745,346 | $8,297,051 | $7,965,000 | 20 | $8,210,755 | $4,663,830 | $1,992,587 |
| 2022 | $41,268,643 | $4,354,195 | $5,775,794 | $5,389,000 | 20 | $5,623,454 | $4,165,151 | $2,221,648 |
| 2021 | $57,537,917 | $1,427,621 | $2,589,865 | $2,226,500 | 22 | $2,541,559 | $1,014,049 | $2,898,454 |
| 2020 | $49,049,261 | $5,049,550 | $2,265,159 | $2,018,516 | 22 | — | $4,861,860 | $2,419,573 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ross Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to “build a strong and healthy local community” by supporting nonprofit organizations that create a lasting impact in the Mid-Ohio Valley Region. Its primary focus areas are education and community/economic development. Education priorities include early childhood through high school, arts education, after-school programming, day care, mentorship, reading, and STEM initiatives; post-secondary education is a secondary priority, with emphasis on educational and workforce programming at community colleges. Community and economic development interests include building restoration, residential housing, business development, and civic and youth engagement.
Secondary interests are arts, disabilities, and animals. For arts, the foundation supports local programs but not one-time or annual events such as festivals. Its disability interests include programs that assist people with disabilities, and it does not support national groups. Its animal interests emphasize local animal welfare, including humane-society operations, enhancements, and capital campaigns.
The foundation considers applications from eligible nonprofits and government entities whose work serves its five-county area. Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of work represented: the Children’s Museum of the MOV describes its work as creating hands-on experiences that encourage children’s curiosity, exploration, and imagination; Downtown PKB says it promotes downtown Parkersburg, economic opportunity, and community vitality; and Adopt a Golden Atlanta describes its work as finding permanent homes for golden retrievers.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $5,370,000. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $4,800,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest grant was $4,800,000 to West Virginia University at Parkersburg for the WVUP ITC initiative to purchase and renovate the old OVU campus for a technology center. Other notable grants included $405,000 to the Children’s Museum of the MOV for renovations and operations, $50,000 to Downtown PKB for operating and business support, and $15,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg for support connected with the Kids Golf Classic.
Applications are submitted online. Eligible applicants are IRS-approved 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofits and government entities located in or supporting activities in Doddridge, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, or Wood County, West Virginia, with a link to education, community development, arts/cultural activities, disabilities, or animals. The foundation does not set a minimum or maximum grant amount. Support for a single organization is generally limited to three years, though the foundation says it may continue support when it perceives an organization is making a significant difference. Approved grants are usually distributed in full unless the board determines otherwise.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Samuel B. Ross III as Chairman of the Board and Executive Director. It lists Susan S. Ross, Spencer B. Ross, Melissa Ross, and J. Philip Delavan as board members.
The Ross Foundation Inc is led by Samuel B. Ross Iii Chairman Of The, Board & Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Samuel B. Ross Iii Chairman Of The
Board & Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$133K (2023) → $139K (2024)
Melissa Ross
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Spencer B. Ross
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan S. Ross
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Philip Delavan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Samuel B. Ross II (2020–2022) — Chairman of the Board
- Former: Samuel B. Ross III (2020–2022) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $139K, to The Samuel B Ross III Chairman of (Board, Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Ross Foundation Inc
How much does The Ross Foundation Inc give each year?
The Ross Foundation Inc gave $5.4M across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8.0M across 20 grants.
What is The Ross Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Ross Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $244,091, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ross Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Ross Foundation Inc give grants?
The Ross Foundation Inc gives mostly in West Virginia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Parkersburg, WV (4 grants), Parkerburg, WV (4 grants), Asheville, NC (2 grants) and Marietta, OH (2 grants).
Does The Ross Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 68% of The Ross Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ross Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Ross Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include West Virginia University at Parkersburg ($4,800,000), Childrens Museum of the Mov Inc ($405,000) and Downtown PKB ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ross Foundation Inc?
The Ross Foundation Inc reported $38.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ross Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to “build a strong and healthy local community” by supporting nonprofit organizations that create a lasting impact in the Mid-Ohio Valley Region. Its primary focus areas are education and community/economic development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ross Foundation Inc?
Set up an account through the online application system and complete the application for the current cycle. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ross Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Ross Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4652067. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ross Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ross-foundation-inc-morg_34e9871b8f794659a37b4b0403b0d3e0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204652067_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ross Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ross-foundation-inc-morg_34e9871b8f794659a37b4b0403b0d3e0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Foundation Inc'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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