The Ross Foundation Inc

PARKERSBURG, WV EIN: 20-4652067 Website

The Ross Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2006 and based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The foundation works to build a strong and healthy local community by supporting nonprofit organizations that create lasting impact in the Mid-Ohio Valley Region.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$38.1M

-1.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$5.4M

-32.6% YoY

Grant Count

+10.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$244K

-38.7% YoY

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 April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's mission is to support nonprofit organizations addressing issues in the following areas:

Animals
Arts
Community Development
Disabilities
Education

The foundation recently underwent a strategic planning process and revised its focus areas.

Grantmaking

The Ross Foundation made 22 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in West Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina, with particular emphasis on the Mid-Ohio Valley Region.

Grant Distribution by State

West Virginia $22.6M (98%)

Ohio $126K (1%)

New York $80K (0%)

Georgia $69K (0%)

District of Columbia $26K (0%)

Louisiana $22K (0%)

North Carolina $22K (0%)

Colorado $21K (0%)

+4 more states

States

Colorado District of Columbia Georgia Indiana Kentucky Louisiana North Carolina New York Ohio Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia

Cities

AmericusAshevilleAtlantaColumbusDenverFishersHuntingtonLewisburgLouisvilleLynchburgMariettaMasonMineral WellsMorgantownNew OrleansNew YorkParkerburgParkersburgPittsburghSaltsburg

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $38,643,273
Total Revenue: $4,745,346
Total Expenses: $8,297,051
Total Liabilities: $66,700
Investment Income and Dividends: $702,309
Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $3,777,560

The foundation has one employee.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$38,140,698	$38,643,273	$41,268,643
Revenue	$2,176,897	$4,745,346	$4,354,195
Expenses	$5,678,063	$8,297,051	$5,775,794
Qualifying Distributions	$5,632,640	$8,210,755	$5,623,454
Net Investment Income	$1,859,229	$4,663,830	$4,165,151
Distributable Amount	$2,053,358	$1,992,587	$2,221,648

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

106 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include West Virginia University at Parkersburg ($4,800,000), Childrens Museum of the Mov Inc ($405,000), Downtown Pkb ($50,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ADOPT A GOLDEN ATLANTA INC ATLANTA, GA	OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION	$10,000
ASHEVILLE AREA HFH AMERICUS, GA	OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION	$5,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PARKERSBURG PARKERBURG, WV	FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION AS PART OF THE KIDS GOLF CLASSIC.	$15,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PARKERSBURG PARKERBURG, WV	"IN THE HUDDLE"	$3,000
BROADWAY CARES-EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS INC NEW YORK, NY	ANNUAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM	$15,000
CAMDEN CLARK FOUNDATION PARKERSBURG, WV	OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION	$7,000
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
FRIENDS OF VIENNA PARKERSBURG, WV	FREEDOM FESTIVAL	$5,000
HUMANE SOCIETY OF PARKERSBURG PARKERSBURG, WV	GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP	$1,500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation's trustees include Samuel B Ross III, Samuel B Ross II, and Susan S Ross.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
SAMUEL B ROSS III CHAIRMAN OF THE	BOARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40	$139,200
SUSAN S ROSS	BOARD MEMBER	0.75	—
SPENCER B ROSS	BOARD MEMBER	0.75	—
MELISSA ROSS	BOARD MEMBER	0.75	—
J PHILIP DELAVAN	BOARD MEMBER	0.75	—

Contact Information

Address: 711 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101-4628

Phone: 304-865-5372

Website: www.therossfoundation.org

EIN: 20-4652067

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Ross Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's mission is to support nonprofit organizations addressing issues in the following areas: • Animals • Arts • Community Development • Disabilities • Education The foundation recently underwent a strategic planning process and revised its focus areas.

How do I apply for a grant from The Ross Foundation Inc?

The Ross Foundation made 22 grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Children's Museum of the Mov: $1,800,000 (2023) for financial support for renovations and operations • Downtown PKB: $50,000 (2023) for operating support • Boys Club of Parkersburg: $15,000 (2023) for operating support Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,600,000.

Where does The Ross Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in West Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina, with particular emphasis on the Mid-Ohio Valley Region.

What size grants does The Ross Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Ross Foundation Inc awarded 22 grants totaling $5.4M — an average of about $244K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Ross Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ross Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.